Weddingbee Blog

Now that I have admitted my shortcoming of a wedding dress, I have begun the search for that perfect dress. During that search I have realized quite a few things. One, is that a dress may look beautiful and glamorous, but there is a chance that the shape of the dress just won’t work for your body type. Another is that what you love on paper is not necessarily what you will end up loving on you.

I’m a curvy girl—I have more curves than a coastal highway. My grandmother often teases me that I have a “va-va-voom” figure because I’m all hourglass. I think that my Jazzercise outfit from an ’80s party I attended perfectly accentuates my curvaceous body (PS, you can’t see, but I totally had leg warmers on too):

Personal Photo

Keeping this in mind, I want to find a dress that will flaunt my curves while being everything that I want in a dress. What is it that I want in a dress?

Something simple, something classic and vintage looking, and something that highlights my curves without overstepping the sex appeal.

I think that I need to keep it simple with formfitting cuts and find dresses that hit me in the right places. One such cut would be a fit and flare gown, such as this:

Image via David’s Bridal

This would allow for my curves to be hugged and to fit my body in a flattering manner. In this particular dress, there is pleating across the midsection which would also help flatter my tummy (and by flatter, I mean hide the little sucker). The trumpet-like cut hugs all of the best parts of my curves! I don’t know if I would be brave enough (especially when considering comfort) to try a mermaid cut dress, but never say never!

Another silhouette that works really well with a curvy figure is a gown with an a-line skirt, such as this one:

Image via Allure Bridals

As you can see, it hugs the curves in the right spots and is flattering…plus it’s a very classic silhouette, just like I wanted.

There are some things that they always tell curvier girls like me to stay away from: empire waist gowns, ball gowns, and sheath cuts. These cuts usually make you look unbalanced because it’s cutting you off in really awkward places. I’ll definitely be keeping this these things in mind when finally trying on the multitude of wedding dresses that are about to head my way. I figure it will help me from getting overwhelmed if I stick to these few cuts of dresses.

What are some things that you have heard about your body type? Did you find it difficult to find a dress because of that? Did you follow the “rules,” or was your dress one of the ones that they told you to stay away from?