There are basically five main components of every wedding gown. Those five components are: the silhouette, which helps shape the dress; the bodice, which helps to shape the waist; the neckline; the sleeves; and the train. Though there are many combination's that help make wedding dresses unique, each dress contains these five parts. Let's take a deeper look at the main part, which is the silhouette.

The silhouette is the first thing that most people notice when they see a wedding dress. That's because it sets the style for how people will view the rest of the dress. There are basically five silhouette styles that most wedding designers work with:

Ball Gown ? this is the most popular style of silhouette because it seems to enhance the bodies of most brides. It usually consists of a fitted bodice which helps make the waist look longer and thinner, yet highlights the breasts and hips, giving the appearance of an hour glass figure.

Empire Waist ? this is probably the second most popular silhouette style because it works to give women a waist that they might not have without this fitted style. It's known for having a fitted waist that leads to a slimming, not flaring, skirt. This dress works well for both petite and full figured women.

Mermaid ? As more women are getting themselves in shape, the mermaid silhouette seems to be growing as the most popular wedding dress style. These dresses traditionally are form fitting to show off the natural curves of the bride, yet bursts out around the knees, reminding most people of the image of a mermaid. These women have to have the most confidence, because there's no hiding anything with this type of dress.

A-Line / Princess ? This style of wedding silhouetted dress can fit most body types because it's meant to work with whatever body shape a woman has. It's not form fitting like the Mermaid, but usually has vertical lines and panels that help give a sleek, long look. Petite women will look taller in styles like this, and full figured women might look slimmer. However, it's not usually recommended for women without defined waist lines.

Sheath ? This style of silhouette works well in a wedding dress for thin and petite women because it gives a form fitting look that can help give them more curves than they might normally have. Some women with hour glass figures will also like this style of dress. Petite women don't usually look good in these dresses, as they tend to make them look smaller than they naturally are.

Selecting the proper silhouette for your body type will go a long way towards making any wedding dress a spectacular success for any bride.