You’ve got the dress sorted. You’ve had the shoes picked out for weeks. Don’t forget about your bridal lingerie.
Wedding outfit planning tends to go something like this: Dress, shoes, jewellery, hair, make-up. With everything to consider when planning their wedding day get-up, women tend to forget their lingerie. I don’t know a bride that didn’t leave it right until the last minute. Rather than an impulse buy, it’s something that should be considered when you’re buying your dress.
Your wedding lingerie will determine how your dress hangs.
We should know by now that decent underwear can make or break and outfit. The right bra size can change the shape of a dress entirely (and yes, most women are still wearing the wrong size so get yourself a proper fitting). When you’re buying smalls for your wedding day, popping to M&S just isn’t going to cut it.
We’ve all gone out for the day wearing a bra that doesn’t feel quite right. It digs in at the sides, pokes and prods or rides up at the back. Or realised that actually, the thong we’re wearing just isn’t comfortable. The very last thing you want on your wedding day is to be fidgeting about because of your underwear. You’re going to be in your dress for hours, you can’t subtly sort out a wedgie as you walk down the aisle. But you also want to look pretty amazing in your undies as well. Sexy and comfortable isn’t an easy mix to get right without expert advice.
The top half
Depending on the shape of the dress, you might find your cleavage taking centre stage. You’ve got backless, strapless and all sorts of breast engineering to contend with. You need to make sure you stay comfortable and keep ‘the girls’ in check throughout the day.
“It is really recommended to wear the exact bra on the last days for the dress fittings, as it does change the shape and the measurements have to be perfect.” Says Myla bra-fitter Denise Deacon. “Even if the dress fits well, wearing the right bra can change it dramatically.”
“Every bride should have a bra fitting session, especially if they never had it or had it over a year ago.”
The bottom half
“I want something different!” are words that brides can sometimes regret. When it comes to underwear, it’s actually no bad thing to stick to what we know feels comfortable. The problem with that is that the same rule then has to go for the dress.
“Your wedding lingerie will determine how your dress hangs.” Says Ayten Mustafa of luxury lingerie brand Ayten Gasson. “It should never be a last minute thought or a quick purchase.”
“Bear in mind your VPL. If your dress has a full skirt you are lucky enough to be able to choose which ever knicker shape takes your fancy – such as a silk knicker with a ruffled leg covered with lace and bows, with no bumps or lines visible from your dress. You should avoid a knicker shape you are not used to wearing. If you have a lingerie drawer full of knickers, avoid g-strings and thongs.”
The bells and whistles
You can’t wear tights. You just can’t. You might as well not bother with the rest if you’re going to ruin it with tights. If you’re not used to wearing stockings or hold ups, give them a try for a while before walking down the aisle. The finishing touches to your undergarments will make you feel super sexy, which is what you want when you finally remove your dress.
“The choice of hosiery is only hold ups or stockings. If you’ve never worn them before now is the time!” Insists Michele Scarr owner of lingerie shop Bordello. “Choose ivory or white. We sell Wolford stockings because of their superior quality.”
“Does your budget allow for two separate outfits? Are you going to freshen up & change into something completely different on the wedding night, perhaps something more sexy & erotic? Some brides like to take a few sexy pieces for their honeymoon in other colours or perhaps choose a bridal negligee.”
The right lingerie can make you feel sexy and confident – who wouldn’t want that on their wedding day? Putting a little bit of thought into what you’re wearing under your dress will make sure you feel your best throughout the day. That’s surely much more important than which table settings you choose.