Your wedding lehenga is one of the most special pieces of clothing you will ever wear. The challenge is to find a lehenga-choli that you love, while finding the one that perfectly fits your shape and body type.

Petite
You are lucky to be in a position to take full advantage of experimenting with a variety of styles be it with the lehenga and the choli. And with the current trend of showing skin, don’t be shy to show off your midriff.

You can opt for the eternal demure feel with a flounce in your lehenga or carry off a slim fit one with equal ease. Your choice of fabrics will come from the exotic woven lengths such as raw silk, brocade, jacquard silk. 

Strappy, one shoulder, off shoulder, deep backs are complimentary to your frame. But if you are not comfortable with this, full or three quarter sleeves would also work well.

Any wedding ensemble must have a richer feel and intricate embroidery will work well for you. Since you are petite, smaller designs in the weave of the fabric or the embroidery is a must. To gain on height your choice for the embroidery could be a vertical design.

If you are of a small figure and smaller height: Wide –U or square neckline, ¾ or full sleeves. Longer fitted top (overlapping the Lehenga belt) with princess seams (for an illusion for a curvier figure). A line Lehenga with built in train (no more than 15 inches). Dupatta folded and draped over shoulder with vertical border design falling from shoulder to Knee for an illusion of height. Avoid vertical embellishments as they will make you look skinny and add more height and slenderness than required.  Do not use visually or physically heavy dupattas. They will engulf you taking away from your look.

Busty   
Avoid having raised embroidery work done on the choli as it would add to the bust size. Keep all embroidery very flat and avoid making big designs. Keep small designs on the choli like flowers, leaves etc. Keep away from a jewel neckline, which will make you appear bustier. Use under wire bra to give the bust shape and lift. Balance it all off with a full lehenga instead of A-line.

Pear Shaped  
Wear a lehenga that is “A” line with not too much of volume to it as extra volume adds bulk to shape. Keep it clean, straight cut and tapered. Soft fabrics are more advisable rather than stiffer fabrics. Ornate cholis draw attention upward. Full sleeves and padded shoulders extend the shoulder line and give the figure balance.

Thin and Tall
Use a lot of volume to your lehenga as it adds grace and softness to your appearance. Any fabric complements someone who is tall and thin. Avoid too long cholis as it would make you look thin, and overlay jackets is a great alternative for brides who donot want to bare it all.Make sure the dupatta is long as it would add length and grace to your look. You can use lots of material to create an elegant flare lehenga in a slightly heavier raw silk, jamevar silk, banarasi organza or crepe tissue with a brocade choli. Shaded tones can be used to project your height. Your neckline can also be used to enhance your body frame. Go in for deep necks that are wide in the front as well as the back.  Steer clear of high necklines and long sleeves. Yours is the only body frame that can opt for broad borders with elaborate embroidery.

Broad
Your choice would be the softer fabrics in crepe and georgette. This will help in giving you a slimmer look and feel. Single panel cuts would work well for you. A really deep neckline in slightly darker shades will help in creating a slimmer look. Three quarter sleeves, deep but not wide necklines are what will suit you best. The work on your lehenga should have slim borders and preferably in vertical designs.

Thick-waisted  
Softer material chiffons and georgette in a single panel with a slight slim look would be appropriate for you. Kurti style cholis up to the hip in a single colour and darker shades would also do you justice. Your embroidery design should be tiny and delicate. While the length is long, the kurti can have a wide and deep neckline. This helps in giving you a slim look.

Full Figured  
Softer fabrics like chiffon, crepe, georgette, will bring in a more feminine feel for you. Avoid stiff fabrics such as organza, brocades or tissue. Try and settle for single colours in slightly darker shades. The conventional 6 panel lehenga will work well for you. A well- cut wide-open neckline will enhance your look for the day. You could even bring in a sexy feel with a bit of cleavage showing. Cap sleeves and also slightly longer choli lengths would be advisable. Smaller embroidery designs work well for you.