Shall we crown 2025 the year of groundbreaking celebrity weddings? It was a battle of keeping up with the newly-weds. From the Ajibades, who wouldn’t stop whetting our appetites with ethereal photos from their multi-destination wedding, to Tone Tone and Taye Naija, whose effusive romance left us asking God when. As though that wasn’t enough, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco took a magnificent walk down the aisle. And now, we have a truckload of gorgeous wedding dresses to draw inspiration from.
If your wedding is around the corner and you need ideas on the type of dress to wear and own the show, you’ve come to the right place. Ahead, we dive into nuptial dress styles to make your wedding forever memorable.
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Popular Wedding Dress Styles
You can plan out the perfect menu and choose the dreamiest venue, but if you check, there’s really just one thing that matters most on your big day—your wedding dress. As simple as it sounds, picking a bridal gown is stressful.
First, you need the right style; afterwards, come fittings and alterations. And if you want different dresses for the ceremony, reception, and after-party, that’s more mental work for you.
But not to worry—We’ll help you streamline the process with our edit of the best wedding dresses for your big day. From garden nuptials to city hall affairs, here are the best styles to choose from:
Mermaid Silhouettes
Mermaid wedding dresses frame the body at the bodice, waist, and hips, ten flare out around the knees. It’s a great silhouette for emphasizing your waist and hips. If you’re considering it, choose the right shapewear and be mindful of how fitted the dress is. Ensure you can move freely or sit down easily in it for maximum comfort.
Trumpet Wedding Dresses
Trumpet gowns hug the body from the chest to the mid-thigh, then flares out to resemble the shape of a trumpet, as the name suggests. It’s the muted version of mermaid styles, as it doesn’t have that overly dramatic flare. So, go for this style if you want to flaunt your curves with a more toned-down flare.
Ball Gowns
If you want to step into your happily ever after like a princess, this wedding dress style is for you. It has a fairy-tale aesthetic that is both dramatic and classic. The best part? Ball-gown wedding dresses complement most body types. They have a fitted bodice and voluminous skirt which flares out from the waist. If your body type is straight or less curvy, this silhouette helps to accentuate your waist while hiding your lower body.
Strapless Wedding Dresses
Strapless dresses keep you cool althrough. They flaunt your arms and shoulders and can combine any silhouette, whether ball, mermaid, A-line, or anyone you choose.
Column Wedding Dresses
A column wedding dress is sleek, minimalist, and effortlessly elegant. It has a slim-fitting, straight-cut silhouette without any shaping. If this is your choice, ensure your column dress is tailor-made to accentuate your figure.
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A-Line Wedding Dresses
A-line wedding gowns are the most universally flattering as they complement all body tyoes. Their nipped-in waist provides shape and the flared skirt gives comfort. Wear one on your big day if you want a dress that hugs your waist area, creates a slimmer waistline, and flatters your bust.
Empire Wedding Dresses
Empire silhouettes have a fitted bodice, with a waistline that sits just underneath the bust rather than your natural waistline. This style elongates your frame, making it a great choice for petite brides. It’s perfect for keeping attention on your bust area, eespecially if you embellish it with florals, applique, or beading.
Slip Wedding Dresses
This style is defined by its lack of a distinct waistline and a loose, airy fit that barely highlights your curves. It’s effortless, minimalist, and irresiitibly chic. Although slip wedding dresses often feature satin or silk fabrics and spaghetti straps, feel free to add any elements you choose, including back detailing, cowl neck, or bias-cut, for more accents.
Popular Fabrics for Making Wedding Dresses
Do you wanna look opulent, laidback, or glamorous? Do you want a dress that last seasons or something that serves you for that day alone? Your fabric choice plays a key role in the overall quality of your wedding dress. Below are popular fabrics used in making wedding gowns:
Satin
For decades, satin was the most popular fabric choice for most brides. This isn’t out of place—the fabric shines and drapes so easily. It’s also durable with a weight that’s suitable for all seasons.
Silk
This fabric is timeless, versatile, and best known for exuding luxury. It also comes in different variations and textures, such as mikado, dupioni, and faille. While it’s similar to satin, a recognizable difference between the two is in silk’s muted sheen.
Batiste
This transparent fabric is lightweight and soft. It’s made of plain weave and is usually used as an overlay or veil. If you’re planning a garden ce;ebration, this fabric suits the aesthetic.
Lace
Lace has its way of symbolizing wealth and purity. If you long for a prosperous union, this fabric embodies it perfectly. It has diverse patterns, textures, embellishments, and weight. It’s feminine, delicate, romantic, and supple enough to create different shapes and forms.
Georgette
Georgette is a sheer and lightweight fabric spun from polyester or silk. It has a crepe surface with a soft silhouette that makes it ideal for floaty shapes that move with the body. It’s best worn dyring warmer seasons.
Mikado
This sturdy silk with a shiny finish has gained immense popularity. Its thickness allows it to be tailored into any structural or sophisticated design. While it can be worn all-year round, the fabric is best suited for cooler temperatures.
Tulle
This fabric has a sheer, translucent open weave that looks like netting. It’s delicate, airy, and romantic. This makes it the go-to for wedding gown linings or veils. But tulle’s potential goes beyond that. The fabric is also used as illusion mesh to create barely-there necklines, sleeves, or cutouts in soft nude colors. Tulle can be used all year round. But keep in mind that it’s delicate and rips easily.
Taffeta
Taffeta is made from silk or synthetic fibers. It comes in almost any color and sometimes appears iridescent due to the weaving process involved in making it. The fabric is supple yet strong, making it great for A-line dresses and full-skirted ball gowns.
Chiffon
Chiffon is a light, transparent fabric often used in layers, as an overlay, or as an accent detail. Its airy structure makes it a great option for warmer temperatures. But its diaphanous nature makes it prone to snagging, fraying, or pulling.
What Should Brides Consider When Looking for Wedding Dresses?
As you start combing the Internet in search of silhouettes that suit you best, consider two things: your body type and comfort. The trick is to go for shapes that draw attention to your most flatering features. But that’s not all—your dress must also make you feel good and comfy throughout your big day.
Also, even if you have an inkling of the style to choose, keep an open mind and try different silhouettes, including those you typically don’t gravitate toward. Don’t forget to consider your ceemony setting. A beach or garden wedding, for instance, would need free-flowing silhouettes that match the dreamy feel of nature.
Afterward, look to fabrics. Silk and satin, depending on the style, can be both soft and structured, while airy materials like chiffon, organza, and tulle offer a delicate look.
When in doubt, consult your bridal designer. They’re the expert, so let them do their thing while you work closely with them to ensure what they create is your dream wedding dress.
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