Choosing a wedding dress is one of the most exciting and enjoyable events for any bride to be. Every bride wants to look her absolute best on her special day, and the wedding dress is the most important aspect. Choosing a wedding dress is a personal thing for each woman. What works for one may not work for another. It’s important to choose a dress that is beautiful yet flattering for your figure. While you’ll want to try on a variety of different dresses to see how they look on you, here are some tips to help you find a flattering style:

The most traditional style of wedding dress combines a fitted bodice with a full skirt. This style comes in many different variations. For example, the ballerina style skirt is normally made from frothy tulle and is as voluminous as it gets. If you don’t care for the ballerina skirt, there are more traditional skirt choices available. The A line dress features a tight, fitted bodice and a skirt that creates an A shape. This style is flattering for most every body type. The cut of the dress is also a consideration. One popular cut is the empire waist. This style is gathered right under the bust and falls from that point straight down with no additional definition at the waist. The empire waist is romantic and beautiful, and perfect for brides who want some concealing coverage for their stomach and hip areas.

One sophisticated alternative to the full-skirted dress is the sleek look. The column dress, bias cut dress and sheath dress are all examples of slim-fitting choices. If you’re slender and confident enough to wear a body hugging style, the sleek look might be ideal for you. Modern brides who want the best of both worlds may want to go with the fishtail style. This is a tight fitting dress that flares out at the bottom. You may also hear the fishtail style called the mermaid style dress.

The neckline of your wedding dress is another thing to consider. One popular choice is the sweetheart neckline. This type of neckline resembles a heart shape and is traditional and beautiful. Then there’s the bateau neckline, also known as the boat neckline. This sweeping neckline spans from shoulder to shoulder and accentuates the neck and collarbone area. Brides with well-toned arms may want to go with a strapless dress, tank style dress, or halter neckline. These styles accentuate arms and shoulders.

Finally, you’ll need to decide whether you want long sleeves, short sleeves, or no sleeves. This can often be dictated by the season and weather. For a winter wedding, you’ll probably want to go with long sleeves. Short sleeves are perfect for a spring wedding, while summer brides can go with spaghetti straps or even strapless.