There are five main styles of wedding dress, and each comes with its own identifiable contour. The silhouette of you and your dress is the first thing that the groom at the end of the isle, and the watching guests will see, so choose your dress well. Think of what impression you want to create before choosing a specific style of gown.
The A-line dress is flattering on almost any body and runs smoothly from bust to hem.
An empire dress is also versatile and is more suited for brides with a smaller bust. Its hemline draws attention to the neck and collar bone area.
A mermaid dress gives you the chance to show off those curves since its body-hugging style will perfectly reveal a voluptuous feminine body.
A column dress will also hug your body but it scores lower than the mermaid on sex appeal. This dress is not a good choice for tall brides since it accentuates height and unless a few pleats are added somewhere, movement in a column dress can be somewhat restricted.
The classic ball gown dress is the centrepiece of every fairytale wedding. Petite brides could easily disappear into the sheer volume of this dress so a tulle-skirt on any other style is more advisable.
Think of the effect you want the fabric of your dress to create. Layers of light fabric will help create a dreamy floating effect and you have the chance for a lot of these light layers if you go for a ball gown. Heavier fabrics such as organza, damask and satin will help define the structure of your dress and create a more solid appearance. For flowing folds of a Greek goddess, go for soft, lightweight silks.
Your dress does not have to show off one material from top to bottom. Ask your dressmaker for her advice on which contrasting fabrics would complement each other. The dress you envision may have a structured bodice but free-flowing skirt. Get some research done first, and some good advice to avoid bringing that vision to life with horribly clashing fabric.