When most brides begin planning their wedding ensemble, they focus on the outside, like the wedding gown, the veil, the wedding jewelry, and so on. Obviously these are very important parts of the wedding day look (and besides, who doesn’t love shopping for a gorgeous gown and fabulous wedding jewelry?), and will set the tone for the bride’s style. However, what you wear under your wedding dress can really make or break how it – and you – look on your big day. This is a guide to the right undergarments for every bridal gown.

There are several functions that you may need your bridal undergarments to serve. Most women need something supportive to put “the girls” into the proper place. Many brides also want something to smooth everything out and hide any unwanted ripples or bulges. Under a lightweight bridal gown, it is very important to wear undergarments which ensure opacity. Ideally, it would be great if the bridal lingerie also happens to be beautiful enough for the wedding night, although function is more important. You can always change into something more alluring after the reception if the undies that looked best under your gown do not look so sexy on their own.

For the vast majority of bridal gowns, a strapless bra or bustier will be needed. Few dresses have the necklines to accommodate a standard bra, and it is hard to imagine anything less elegant than a bride with her bra straps hanging out of her gown. Believe it or not, there are strapless bras out there which will stay up! Some of them are even halfway comfortable. If your gown dips in the back, however, a strapless bra will likely show. In that case, try a backless stick on bra or sewn-in cups for light support, or a bustier for more lifting power with a low back.

Ladies needing a fair amount of support will want to wear a bustier, which comes down to the hips. If your wedding dress has a very ornate bodice, you may be able to pull off a fancy lacy bustier, but under a dress without a lot of embellishment, a seamless bustier with concealed boning will be best. Always be careful about the length of the bustier; if it comes down too low, the end may poke out a little, and if it is too short, it might make for an alarming tummy bulge out the bottom edge. Some bustiers can be shortened, so it might be worth looking into if you find one with a great fit up top that is a shade too long for the cut of your gown.

As for panties, generally the best color choice will be something close to your skin tone. A beige is going to be more invisible than bright white. Be careful to avoid the dreaded “vpl”; bring your most brutally honest friend to your gown fitting for an assessment. Thongs can be a good option, although in some cases, a longer panty that comes just onto the top of the thigh will be the most invisible. When the gown is very slinky or fitted, it will also help to give a feeling of being more covered. Under a full cut gown with a petticoat, of course, any color from “something blue” to a daring leopard print will work just fine.

Finally, many women swear by the slimming power of Spanx or other body shapers. Even slim brides will often choose to wear Spanx to ensure a perfectly smooth line under their gowns. Some of them come up to just under the bra line to eliminate any ripples on the torso, while others come down low to tuck in the bum and thighs. They are frequently footless, so are just fine for brides who prefer to skip the look of pantyhose. Brides also report that Spanx are perfectly comfortable on hot days, and that they can eliminate the chance of any uncomfortable chafing.

After reading this guide, you have probably realized that you will want to invest in a separate set of lingerie for the wedding night. Between the beige undergarments with no bumpy lace trimmings and the body shaper to the knee, what goes on under a wedding gown is not always very romantic. But it will be well worth it to achieve a flawless looking bridal gown, and you can always “slip into something more comfortable” before your new husband sees you on the wedding night.

Author Bio: Bridget Mora has been helping brides with all of their dream wedding details for years. Treat yourself to fabulous wedding jewelry from http://silverlandjewelry.com/ and receive free shipping on any jewelry order over $99.

Category: Marriage
Keywords: wedding jewelry, bridal undergarments, wedding undergarments, Spanx