Formal bridal gowns come in every style. While the lines between formal and informal have blurred a bit over the years, there are a few mainstays of the formal wedding. Generally, formal weddings take place in the afternoon and evening. And a formal bridal gown is almost always long. While the length is a constant, the cut and style can vary greatly. A formal gown can be A-line, ball gown, empire, mermaid, sheath or a slip dress.

Formal Bridal Trains and Veils

Formal bridal gowns don’t necessarily need to include a train. But if they do, the train should be detachable for the reception festivities, or bustled to keep the bride from tripping.

The formal veil is usually floor length in the back and may have a blusher or short veil in front. If you plan on removing the veil during the reception, see if you can have it made to be detachable or substitute in another headpiece instead of the veil.

Again, if your wedding is formal, you’ll want a long dress. Here are a few popular long dress cuts that you may want to consider:

A-line Bridal Gowns

A-line dresses resemble the letter A, narrower at the shoulder and falling gracefully wider at the hips to the fullest point at the floor. The movement of the dress is fluid, and it’s important to select a fabric that moves beautifully. Silk is a good choice, while heavier embossed brocade may not be.

Since there is little to detract from the fabric, it needs to be of the best quality affordable. If you can’t afford to spend a chunk of your budget on fabric, it’s best to steer clear from shinny materials like satin. Matte fabrics like chiffon, however, look great even when they’re not the absolute best quality.

There can be embellishments of crystals, embroidery and lace, but there shouldn't be so much that they detract from the elegant shape of the dress itself. The A-line dress looks great on nearly every body type, and can camouflage a wider waist or fuller thighs.

Ball Gowns

Ball gowns are the fairy princesses of wedding dresses. The bodice is form fitting and the skirt is wide and full. The waist can be at the bride’s natural waist line, dropped a bit below the natural waist line, or Basque which starts at the natural waist line and drops to a V shape in the front. The skirt can be modestly or outrageously full, depending on the statement the bride wants to make when she walks down the aisle. Materials should be stiff enough to hold their shape or provide volume through yardage such as tulle.

The sky is the limit on embellishment, but to maintain a formal look, it’s important not to go overboard. Some brides have the tendency to cram as much lace, beading, ruffles, and silk flowers on the gown as possible. An elegant ball gown shows off the bride, not the other way around.

Mermaid Bridal Gowns

A very popular style, the mermaid, fits close to the body to the knees, and then flares out like a beautiful mermaid's tail. The style looks best on a slim figure or hourglass figure. The full flare is sometimes made in a fabric that contrasts with the body of the dress. For example, the flare can be made of lace is if the body of the dress is silk. The juncture of the flare to the bodice is an excellent place for embroidery, silk flowers, pearls or other beading. The back of a mermaid style gown can be breathtaking with a draped back, bare back or crisscrossed straps or beading.

Sheath Bridal Gowns

The sheath, a classic 1950's style, is a favorite among petite brides because it adds the illusion of height with an unbroken line from hem to neckline. The look is body hugging but not tight or form fitting. The shape is constructed with side seams rather than a seam at the waist, creating a lovely clean line with a straight skirt.

Empire Bridal Gowns

The empire cut is a flattering choice for most small busted brides because it accentuates the bust line and then falls away from the body, hiding a tummy or wide hips. The torso is lengthened as the eye gracefully falls from under the bust to the floor. Short waisted brides look taller in empire dresses.

Slip Bridal Gowns

A slip dress is cut on a bias so it falls across the body. It's usually made of a lightweight fabric like satin or chiffon. The style was first made popular when Carolyn Bessette Kennedy wore a slip dress for her wedding.

A formal wedding is elegant and beautiful and within the reach of every bride. Keep these beautiful formal bridal gown styles in mind before selecting the dress for your special day.