First, decide on what type of gown is most flattering: a ballroom gown, often called a Cinderella style wedding dress, is a Cinderella dress modeled after Disney's Cinderella, or a different style all together, such as a Renaissance Cinderella. If you opt for the traditional Cinderella; the one that little and big girls dream of dancing in at their own weddings, you will want to wear a bell-shaped dress with fitted bodice, two "petals'" extending from the waist over the hips, with a soft, scoop or 'V' neckline. This gown typically has long sleeves or short puffy sleeves accompanied by long white gloves.
The classic Cinderella wedding dress is white with sparkles and silver such as:
- Austrian crystals sewn into the skirt or crystal cabochons glued on to make you sparkle as you waltz with your prince to Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Ten Minutes Ago".
- A full white tulle or other sheer material skirt with silver, satin lining.
- White satin lining sprinkled with silver sequins or rhinestones that twinkle through the top layer.
If you do not want to wear white, another classic Cinderella gown is the blue ballroom gown that Cinderella wears in most pictures and memorabilia. The style is almost the same as her wedding dress but without the veil, train and extra fullness.
Contemporary variations of the Cinderella wedding dress are as unlimited as your imagination. Just keep in mind that the Cinderella or ball gown silhouette has a line that hits at the hips, elongates the torso and emphasizes the waistline. These are found with all types of bodices, including halter and strapless. If you are having your Cinderella gown made or are purchasing online, it is a good idea to try on dresses with different types of sleeves and bodices to see what looks best on you.
If you want a Cinderella wedding without the poufy dress, consider the princess cut, which still emphasizes the waist, but has panels to create a more subtle flare. Alternatively, you might want to fashion your Cinderella wedding dress after one of the beautiful, almost Edwardian gowns worn by Leslie Ann Warren in Rodger and Hammerstein's version of the fairy tale, where the dress' empire waist breaks beneath the bust line and draws the eyes upward, away from the hips. The Renaissance style also features an empire waist with a flowing gown and can be very flattering to the full figured woman. A quick search online for a Renaissance Cinderella wedding dress brought up a beautiful, silver loose fitting dress fit for a princess.
Do not forget your glass slippers! You can easily find these made in vinyl, and when you make your regal entry as the fan fare trumpeters announce the beginning of your wedding, you should wear a sparkling tiara. Find one with a comb to hold it in place, and if the budget allows, silver-plated is nice. A Cinderella style veil is set at the back of an upswept coiffure and upheld by a pair of bluebirds, but we have no suggestions for you there. A simple pearl necklace with matching earrings is all that is needed to accessorize.
You can find out more about a Cinderella wedding by going to Cinderella Wedding Theme.