The first step to choose a perfect wedding dress is to know what your body type is. For brides who have a larger hip in relation to a smaller shoulder width, you’re the lucky owner of a pear-shaped body. Please keep in mind, the shape has nothing to do with weight, just how your bone structure is- you could easily be a size 2 or size 22 and still have a pear shape. So how to choose wedding dress for pear-shaped body? Here, 9 styling tips and 27 stylish options perfect for pear-shaped girls. For petite brides, you might also want to check these top wedding dresses for petite brides.
1. Emphasize your waistline
The perfect dress for a pear shaped bride will accentuate her tiny waist and slender upper body, by cinching in under the bust while skimming over the tummy, hips and bottom. You can choose an empire wedding dress to emphasize your waistline or wear jeweled belt and ribbon on the fitted waistline makes you look slimmer and shaped.
2. Detailed top
Wedding dresses that flatter the top portion are ideal. Highlight your smaller top half with a detailed top to draw the eye up. A little bit of sparkle or embellishment on the bodice, or capes are great options. However you should avoid wearing a gown with larger area beads from head to toe which will make you look heavy and awkward.
3. A-line silhouette
A-line princess style dresses works well for pear shaped brides because they are figure hugging on top and billow out beautifully on bottom. The A-formation from the natural waist to the floor highlights the narrowness of the midsection and floating away from the hips and thighs. Just make sure the waist band is quite high and avoid styles that seem to ‘cut off’ around the lower tummy area.
4. Grecian draped dress
The Grecian style is characterized by softly draped fabrics, rushing & gathering, empire lines and jeweled embellishments. This ethereal style of dress is often made using luxurious silks, soft chiffons and delicate netting that elegantly cascade to the ground. It is great style for women who are heavier in the hips and narrow on top - in other words, pear-shaped. It’s also an ideal choice if you don’t like the idea of a classic ball gown or if you’re marrying on a beach and wants a romantic, flowy wedding dress.
5. Interesting necklines
As a pear-shaped bride, you have a smaller shoulder and fuller hip; you may need to choose a wide neckline to balance your body proportion. Wide V-neck, off-the-shoulder neckline, halter neckline and one-shoulder neckline create broader shoulder which suits you perfectly. And theses interesting necklines can also draw attention from your hip and things.
6. Dresses with ruching details
For the petite pear-shaped bride, ruching is one of those miracles of design that flatters you. It makes curve-less girls look curvier and curvier girls look svelte. I recommend this style for petite pear shapes because the key is to flatter a wider hip by wearing a fuller skirt yet without overwhelming a short frame. At the same time, it creates the illusion of the length that will make you look taller.
7. Tea-length wedding dress
Tea-length gown is a modified short A-line wedding dress. Share the same silhouette, tea-length wedding dress is shorter in length which is more casual and comfortable. Still it is best as you will be naturally smaller at the waist and with the full skirt the A-line shape will disguise and float over the hips and thighs. If you are going to have a small and intimate wedding, it would be a good choice wearing it.
8. Pantsuit
For a modern, bold pear-shaped bride who wants to make a statement on wedding day, pantsuit is something you got to try on. This new bridal style is on-trend. The most important thing is it works well for pear-shaped body. A fitted Pant would flatter your hip well and balance your body proportion which will make you look sleek and chic.
9. Two pieces wedding dress
With a little peek of skin at the mid-section, two piece wedding dresses have a fun and flirty style that flatters your figure and lets you show off your amazing slim waist. With the full skirt billow out beautifully on bottom, it can also float away from the hips and thighs. If you are a bride looking to break tradition, this is the dress for you.
Key Points to Remember:
1. Stay away from mermaid or fish tale style dresses as they will cling to your bottom half and can make you look disproportionate. If you really want to wear a mermaid styles, make sure it has a halter or wide V-neck in order to balance out the hips.
2. A-line wedding dress is your friend.
3. Find a way to draw attention to your top via an interesting neckline or detailed bodice.
4. Ruching and drapes details look good on you.