20 Classic Wedding Dress Necklines That Will Elevate Your Style

From asymmetrical and strapless to illusion and portrait, there are so many different necklines available in bridal gowns. When deciding which neckline to go with for your wedding dress, consider the venue, time of year, overall vibe of your wedding and any important finishing touches of your look that you want to highlight (special jewelry, a great hairstyle, etc.) and pick the neckline that speaks to you and your own unique sense of style!

What is considered the neckline of the dress? 

The term neckline is used to describe the cut of your dress between your bustline and neck including the coverage, shape, and strap arrangement. Different types of necklines accentuate different parts of your overall look and can draw attention to certain features or details that you want to emphasize. The neckline of the dress can also set the tone for the overall feel of your dress.  The most important thing about your neckline though is that you should always choose a neckline that makes you feel your most confident and beautiful.

What wedding dress necklines are available? 

There are many different wedding dress necklines available for you to choose from, and each one creates a different style - from boho and modern chic to classic bride and softly feminine, the options are almost limitless! We want to help you find the perfect neckline for your wedding day, so let’s look at what wedding dress necklines are available and the characteristics that make each one unique.

Asymmetrical 

This style of neckline was popularized in the 80s and 90s by princess Diana, who wore many dresses and tops with asymmetrical necklines. This eye-catching design is characterized by either the side or the center of the neckline looking slightly different from the other side. This is a great option for brides who want to feature their neck and shoulders. When deciding what jewelry to pair with an asymmetrical neckline, opt for a pair of statement earrings you want to showcase and either skip the necklace or keep it very simple.

Boatneck/Bateau/Sabrina 

For a classic and royal look, like that of the Duchess of Sussex, Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina, or more recently Meghan Markle, choose a boatneck or bateau neckline. It offers more coverage than other necklines and extends from shoulder to shoulder, falling just under your collarbones. This style of neckline draws attention to your shoulders and can help to create a more balanced look for brides who feel their shoulders are on the narrow side. Boatneck necklines can pair well with sleeves and if you’re thinking about wearing a necklace, opt for simplicity that won’t distract from the neckline.

Cowl 

First introduced in the 1920s, the cowl neckline served as both a collar and hood. Today, it’s making an appearance in everyday fashion as well as bridal shops. Pippa Middleton can be seen wearing a cowl neck bridesmaid dress at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. This chic neckline is characterized by fabric that is draped and folded above the bustline. Cowl necklines are perfect for brides who want all eyes to be on their face rather than their dress or other parts of their wedding day look. Because of this, it’s best to keep your neck area free of jewelry and your earrings simple.

Halter 

A halter neckline is perfect for brides who want to put the focus on their arms, shoulders, and back. This style goes around your neck, leaving your shoulders and upper body exposed. Brides with a larger bust or those wanting more chest support find that the halter top provides extra stability and comfort without sacrificing looks. Because halter tops cover more of your neck area, you don’t need to wear a necklace with this neckline. Instead, go for a pair of drop or dangling earrings.

High Neck/Turtleneck 

For the regal bride, opt for a high neck neckline for your wedding dress. With the top edge of your dress reaching the bottom of your neck or extending slightly above it, similar to a turtleneck, you are sure to look like royalty walking down the aisle on your special day. This neckline provides the most coverage, however, illusion details can be used to soften up the structured high neck look. Don’t forget to style your high neck dress with a pair of simple, teardrop earrings.

Illusion 

An illusion neckline creates a dreamy, romantic look perfect for the fairytale bride. Typically, sheer fabric, such as tulle or lace, extends from the top of the bodice to the neck creating an illusion of a strapless dress, but with a little more coverage and support. Appliques can also be applied to the tulle or lace to enhance the soft, dreaminess of the look. With most of the emphasis being on the dress, choose simple, understated jewelry that will not take away from the neckline of the dress.

Jewel

Similar to the neckline of a T-shirt, jewel necklines are rounded and sit on the base of your neck. Originally, jewel necklines were designed to show off necklaces and bring attention to your jewelry. Now, they are often beaded to resemble that of the jewels on a necklace. Important figures such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Michelle Obama favor the modest look of a jewel neckline. To complete this look, pair your dress with a necklace that sits near your collarbone or forgo the necklace and choose a pair of drop earrings instead.

Keyhole 

Usually seen on a halter or high neck dress, a keyhole is just a cut-out in the neckline. This simple detail reveals a touch more of skin while still providing the support of a halter or high neck neckline. Jewelry options are similar to that of a halter neckline; with much of the neck area covered opt for a pair of statement earrings instead of a necklace.

Off-Shoulder 

An elegant, romantic neckline that accentuates your collarbone and shoulders while drawing attention to your beautiful face. Off-shoulder necklines feature draped sleeves over your upper arms and flatter all body types.Pair your off-shoulder neckline with a short pendant necklace that allows your décolletage to remain the focal point of your look.

One-Shoulder 

Goddesses were strong, yet feminine figures of the past who were often depicted wearing dresses with one-shoulder necklines. Today’s goddess-like brides looking to showcase their strength and femininity can do so with this style of neckline. It’s characterized by one strap across one shoulder only. With this neckline bringing attention up to your face, it’s best to accessorize with a pair of drop earrings.

Plunging 

Plunging necklines, or deep V-cut necklines, is relatively newer in terms of bridal fashion. This neckline features a deep plunge in the front, going past the bust and sometimes down to the navel. Brides who want a daringly sexy and confident look often choose a plunging neckline to accentuate their décolletage and to elongate their torso. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about a wardrobe mishap as the deep V-cut is usually connected on each side by an illusion piece. Plunging Necklines are best paired with a pair of statement earrings or a lariat necklace.

Portrait 

Closely resembling an off-shoulder neckline, the portrait neckline features a wide opening extending to the edges of your shoulders, but not off the shoulders. With so much open space from your neckline to your face, a portrait neckline goes well with necklaces that rest near or just below your collarbone and a pair of dangling or drop earrings. This neckline is ideal for brides with a fuller bust who want more support while still being able to showcase their curves.

Queen Anne 

Another regal option, the Queen Anne neckline creates a vintage romantic-charm wedding day look. This neckline is named after Queen Anne of Britain, who supposedly made the fashion statement during her reign in the 1700s. Don’t think of this style as old fashioned, it's been worn recently by Kate Middleton for her royal nuptials and has a classic, feminine, bridal feel. It’s characterized by a high collar in the back and a v-neck or sweetheart in the front. Queen Anne necklines are often paired with dangly earrings and no necklace.

Scoop 

Scoop necklines are a classic neckline to choose from. The simple, low-rounded neckline dips in the front, creating a scoop. This option is great for brides who wish to accentuate their collarbone or show off a statement necklace. Plus, a scoop neckline is flattering on all body types and offers added bust support with the straps that often tend to be a little wider.

Sheer

A sheer neckline is very comparable to an illusion, jewel, or high neck neckline. It’s characterized by a sheer or semi-sheer fabric extending from the bodice of the dress to the neck. A sheer neckline pairs well with either post, drop, or dangly earrings and no necklace.

Square

Square necklines create a dramatic, unique look while still highlighting the soft, romantic features of your curves. Exactly as the name sounds, a square neckline resembles the shape of a square. The top border of your dress is a straight horizontal edge that meets straps on each side at a 90-degree angle. A square neckline is a great choice for brides who want to accentuate their bust. Pair it with a simple, understated necklace or go necklace free and let your décolletage take center stage.

Straight Across 

A straight neckline is just what it sounds like, a straight edge across the top of the dress with no curves or straps. It is often seen on strapless dresses. This style of neckline offers a little more coverage than the sweetheart neckline (mentioned below). Because of this simple and clean neckline, your collarbones and décolletage will be highlighted. A straight across neckline is best accessorized with collar and princess necklaces or you can keep the neck clean and go for a pair of statement earrings.

Strapless

The strapless neckline has no straps and can curve either up or down. Strapless necklines can be a less flattering choice for brides with a smaller bust as the lack of straps and support do not help accentuate the chest and may not stay up very well. Similar to a straight across neckline, there are many jewelry options that go well with this neckline. Choose either a choker, statement collar, or princess necklace, or go for the bold earring and no necklace to complete your look.

Sweetheart

Resembling the top of a heart, the sweetheart neckline is another common pick for brides. This neckline is strapless and dips in the middle-front to create a romantic heart shape. Since sweetheart necklines follow the curve and dip of your chest, it’s a great way to accentuate your bust or create the illusion of a fuller chest. For brides not wanting as much attention to their chest, choose a semi-sweetheart neckline as the dip doesn’t go as low and covers a bit more of your chest. Pair your sweetheart neckline with a short, dazzling necklace and simple post earrings.

V-neck

An elegant option for your wedding day look, it’s characterized by the “V” shape of the dip in the middle-front of the dress. A V-neck neckline can be modest or daring depending on the depth of the dip. Brides of all shapes and sizes find this neckline to be flattering as the “V” shape is slimming and creates the illusion of an elongated torso while drawing the eyes down to the waist. A simple pendant necklace or a narrow necklace following the shape of the dip are two great jewelry options for this neckline. Finish off your wedding day look with a pair of post or teardrop earrings.

Can any shape wedding dress have any neckline? 

Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about whether the shape of your wedding dress will go with the neckline you choose as most necklines can be worn with a variety of dress shapes. There are certain necklines that complement different dress shapes better, such as a strapless neckline with a ball gown or a v-neck with an A-line or mermaid-shaped dress. Neckline alterations are also very common, and you can have a seamstress make minor changes to your neckline to mirror your personal style.

What wedding dress neckline is right for me? 

With so many different options for wedding dress necklines, determining which one is perfect for you may sound overwhelming. And while the recommendations for choosing necklines that best flatter different body types are a great place to start your search, it’s just that, a place to start. However, the right wedding dress neckline for you is the one in which you feel the most confident, comfortable, and beautiful. 

Schedule your bridal appointment to start trying on dresses and find what makes you shine!