Bridal Wedding Dress Terms

Looking to buy your wedding dress? Don't quite know how to describe it?
Before you actually step into a bridal store you might need to know a few terms used to describe your gown.

Below is a list of terms that will make your wedding dress buying.

Wedding Dress - Bodice

Corset - A tight-fitting top with boning for support and lace-up or closures on the back.
Empire - Rounded bodice that ends just below the bust line.
Halter - A top in which the straps wrap around the neck.
Midriff - bodice fits tightly around the ribcage.
One-shoulder - revealing one shoulder.
Princess-line - This bodice has two seams that run over the bust line to the seam.

Wedding Dress - Necklines

Bateau - Cut straighter across the collar-bone line.
Square - Neckline is shaped like half of a square in the front and back.
High-Neck - The neckline reaches up high to the neck.
Halter - A higher-neck with straps that tie behind the neck.
Jewel - A round neckline.
Off The Shoulder - Sitting just off the shoulders.
Portrait - A rounded scoop from one shoulder to the other.
Scoop - A deeper, rounder cut that reaches from shoulder to shoulder
Strapless - Attaches around the ribcage with no straps.
Sweetheart - Top half of the dress shaped in a heart, point in the middle of the chest.
V-Neck - The middle of the neckline comes down into a V-shape.

Wedding Dress - Sleeves

Balloon - Full from the shoulder and over the upper arm, narrow over the lower arm and wrist.
Bell - Tight and narrow at the top of the arm, comes down into a wide, open bell shape.
Cap - A small sleeve just covering the top of the arm.
Fitted point - A long sleeve that comes to a point on top of the hand.
Juliet - long sleeved which reaches down to the wrist with either a straight or pointed end.
Poet - Gathering at the shoulder with a rounded, loose extension over the arm, then gathers down to the wrist.
Spaghetti strap - Very Thin straps.
3 quarter length - The sleeve ends between the elbow and wrist.
Tulip - A petal-shape, with flaps over the shoulder to resemble a flower.

Wedding Dress - Skirt styles

V-Waist - Waist dropped just below waistline creating a V shape.
Empire Waist - The waistline begins just below the bust line.
Ball gown - Fitted at the waist, and comes out into a full ball gown.
Flared - Fitted at the waist, and comes out into a tulip shape at the hemline.
Flounce - A looser skirt that flares out and has a ruffle at the hemline.
Front slit - A slit on a front seam, usually along the leg and not in the middle.
Pannier - Fabric draping on both hips
Pencil/ Column Skirt/straight skirt - Straight-lined skirt with no flare or fullness.
Pleated - Varying numbers of pleats along the front of the skirt.
Multiple pleats - accordion style
Two larger pleats - box style
Side slit - Slit on the side of one leg, allowing for movement.
Straight - The skit extends straight down, with no flare at the hem.
Tiered - The skirt has several overlapping layers of different lengths.
Wrap - The skirt overlaps the body and wraps at the waist.
A-Lined - Form fitting bodice that flares out from the waistline, Seamless waist.

Wedding Dress - Skirt Lenghts

Ballerina/Tea Hem is just above the ankles.
Floor Length - Reaches the floor on all sides.
Intermission - Hem falls between the knees and ankle.
Knee Length - Reaches just below the knee.
Mini Skirt - Reaches above the knee.

Wedding Dress - Trains

Cathedral - Choice for ultra-formal weddings.(Extends 6-8 feet)
Chapel - Choice for formal weddings.(Extends 3-4 feet)
Extended - Known as a Royal train.(Extends more than 4 feet)
Sweep/Brush - Shortest train, it just grazes the floor behind the bride.
Watteau/Back Drape - Train extends from attachments at the shoulders.
Detachable Train - Are removable trains that joined to the gown at the waistline.

Accessories

Crinoline/Petticoats/Parasols - Stiffened slip worn under the wedding gown. It gives a fullness affect.
Most commonly used for A-lined dresses and Ball gown dresses
Gauntlets - Gloves that extend above the wrist.