Wedding Dress Necklines

The neckline on your wedding dress is a very important feature – it can really change the shape of the dress and accentuate your shape. It’s also the part of the dress that draws attention to your face. Of course, the neckline you choose depends on the overall style of your dress, but here’s a quick guide to the most common wedding dress necklines.

High collar

A band-style collar that covers the neck. It’s a style that’s also called Mandarin that’s taken from traditional Asian dress. Some Mandarin collars have a little cut out V or a slight overlap of fabric at the front.

If you have a small bust this is a great neckline for you and works well with an updo hairstyle.

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Bateau

This wide-necked shape follows the curve of the collarbone, almost to the tip of the shoulders. The Sabrina version – made popular by actress Audrey Hepburn – is sleeveless and has a slightly squarer shape. This is a good style if you have small boobs but not so flattering if you have a large bust.

Jewel

Jewel T-shirt neckline comes up quite high and is round, just sitting on the top part of the collarbone. It’s a great style if you want your small bust to look bigger, but not so good if you’ve got big boobs.

Portrait

A gorgeous classic wedding dress neckline, the portrait neckline really shows off a beautiful décolletage, neck and face. It’s a wide neckline that scoops from shoulder to shoulder and is good for making small or broad shoulders more in balance with the rest of your shape. Characterised by a wide, soft scoop from shoulder to shoulder.

Scoop

Also known as a ballerina neckline, this deep U-shaped style is often cut low and sometimes the scoop will continue on the back of the dress, which is quite sexy! It’s a great style for everyone but as always a good bra can make or break this style.

V-neck

A great neckline if you want to minimize a big bust, the V-neck style also elongates the neck and highlights the décolleté. Be careful with this neckline if you have a small bust as this style could make you look smaller.

Square

As the name suggests this neckline is square shaped and cut straight across the front. It’s quite good if you have a medium to large bust, but if you’re very big be careful with this style. A pretty good neckline for almost everyone.

Halter

The halter neckline is effortlessly chic. It’s a usually a square neckline with straps that secure around the neck rather than over the shoulders and sometimes is backless. It’s a good neckline for an athletic figure and if you have small or medium boobs. Beware of this style if you have a large bust or have broad shoulders and big arms.

Off-the-shoulder

This neckline sits below or just on the shoulders, with very short cap-like sleeves that cover part of the upper arm. This is a beautiful, refined neckline and great for pearshapes as it balances out your silhouette. If you have wide shoulders this is a style that should be avoided as it’ll make you look broader.

Spaghetti strap

This neckline is really pretty and delicate, almost a strapless style except for very thin straps. This is a great neckline for a simple dress style and good for a beach or casual wedding. Not so great if you have a big bust, wide shoulders and big arms.

Strapless

This is really just a bodice with no staps – hence the name! It’s a gorgeous neckline and very popular. However, it’s a difficult style to wear if you have big boobs but with really great underwear and a good seamstress you can get away with it. The only downside to a strapless neckline is that you have to have perfect, flawless skin as it’s showing off a lot of flesh.

Asymmetrical

Asymmetrical means there is no symmetry or no balance. So this neckline appears different on either side, in other words it’s a one shoulder style neckline. It’s really modern and chic and if the bodice is well cut and fitted can suit most body shapes, although if you have a large bust bear in mind that you’ll have to wear a strapless bra.