Wedding Dress Shapes and Silhouettes

When searching for a wedding dress, the amount of choices can be somewhat overwhelming — especially so when you're first starting to shop. Are you a column gal, or does ball gown suit your style? A-line or modified A-line? And what the heck is the difference between trumpet and mermaid? Is there a difference?

Not to worry. We had the same questions, which is why we did some research and created this guide — complete with easy-to-understand illustrations — for each distinct silhouette. Read on for a handful of knowledge before you begin the hunt.