As a bride-to-be shopping for your wedding dress, you’ve likely heard the words ‘aline’, ‘mermaid’ or ‘sheath’ and thought to yourself, ‘What does that even mean?’ To give you the short answer, they are popular types of wedding dress silhouettes! 

Different wedding dress silhouettes compliment and accentuate different parts of your body and - of course - create different shapes and figures depending on the look you’re going for. 

While shopping for your dream wedding dress, use Eternal Bridal’s ultimate guide to wedding dress silhouettes to help you understand the difference between each one and discover which best works for your body type.

Ball Gown Wedding Dress

The ball gown wedding dress is the easiest to understand. Just picture a big princess ball gown with a fitted bodice and a dramatic and full skirt that flares out from the waistline - think Cinderella at the ball!

Hence, this silhouette creates a classic ‘princess-like’ look, perfect for the bride wanting a more traditional and formal bridal look for her fairytale wedding.

The ball gown silhouette also works well for most body types, especially for those wanting to create the illusion of a waist, while still achieving that traditional princess look.

Gowns from left to right: Pearlise (by Le Lee Studio), Renee (by Galia Lahav) and Austin by (PEN.LIV)

A-line Wedding Dress

Similar to the ballgown silhouette but not as dramatic, the aline silhouette is fitted at the bodice and gently flares out from the waist, resembling the shape of an uppercase "A." These elegant and versatile wedding dresses are universally flattering on all body types, particularly apple or pear shapes, and will subtly enhance your curves while still offering comfort. 

It’s the perfect silhouette for an outdoor wedding, particularly a garden or beach wedding, thanks to the ease of movement they offer and their whimsical and ethereal aesthetic. 

Gowns from left to right: Margot (by Lee Petra Grebenau), Robyn (by Enzoani), and Fabiana (by Galia Lahav)

Mermaid Wedding Dress

Another highly popular silhouette, a mermaid wedding dress will hug the body closely from the chest to the knee, then flare out dramatically at or just below the knee, resembling the shape of a mermaid's tail - hence the name!

The mermaid silhouette offers a more glamorous look that heavily emphasizes your curves. It works well for hourglass figures and also those with more rectangle frames who want to create the illusion of curves.

Mermaid wedding dresses also typically have longer trains, so we highly recommend adding a bustle so you can clip-up your train before hitting the dance floor!

Gowns from left to right: Sky (by Lee Petra Grebenau), Esparenza (by Le Lee Studio) and Blythe (by PEN.LIV)

Trumpet Wedding Dress / Fit and Flare Wedding Dress

Not to be confused with a mermaid wedding dress, the trumpet silhouette - also known as the fit and flare silhouette - is also fitted through the bodice and hips, but will flare out higher than a mermaid wedding dress at the mid-thigh - as opposed to the knees in a mermaid wedding dress - to create a trumpet-like shape.

This creates a softer flare, so it’s perfect for the bride wanting to accentuate their curves while still enjoying some freedom of movement in the legs.

Gowns from left to right: Lucille (by Vera Wang), Denise (by Galia Lahav) and Gloriana (by Elysee)

Sheath Wedding Dress

The sheath silhouette is form-fitting and follows the natural shape of the body from top to bottom, without any dramatic flare or fullness in the skirt or train. It offers a sleek, minimalist aesthetic and is perfect for the bride wishing to create a modern and understated bridal look. 

A sheath wedding dress silhouette is also ideal for brides with slender or athletic figures who want to showcase their natural shape. It also works well for petite brides, as the streamlined silhouette can elongate the body.

Gowns from left to right: Millennium Rose (by Le Lee Studio), Freya (by Galia Lahav) and Tiffany (by Enzoani)

All featured gowns are available at Eternal Bridal. Book your appointment to visit one of our boutiques and have a one-on-one stylist consultation with one of our expert Bridal Stylists who will help you discover your dream wedding dress silhouette!