Wedding Dress Styles that Flatter a Full-Figured Bride

Wedding Dress Styles that Flatter a Full-Figured Bride

Full-figured brides have their work cut out for them when it comes to shopping for a wedding dress. Sample sizes are often too small in boutiques and alterations can be tough. But there are ways that full-figured brides can make sure they look radiant on their wedding day.

Consider the neckline
Necklines are one of the best places to make sure you find a dress that fits your individual body correctly and attractively. While strapless dresses have been a leading style for many years now, it’s usually not a wise choice for a large-breasted woman. So what works? A halter style is a great choice for many large-breasted women – it won’t slide, ride up or cause unsightly lumps inside the dress. They also lift, creating the illusion of a perkier bust. If a halter style isn’t going to work, however, at least choose a dress with some kind of sturdy straps. They eliminate some of the problems strapless dresses can cause on any woman’s body, from unsightly pinched bits of skin between the chest and arms to a drooping bust.

Diagonal lines slim
Many of today’s wedding dresses are utilizing diagonal lines, from seams to overlays and wraps, to make a flattering style across the body. These bodices slim by drawing the eye in, and minimize a thick waist. This effect can also be achieved with accessories, from a lace overlay to a wrap, added to the dress at a diagonal across the body.

Create exaggerated proportions
Many bigger women want their waist to look small, which it may not always be. But if you find a dress that bells out below the waist and adds detail to the shoulders, the waist will look smaller by comparison. Ball gowns with full skirts can often be flattering on plus-size brides, and to add detail to the shoulder area, try adding a unique shrug around the shoulders or look for a dress with wide straps that side wide on the shoulders.

In the end, finding the dress right for a plus-size body will mean asking professionals their opinion and making sure the dress you pick makes you feel comfortable and flatters your figure.

Sara Gray is a a wedding photographer from the Pacific Northwest in the United States. She is a modern wedding photojournalist who photographs weddings around the world. Her Web site is http://www.saragrayphotography.com.