The short answer: a princess wedding dress is a ball gown, with a fitted bodice, a defined waist and a full skirt, often with a train. The biggest choice is the skirt. Tulle feels light and airy, satin feels classic and structured, and lace feels romantic.
Some brides have pictured a ball gown since they were little. Others try one on almost by accident and never want to take it off. Either way, the right one makes you stand a little taller.
At ZAKAA, many gowns carry the names of princesses and queens, and our collections are full of ball gowns. Here's how to choose yours.
The short version:
A princess dress means a ball gown: fitted on top, full below the waist.
Choose the skirt first. Tulle, satin and lace each feel very different.
Think about your venue before you choose your train.
Sleeves and corsets both work beautifully with a ball gown.
What makes a wedding dress a princess dress?
A princess dress is the ball gown silhouette. The bodice is fitted, the waist is defined, and the skirt opens out into a wide, full shape that reaches the floor. Many have a train.
The fitted top and full skirt create a strong waistline. It's the most classic wedding silhouette there is, and it suits grand settings like a ballroom, a cathedral or a historic estate.
Three skirts, three moods
The skirt decides how a princess gown feels, so choose it first.
Tulle: soft, airy and full of volume
Tulle is light, so it can hold a lot of volume without feeling heavy. It moves when you walk and looks soft in photos.
Regal is a tulle ball gown. Its strapless, fitted bodice drops into a full skirt of ruffled tulle that spills into a long train. It's pure fairy tale, made for a big entrance.
Satin: classic, smooth and structured
Satin has weight and sheen. It holds its shape, so a satin ball gown looks sculpted and elegant, with clean lines and soft folds.
Premier is a strapless satin ball gown with a wide, full skirt and a train. It's timeless, the kind of gown that looks as right in fifty years as it does today.
Lace: romantic and detailed
Lace adds texture and pattern. On a ball gown, it gives a full skirt something to look at up close, not just from across the room.
Chateau is covered in large floral lace, with a fitted strapless bodice and a full skirt that flows into a long train. Versailles pairs a strapless bodice and plunging neckline with floral appliqué and a sweeping train.
Is a ball gown right for your body?
A fitted bodice with a full skirt flatters many body types. It defines the waist and balances the top and bottom halves.
Scale matters, though. A very full skirt can overwhelm a petite frame, so a lighter tulle or a slightly smaller skirt may suit you better. Neckline matters too, and it's easy to change.
The honest answer is to try one on, even if you're sure you're not a "ball gown person." And if the shape is right but the fit isn't, a gown can be made to your custom measurements.
A princess dress with a long train
A long train is part of the drama, but think about your venue first.
A long aisle or a grand staircase is made for a long, sweeping train, like the ones on Regal, Versailles and Chateau.
A garden, a beach or a small venue may suit a shorter train that's easier to move in.
For the reception, a long train is usually bustled, which means it's gathered up so you can dance.
Train length is one of the details you can customize, so you don't have to give up a gown because its train is the wrong length.
A princess dress with sleeves
Sleeves add elegance and a little coverage, and they look beautiful with a full skirt. Elodie pairs a high neck with sheer floral lace sleeves.
If you love a strapless ball gown but want sleeves, ask about adding them. Sleeves can be added or changed as a customization. A sheer cape is another option. It adds coverage for the ceremony and comes off for the reception.
A princess dress with a corset
A corset gives a ball gown a sharp, defined waist. The Lucienne Corset & Satin Ballgown pairs a structured strapless corset with a full satin skirt and train. Because it's two pieces, the same corset also works with a slimmer skirt. Our guide to bridal separates shows how.
A modern take on the princess gown
Not every princess gown has to be traditional. Antoinette turns the idea into sculpture, with layered satin ruffles at the bodice and hip and a long, flowing skirt. It's a ball gown for a bride who wants to make a statement.
Find your princess gown
A ball gown is a feeling as much as a shape, and it's hard to judge from a photo. Before you go, read what to bring to your wedding dress appointment. Book a private appointment at our salons in Ashburn or Fairfax, Virginia, or in New York, and try a few skirts side by side. If you'd like to change details, our guide to custom wedding dresses explains how.
FAQ
What is a princess wedding dress?
A princess wedding dress is a ball gown: a fitted bodice, a defined waist and a full skirt that reaches the floor, often with a train.
What's the difference between a ball gown and an A-line wedding dress?
Both are fitted at the bodice. An A-line skirt flares gently in a triangle shape, while a ball gown skirt is much fuller and opens out dramatically from the waist.
Are ball gown wedding dresses good for petite brides?
They can be. Petite brides often prefer a lighter fabric like tulle, or a slightly less full skirt, so the gown doesn't overwhelm their frame.
Can you add sleeves to a ball gown wedding dress?
Often, yes. At ZAKAA, sleeves can be added or modified as a customization. A sheer cape is another way to add coverage for the ceremony.
Can the train on a wedding dress be shortened?
Yes. Train length is one of the details ZAKAA can customize, so a gown can suit a smaller venue.
