If you’re a bride-to-be shopping for a wedding dress in Southern California or Los Angeles, you may already be wondering which wedding dress neckline will look best on you. Should you choose a strapless wedding dress, a square neckline, an off-the-shoulder bridal gown, or something completely different? There are so many choices and we are here to help!
At Lovella Bridal, a top luxury bridal boutique in Glendale and the Los Angeles area, we hear these questions from brides all the time. The good news is that there is not necessarily one wedding dress neckline that is going to flatter you and everything else is off limits. Multiple necklines may look incredible on you, and with detachable bridal accessories, you can even create more than one neckline with the same wedding dress.
The key is to stay open while wedding dress shopping, try different options, and focus on finding the bridal gown you love before getting too caught up in choosing the perfect neckline.
Watch the Video: Wedding Dress Necklines: Which One Flatters You Most?
Wondering whether a sweetheart, square, strapless, off-the-shoulder, or halter wedding dress neckline might be right for you?
Watch our latest bridal fashion advice video as Nayri, Wedding Fashion Expert and bridal stylist at Lovella Bridal, explains why brides should not limit themselves to one wedding dress neckline. You will also see how detachable sleeves, straps, boleros, shrugs, halters, and other bridal accessories can completely transform the neckline of a bridal gown.
You Don't Have to Choose Just One Wedding Dress Neckline
One of the most exciting things about modern bridal styling is that you do not necessarily have to commit to the same wedding dress neckline for your entire wedding day.
You could wear an off-the-shoulder bridal gown for your ceremony and remove the straps to create a strapless wedding dress for your reception. You could add detachable long sleeves for one part of the wedding day and remove them later. You could even add detachable spaghetti straps for more comfort during your reception.
A removable bolero or bridal jacket can create another completely different look. With the right wedding dress and bridal accessories, you could potentially create several necklines throughout your wedding day.
Square vs. Sweetheart Wedding Dress Necklines
Square wedding dress necklines have been incredibly popular with brides, but that does not mean a square neckline will create the exact same effect on every person.
Nayri shares that on her own body, some square necklines can make her shape appear straighter, while a sweetheart wedding dress neckline can visually bring in her waist more. However, she also has square neckline styles that she loves.
The overall effect depends on more than the shape of the neckline. The artwork and design of the bridal gown, along with how everything falls on your individual body, can change the entire look.
This is why trying different wedding dress necklines is so important. Instead of deciding before your bridal appointment that one particular neckline is "best" for your body, give yourself an opportunity to see how different styles actually look on you.
Don't Rule Out Strapless Wedding Dresses
Some brides arrive at Lovella Bridal certain they do not want a strapless wedding dress. Sometimes it is simply because they feel like they have seen too many other brides wear strapless bridal gowns and want something different.
If this sounds familiar, don't let that stop you from trying on strapless wedding dresses.
A strapless bridal gown can become the foundation for an entirely different neckline. Depending on the wedding dress construction, your bridal stylist may be able to show you detachable straps, off-the-shoulder details, sleeves, shrugs, boleros, or other options that transform the bridal gown.
You may love everything about a strapless wedding dress and simply need to customize the neckline to make the bridal look feel like you.
Off-the-Shoulder Wedding Dress Necklines Can Transform the Look
Off-the-shoulder wedding dress necklines are especially popular with brides who feel self-conscious about their arms.
An off-the-shoulder detail can visually break up and partially mask the arm area, which can help keep you from fixating on an area you may feel less confident about.
At Lovella Bridal, Nayri will often use a gathered or ruched tulle off-the-shoulder strap while a bride tries on different wedding dresses. This allows the bride to visualize the effect without spending too much appointment time styling every individual bridal gown.
Once the bride finds her wedding dress, then it is time to explore all of the off-the-shoulder options that could work with that specific bridal gown.
Detachable Sleeves, Boleros and Shrugs Create Multiple Bridal Looks
Detachable bridal accessories give brides even more freedom to customize their wedding dress neckline.
A detachable long sleeve can create an off-the-shoulder effect without being permanently connected to the wedding dress. This can also provide more freedom of movement than a highly structured bridal gown with attached long sleeves.
Boleros and removable bridal jackets can be layered over a wedding dress and removed later. A bridal shrug can also create a completely different neckline while looking as though it was originally designed as part of the wedding dress.
These removable bridal accessories allow you to create distinct ceremony and reception looks without necessarily changing into a second wedding dress.
For more inspiration, here are some of our favorite detachable long sleeve wedding dresses that we carry here at Lovella.
A Detachable Halter Neckline Can Completely Change Your Wedding Dress
Halter wedding dress necklines can also be created with detachable elements.
Nayri shares the example of a Lovella bride who chose a detachable halter neckline for her wedding ceremony. For the reception, she removed the halter to reveal a strapless wedding dress and then added a lace choker.
The result was multiple bridal looks created from the same wedding dress.
Changing your neckline throughout the wedding day can also make a bridal gown feel more personalized. Even if other brides purchase the exact same wedding dress, the way you style the neckline can make your final bridal look uniquely yours.
For more inspiration, here are some of our favorite halter neckline wedding dresses that we carry here at Lovella.
Wedding Dress Construction Matters When Changing Necklines
While there are countless ways to customize a wedding dress neckline, the construction of the bridal gown still needs to support the changes you want to make.
For example, if you want a very low-back wedding dress, the bridal gown may need straps for support. A removable strap requires the back of the wedding dress to be high enough to support the bridal gown when that strap is removed.
This is where working with an experienced bridal stylist becomes important. There are creative possibilities, but gravity, support, and the construction of the wedding dress still need to work together.
Find Your Wedding Dress First, Then Play With the Neckline
With so many wedding dress neckline possibilities, it can be tempting to start customizing every bridal gown you try on. Nayri recommends resisting that temptation.
Your priority during your bridal appointment should be finding the wedding dress you love.
If you think you want an off-the-shoulder wedding dress, for example, your bridal stylist can use a simple off-the-shoulder accessory to help you visualize that look while trying on different bridal gowns. You do not need to explore every possible sleeve, shrug, halter, strap, or choker with every wedding dress.
Once you find the bridal gown, then you can really start playing.
Explore the off-the-shoulder options. Try a shrug. Add a halter neckline. Experiment with straps or a choker. This is when the smaller styling details can help solidify and personalize your final bridal look.
Which Wedding Dress Neckline Is Best for You?
There may not be one single wedding dress neckline that is best for you. You may look incredible in a sweetheart neckline, love yourself in a square neckline, and discover that an off-the-shoulder or halter detail creates another bridal look you never expected to love.
The most important thing is to stay open while wedding dress shopping. Try the strapless wedding dress even if you thought you wanted straps. Experiment with different necklines and pay attention to what resonates with you once you actually see it on your body.
And remember, you do not have to choose only one. Detachable bridal accessories can allow you to personalize your wedding dress and create multiple looks throughout your wedding day while still wearing the bridal gown you fell in love with.
Wedding Dress Shopping Tips from Lovella Bridal Los Angeles
We hope this guide to the top wedding dress trends helps you feel inspired as you begin your bridal gown shopping journey. At Lovella Bridal, we share expert bridal styling advice to help brides feel confident and prepared every step of the way.
For more wedding dress inspiration and helpful tips, explore these related posts:
- How To Choose The Perfect Wedding Dress Silhouette
- What Brides Should Know Before Wedding Dress Alterations
- Unexpected Truths About Special Ordering A Wedding Dress
- What To Expect When Wedding Dress Shopping For The First Time
About Lovella
If you're shopping for your perfect wedding dress, come visit us at Lovella Bridal in Glendale, CA. We carry wedding dresses in all sizes and styles, including plus-size bridal gowns and a full selection of veils and accessories. Lovella Bridal is the premier, luxury bridal wedding dress shopping boutique located in Los Angeles, California. Lovella features couture, feminine, modern and chic bridal gowns in all sizes from the best wedding dress designers. Schedule an appointment to find the wedding dress of your dreams at Lovella Bridal. We can't wait to help you!
Meet Lovella’s Wedding Fashion Expert in Los Angeles
Our wedding dress shopping tips and advice are from Nayri, Lovella's own, in-house wedding fashion expert. Nayri is truly the expert when it comes to bridal fashion and wedding style. As the Wedding Fashion Expert, Nayri is the top bridal fashion stylist and the best-selling author of the book "I'm Getting Married And I Have Nothing To Wear," the ultimate guide to helping brides find their wedding day style and their perfect wedding dress. You can subscribe to her YouTube channel or listen to her podcast for more helpful and practical advice on wedding dress shopping.
