Women on the curvier side will know how hard it is to find dresses that fit like a glove. The sad reality is that there aren’t that many options for plus-size women. Even when you find one in the right size, it isn’t always figure-flattering. 

If you’ve been invited to a wedding but you don’t know what to wear, don’t worry. To help you out, we’ve narrowed down your options to our top five favorites below. You’ll also find a few tips to bear in mind when window-shopping for a wedding guest dress. 

1. A-Line Dresses

You can’t go wrong with wearing an A-line dress to a wedding. It works with every body type, but it works particularly well for curvy women. It features a fitted top with a cinched waist and a skirt that gradually widens to create a capital “A” shape.  A-line dresses tend to be made of structured fabrics as they’re meant to maintain their “A” shape all day.

To define your waist more, you can wear your A-line dress with a belt. It’s best to wear a wide belt than a thin belt, as the former can cut your figure to accentuate the narrowest section of your body. 

2. Empire Dresses

Compared to A-line dresses that are cinched at the waist, this dress shape boasts a bodice that is cinched below the chest. This allows the dress to draw attention to the upper body than to the bottom half, making it more suitable for women with oval body types. It “raises” the waist so that the attention isn’t on your stomach, but your chest. 

When combined with a round neckline, this silhouette can make you look as charming as the women in the regency era. However, if have a full bust, a round neckline can make your chest look too bulky for your liking. As an alternative, go for a V-shaped neckline that can elongate your neck. 

3. Peplum Dresses

The peplum cut can give you that envy-worthy hourglass shape that every woman wants. It creates curves through the flared ruffles that are sewn into the wedding dress. This makes the waist look slimmer than it is, and the hips wider than they are. With that said, they’re suitable for women with a rectangular silhouette. 

Although you can buy ready-to-wear peplum dresses, you can also buy their pieces separately. If you can’t find a one-piece peplum dress, look for a peplum top and pair it with a pencil skirt. 

4. Wrap Dresses

Wrap dresses (or faux wrap dresses) are another example of a dress that works with every silhouette. They look like A-line dresses, but are more flexible because they’re compatible with any body type — whether you’re a size 12 or 16, a wrap dress is sure to fit you well. That’s because you get to decide how tightly you want the dress to be wrapped around your body. 

It’s worth mentioning that wrap dresses aren’t the most secure, so you may want to wear a half-slip underneath your dress. Otherwise, you will risk flashing other wedding-goers, particularly if the venue is windy. 

5. Bodycon Dresses

Bodycon or con dresses are another go-to wedding guest dress as they can accentuate your every curve. They’re very tight-fitting, so if you’ve ever wanted to give your curves the attention they deserve, bodycon dresses are the way to do it. After all, if you’ve got it, why not flaunt it, right? 

The downside is that bodycon dresses work with what you already have, so if you don’t have curves, they won’t be able to accentuate anything. That said, bodycon dresses are a great choice for women with hourglass silhouettes. 

Tips on Shopping For Plus-Size Wedding Dresses

Aside from choosing the right dress shape, don’t forget to consider the following:

1. Go For a Figure-Flattering Silhouette

No matter how dreamy a mermaid-style dress can be, it's a no if it doesn’t compliment your body. Before window-shopping for a dress to wear to a wedding, determine what your body type is. If you’re apple-shaped, your best bets are dresses that take the attention away from the tummy, such as A-line dresses. But if your body is in the shape of an inverted triangle, shop for other affordable wedding dresses such as A-line dresses that balance out the volume. 

2. Be Mindful of Your Problem Areas

Curvy bodies are beautiful, but it’s perfectly fine to not want to show off specific parts of your body. For instance, if you’re insecure about your arms, you could wear a dress with sleeves, or if you want to trim down your torso, you could choose a high-waisted dress in an A-line cut. That way, you won’t draw attention to “flaws” and wear something that you genuinely feel good in. You’ll be able to walk into the wedding venue with confidence and be worry-free all day.

3. Choose the Correct Fabrics

Your choice of fabric can make or break your ensemble. When shopping for a dress to wear to a wedding, remember that some fabrics won’t work for curvier women. If you have a full figure, you have to find figure-flattering fabrics that will accentuate your curves the right way. As a rule of thumb, stay away from fabrics that make you look bulkier. Choose fabrics that flow well such as chiffon, viscose, and velvet. 

4. Wear Shapewear

This should be non-negotiable. When going to a wedding, you should always wear shapewear. Shapewear not only smooths your body down, but it provides support, particularly if you want to get “tucked in”. Don’t forget to bring your shapewear as you go window-shopping for wedding dresses. That way, you can see how the wedding dress will look with the shapewear. 

5. Do an “Underwear Check”

Whether you’re wearing regular underwear or period underwear, it’s important to do an “underwear check”. This shows you whether or not people can see your undies underneath your dress. If you can see the outline of your undergarments through your wedding dress, that’s a sign that it’s too tight.

Wrapping Up

As you window-shop for a dress to wear to a wedding, be sure to keep our tips in mind. However, remember that what works for other women may not work for you, so take the time to experiment. From A-line dresses to bodycon dresses, be sure to try it all on to find out what suits you the best. After all, when it comes to plus-size fashion, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach! 

Guest post written by Sophia Young of Sophia Young Content Studio.

Risa James Events has no financial relationship with any companies linked within this post.