Wedding Dresses 2016

By the time you're ready to start wedding dress shopping, you’ve probably amassed a pretty nice-sized wish list about your dream gown. Most bridal shops will only let you book an hour-long appointment. And, while one hour is plenty of time to try on dresses, if you can narrow down your options before stepping foot in the dressing room, you're in for a much more pleasant, laid-back shopping experience.

One easy way to limit your options is to choose a silhouette that will highlight your best-loved assets and conceal your less-favorable traits. To start, figure out which of our five featured body types best defines your figure: Petite, plus size, busty, hourglass or lean and straight. And remember, you may not fit squarely into one category — most people don’t! Take Kim Kardashian: She's petite, busty and has (insane) hourglass curves. And, her wedding dress (ahem, the Givenchy Haute Couture one she wore most recently to marry Kanye West) with its sheath silhouette, modest neckline and waist-baring cut-outs, was the perfect complement to her shape.

Along with finding the right gown for your body type, there are a few other things that can help make your wedding dress shopping experience as easy as possible. First, trust your consultant and don't be afraid to try on gowns he or she suggests that fall outside of your traditional comfort zone. Also shop with a supportive crew! Miss Negativity does not deserve a sacred spot on the "yay-or-nay" team. And finally, do your makeup and hair. It will be much easier to imagine wearing one of these gowns on your wedding day if you don't look like you just rolled out of bed.