There are so many little features of your wedding gown that impact the overall look, and one of the most important of those is the neckline.

Your choice here is going to impact how the dress sits, what hair style you should wear, and how it will frame your face. And, to top it off, the neckline is going to be featured in every photo of you, whether it's a full body or a close up, so you want to make sure you've picked one that looks beautiful and feels comfortable.

sweetheart

One of the most popular options, sweetheart necklines are shaped like the top of a heart.

They're a very romantic choice and, although this neckline is found on all sorts of wedding dresses, it's an absolute classic on strapless gowns. This cut accentuates the décolletage and can accentuate the bust, depending on just how high you place the neckline. 

v-neck

V-necks, as the name suggests, are in the shape of a V.

In order to get this shape and provide adequate support to stop the bodice from slipping, gowns with this neckline usually have straps or sleeves. They're a little bit sexier than a sweetheart neckline, showing off some cleavage without being overly revealing, and can appear to elongate your torso.

plunging

Plunging necklines are a daring choice - they're like V-necks taken to the extreme, as they extend down below the bust, usually to around the bellybutton.

They're a bold statement and take confidence to pull off, but they're definitely striking and are often softened by lace or other soft fabrics and features on the rest of the dress. For balance, these necklines are usually seen on gowns with longer sleeves, and there's often overlap with the next type of neckline, illusion.

illusion

Illusion necklines get their name because they give the illusion of a neckline being more open than it technically is. A sheer fabric, most commonly matched as close as possible to the wearer's skin tone, is sewn to the edges of the opaque fabric of the bodice.

Sometimes they just cover a plunging neckline, or sometimes they continue right up in a high neck style or wrap around to the back in order to support very delicate, thin straps. Often they'll extend into long sleeves covered with lace appliqués. 

queen anne

A queen anne neckline is composed of a slight rise or collar around the back of the neck paired with a wide open, low neckline at the front. The front of the neckline is most commonly cut in the shape of a sweetheart, but V-necks and scoops are also popular options.

In bridal gowns, the queen anne portion of the neckline, the bit that extends up above the bust and around the neck, is most often made of lace. This neckline is paired with long sleeves, cap sleeves or wide straps, all made of the same lace, and is a truly regal and elegant option.

high neck

Most commonly seen in illusion styles, high necklines sit right at the base of the neck, or extend up over it like a turtleneck.

If they're part of the main bodice and made out of the same opaque material, they're a nice, modest option that provides coverage without feeling ridiculously old fashioned. When paired with long sleeves, they can also be good for winter weddings if you'd like some beautiful outdoor photos that still show off your dress.

bateau / boat neck

The bateau or boat neck style is a wide neckline that follows the line of the collarbones, often sitting just underneath them in a relatively straight cut or a slight scoop. It's high in both the front and back, and joins with straps or sleeves that sit on or start at the tips of the shoulders. 

While a modest style, it's still very chic, and evokes old Hollywood class and glamour.

straight

As the name suggests, straight necklines cut across the top of the bust, or just above it, in a straight line.

Seen only on strapless dresses, they often extend from just under the arms, similar to sweetheart necklines, but without any cleavage being shown at all. They can sit slightly higher up towards the collarbones, especially when paired with illusion necklines. If you're looking for a straight neckline but want straps or sleeves, then you actually want the next option, a square neckline.

square

Square necklines cut across the top of the bust in a straight line before joining with straps or sleeves that sit on or start at the tips of the shoulders. 

They can sit lower and wider if you'd like to show some more skin, or can be cut higher up if you'd like something a little more modest. The openness of this neckline pairs particularly well with wider straps or more voluminous sleeves, especially if you're aiming for a soft, almost romantasy aesthetic.   

off-the-shoulder

An increasingly popular choice (and the one that I picked for my own wedding gown), off-the-shoulder necklines are those where the sleeves or straps continue out from the top line of the bodice and over the sides of the arms, rather than going up and over the shoulders.

They can structured and designed to stay in one place, or they can be delicate, draped fabric that gently moves with you. Either way, this neckline accentuates your décolletage while still providing some coverage for your upper arms.

portrait

The portrait neckline is very similar to off-the-shoulder, except that the straps or sleeves extend up from the top of the bodice to sit right on the outside point of your shoulders.

They're common on dresses made of thicker, more structured materials, in order to hold their shape and stay positioned at that delicate point. The wide swoop from shoulder tip to shoulder tip still accentuates your décolletage but provides coverage at a much higher point of the upper arms than off-the-shoulder gowns.

scoop

Scoop necklines cut across the top of the bust in a curved line shaped like the letter U before joining with straps or sleeves that extend up and over the shoulders.

The rounded cut of this neckline softens the overall look, and, in general, they can come across as a bit more casual than a lot of other necklines. They can sit lower and wider if you'd like to show some more skin, or can be cut higher up if you'd like something a little more modest.

jewel

Jewel necklines curve right above the collarbones and around the base of the neck, on both the front and back sides, like the neckline of a T-shirt.

If this neckline is made of the same solid, opaque material as the rest of the bodice, it can be a casual cut. However, it's most commonly used in illusion necklines or lace overlays, where the sheer fabric or lace extends up in a jewel cut while the main bodice sits lower and follows one of the other necklines.

halter

Halter necklines are those where the bodice or straps extend up and loop around the neck, leaving the shoulders and upper back exposed.

They can incorporate features of many of the other necklines, providing more or less coverage over the bust depending on what style you like, and do a great job of accentuating your shoulders.

asymmetrical

Any dress that has a strap or sleeve on only one side has an asymmetrical neckline.

They're a more popular choice for bridesmaid dresses than they are for bridal gowns, but, when paired with soft, flowing, draped fabric they can evoke a neo-classic style, and, when used as part of a structured, minimalist gown they can be very modern and fashion forward. 


If you'd like to return to the main article about wedding dresses, click here.

If you'd like to read on and learn about the different fabrics that wedding dresses are commonly made of, you can read the next article in this series.