Guide to Wedding Gown Silhouettes. Hey! What's a Silhouette Anyway?

Ok, so you are getting married and there is a lot of pressure on finding which wedding gown is the right gown for you. Traditionally speaking, that wedding gown is supposed to be the big surprise of the day. Not many will be privy to seeing it beforehand and it makes for an awesome entrance the day of. But where do I start, you say. Here is the answer. Start by learning about silhouettes.

What's a silhouette? A silhouette is the outline of a bridal gown--any gown actually. In dress gown making there are four silhouette types. The are listed below:

• Ballgown- Very majestic looking, tight at the waist, pops at the hip and very full graduated skirt.

• A-Line or Princess- Shape like the letter "A". Tight at the waist and hip, but just as you pass the hip area it begins to graduate slightly fuller in the skirt. However, it is not ever as full as a Ballgown. This gown is one of the most traditional and popular of the silhouette styles.

• Straight or Sheath- Just like it says it is a straight gown from top to bottom with no flaring anywhere. Of the silhouettes this is the hardest to fit. Typically the bride who can wear this style well is in proportion in the bust, waist and booty. Now there is a Subcategory to the Straight it is fitted from the top all the way down until you reach the knee area. At that point it begins to flair slightly. In the past this silhouette has been called a Trumpet or a Mermaid. Modern times now calls it the Fit and Flair.

• The last of the silhouettes is the Empire (pronounced um-pier). This gown has the shortest of all the bodices (waistlines) as it is located all the way at the top in the bust area and doesn't include the torso. Just below the fitted bust is where the waistline ends and the begins the skirt. The skirt typically is straight but could flair out a bit. A lot of brides choose this style for their getaway or destination wedding because it is very romantic and has a Grecian or goddess-like look with a flowy chiffon skirt. Great for beach weddings.

So there you have it. I encourage you to become familiar with these styles by searching for pictures of them online. Once you find a few looks that you like, book an appointment at your local bridal store and bring those pictures in so they can help you find the best silhouette for your body type. Try all the silhouettes on to see what you look best in and then worry about embellishments, fabric and color. Remember a bridal store is an expert in bridal gowns. So don't be surprised when you enter with one idea in mind that you walk out with a dress that was entirely something different, but that you were head over heels for!