Wedding Gown Styles

Choosing Your Wedding Gown Style

There are many wedding gown styles available such as classic/traditional, romantic, Victorian, contemporary, garden/county, and country/western to name some of the most popularÂ types.

The size and location and time of your ceremony will determine which gown type is best for your wedding.

Listed below you will find these gown types with a list of suitable fabrics and trims.

This information will be useful to you if you decide to design you own wedding gown.

Any of these types will be suitable for a formal or semi-formal wedding; it is the fabric that you choose that will make the difference.

The images below are just an indication of the styles, there are so many variations on each theme.

Romantic Style

The classic/traditional style is clean and with simple lines, re-embroidered lace and beading often are featured in the bodice and sleeve areas.

This gown usually has long sleeves. It can have chapel, cathedral or sweep train and veil.

Suggested fabrics

Brocade
Crepe
Faille
Peau de Soie
Re-embroidered lace
Satin - especially heavy bridal satin
Sheers - soft or crisp
Silks - shantung, silk satin

Trims

Beading
Lace appliques and edging

Classic/Traditional Wedding Gown

Brocade
Crepe
Faille
Peau de Soie
Re-embroidered lace
Satin - especially heavy bridal satin
Sheers-soft or crisp
Silks-shantung, silk satin

Trims

Beading
Lace appliques and edging

Victorian Wedding Gown

This style has lots of lace, beading, ruffles and pin tucks.

It usually has a high collar or a V neckline, often with a lace cape or a collar of lace.

The skirt of the gown can be tea or floor length, with or without aÂ train; frequently with an under slip of silk or satin covered with additional layers of beading the sleeves usually made in all over lace with fullness at the shoulders.

Suggest Fabrics

All over lace
Challis
Charmeuse
Cotton batiste (of the underskirt)
Guipure lace
Satin
Sheers - soft or filmy
Silk lightweight
Venice lace

Trims

Alencon or Venise edgings
Beaded lace

Contemporary Wedding Gown

This style is made in soft, refined fabric textures in late afternoon or evening clothing styles.

Straight silhouettes may be short or long and can be worn with a jacket.

This look can be very dramatic when highlighted with a single flower bouquetÂ or close fitting headpiece with no veil.

Suggest Fabrics

Challis
Crepe
Pleated fabrics
Sheers - soft or filmy
Silk - crepe de chine, charmeuse
Silkies

Trims

Lace
Metallic or beaded accents

Garden/Country Wedding Gown

The garden/country wedding gown style is usually made in crisp fabrics, with dainty tucks and trim details.

It has a fitted bodice, it can be sleeveless to long sleeved.

May not have a train or veil, the headpiece can simply be a flower wreath.

Suggested Fabrics

Batiste
Broadcloth
Cotton laces
Embroidered fabrics
English netting
Eyelet
Gauze
Gingham
Lawn
Linen
Polished cottons

Trims

Beading Lace
Crocheted lace
Eyelet trim
Ribbon

Country/Western Wedding Gown Styes

This style is reminiscent of the 'prairie dresses' with a shaped neckline, long sleeves, fitted waist line and a tea length skirt, usually with a handkerchief hemline.

The yoke is usually fringed with additional fringing around the hem.

Suggested fabrics