Your wedding dress reflects your style, personality and the love story you’re about to share with your partner and the world. However, when it comes to wedding dress silhouettes and styles, one size does not fit all. Each body is one-of-a-kind, and knowing how to choose a bridal gown that flatters your figure can be the difference between feeling good and feeling great on the big day. Here’s how to match your bridal vision to your wedding dress silhouette with elegance and ease, ensuring that you feel as beautiful as you are. Understanding Your Silhouette Before you step foot in a bridal boutique, it’s important to understand what a wedding dress silhouette refers to and identify your body type. In the world of fashion, silhouette simply means the outline of a garment. This outline could be loose and flowing, as in the case of sheath dresses, or fitted and flaring, as in a bell-shaped ballgown silhouette. To discover the silhouette that will make you feel truly beautiful, start by understanding your body type and the wedding dress waistlines that typically flatter it. But remember, these classifications are just starting points, and each person is wonderfully distinctive. Don’t hesitate to try on different wedding dress styles to see what makes you feel the most confident. Different Body Types There are several recognized body types in the fashion world, each distinguished by where they carry their weight. The most common are the Hourglass, Pear, Apple, Rectangle, Inverted Triangle and Oval. When selecting a dress, the goal is to create balance and proportion. Here are the most common body types for women: 

• Hourglass: Characterized by a well-balanced bust and hips with a cinched waist, hourglass figures can pull off most wedding dress styles. However, a dress that highlights the waist will often be a knockout. 
• Pear (Triangle): Pear-shaped figures feature a fuller bottom and a narrower top, often flattered by skirts that gently flare out. The A-line silhouettes are especially flattering for pear-shaped brides. 
• Apple (Round): Apple-shaped bodies carry most of their weight around the midsection. Their body type can be balanced with a dress that emphasizes the bust and creates a flow from the midsection down. 
• Rectangle (Straight): Straight figures have little variation between their bust, waist and hip measurements. Dresses that add volume or definition to the bust or waist, can enhance this body type. 
• Inverted Triangle: Inverted triangle bodies have broader shoulders and a narrower waist and hips. To create balance, look for a dress that adds fullness to your lower half, such as ballgown silhouettes. 
• Oval (Round): Ovals have a wider waist, and the aim is to create the illusion of a risen waist. Sheath silhouettes or those that fluidly skim the body might work well.