5 Must-Have Bridal Undergarments

Underwear might be the last thing you think of when it comes to wedding planning. Aside from lingerie, not much attention is given to the incredibly important pieces that go underneath the gown. Choosing the right undergarment can make all the difference in the world on your wedding day. From smoothing to shaping, you can find nearly any kind of product to fit your body and your dress style. Be sure to pick your dress before deciding on undergarments so you can choose the correct style of bra, panty or shapewear. Above all else, remember that you’re going to be in your wedding dress and everything underneath for the better part of an entire day, so comfort is key. Choose something you’ll be free to move in! Here are 5 must-have bridal undergarments for the big day.

A Comfortable Bra

Really you should be wearing a well-fitting and comfortable bra every day, but especially on your wedding day. However, the style of dress you choose is going to impact what kind of bra you should wear. Of course you’ll need a strapless bra for a strapless gown or a convertible strap bra for a halter or one-strap dress. For the more revealing dresses that have become wildly popular this season, like backless gowns or dresses with especially low necklines, figuring out the bra is perhaps the hardest part.

One option to try is a plunge bra. For those deeply cut necklines or lace inserts in your gown, a plunge bra offers a nice coverage-to-cleavage ratio–-showing off a little more skin than usual, but not too much. Plunge bras come in varying depths and padding levels, so be sure to try it on with your dress. Another option is the sticky silicone bra. This type is practically invisible! It provides coverage and support without any pesky straps.

Some sticky bras do have a clasp that meets in the middle, which is great for emphasizing cleavage. If these bra options aren’t working for you or your dress style, talk to a seamstress. It’s very common to have bra cups sewn into the lining of a dress. This a perfect way to customize a dress to your body and maintain comfortability.

Seamless Underwear

No one is going to mention, or maybe even notice, whether you have pantylines showing at your wedding, but no bride wants to look back at her photos and see an elastic waistband protruding from her silhouette. Luckily, undies are an easy fix! Thong panties are one way to go, providing as few lines as possible along your hips. For an alternative, there is also seamless underwear. Usually made of a thin spandex-type material, seamless panties can give as much coverage as desired, total comfort, and no pantylines. The material disappears under fabric, making it beyond easy to rock a sleek, silky dress, or a curve-flattering style like mermaid or trumpet.

Shapewear

So you’ve got a problem area, or maybe a few. Who doesn’t? Even if you stuck to your wedding diet like a champ, shapewear might still be worth looking into. Shapewear, including corsets and spandex, can come in nearly any shape at all, so you’ll be sure to find the perfect product to match your problem-area needs. To slim a stomach, Spanx provide bodysuits of varying lengths that smooth out a silhouette and accentuate all the good curves while tucking in all the bad ones. Choose from a thong style, bikini cut, or mid-thigh length.

For a slimming option with added lift and support for breasts, consider a corset. These will effectively narrow your waist while holding up the girls at the same time in one simple undergarment. However, one thing to remember about corsets is that they contain boning. Boning is great for structure and slimming purposes, but it could dig into your sides when worn for long periods of time, especially when sitting. If stomach slimming isn’t an issue, maybe you need to focus on the butt and thigh area. Spanx also makes a slim-fitting short that eliminates muffin top, and solidifies any soft spots along the hips and legs.

Now when it comes to the backside, sometimes you need a little extra shape. For those with flatness, try a pair of padded underwear. These provide just a little help in filling out your curves, and giving you a more flattering figure in your dress! Don’t worry, the padding isn’t obvious or obnoxious, but you will get more pronounced curves exactly where you want them.

Consider a Slip

Gowns are designed to have shape. From A-line to ball gown to mermaid, the styles in popular wedding attire are vast. Sometimes, the intended shape of a dress can fall flat against the body, which is where a slip will come in handy. Slips don’t necessarily shape your body itself–-you’ll find no spandex or boning here–-rather they are constructed of satin fabric and layers of tulle to create "poof" beneath the fabric of your dress.

This way, a ball gown style remains full-bodied all night, a trumpet-tail flares out glamorously, and an A-line falls sweeps perfectly to the floor. Even short dresses will benefit from a slip, keeping a skirt voluminous and free, especially when dancing!

Double-Sided Fashion Tape

Finally, no matter the style of dress, don’t overlook the magic of double-sided tape. Officially say goodbye to fashion disasters with these handy adhesives. The tape literally sticks clothing to skin, preventing any awkward mishaps or simply keeping dramatic lines in place. Open backs and deep necklines will especially benefit from this product, as it will promise to keep your bra straps, shapewear, and certain areas of skin from showing. You’ll definitely want this on your big day, if for nothing else than peace of mind.

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