What Bridal Underwear should you choose to wear under your wedding gown?
We all know that..
it’s very important to get the correct Bridal Underwear, right? But what exactly do you need & where do you go to find the best underwear for the style of wedding gown you have chosen?
{Sorry ladies the lace lingerie & negligée will have to wait until later in the night!}
There are a few reasons I highly recommend wearing Shapewear on your wedding day. What you choose will depend significantly on the wedding gown you are wearing, but generally, some styles will suit various designs.
The first and most important reason to wear Shapewear on your wedding day is to smooth and shape your body. We don't want any VPL (visible panty lines) or VBL (visible bra lines), do we? Ask your wedding gown designer or boutique attendant for their recommendations when choosing your gown. They may even have some examples to show you and where you can find them, including how much they cost.
The second reason and one you may not have thought of is relevant for those marrying at a warmer time of the year. Most wedding gowns have several layers of fabric, and if you are prone to sweating through nerves or because it is warm, the last thing you want is for the lining of your gown to stick to your body in a weird way creating strange distortions under your dress. Believe it or not, Shapewear will help with this issue and prevent your gown from sticking to you. It will also stop any sweat from seeping through your dress, keeping it contained to the fabric against your body.
Now, if you are marrying in the cooler months, your Shapewear will serve as an additional layer of warmth. Bear in mind that if you are like many women and wearing something tight for extended periods can cause discomfort, you can always change into comfy seam-free underwear at the reception, sometime after the first dance. No one will notice!
For those Brides with a bigger bust, I always recommend investing in a new bra for your wedding day, which you should purchase before your dress fittings/alterations, not before you go Wedding Dress shopping. Why may you ask? Well, it's because you may be planning on slimming down before your big day, and as your initial dress shopping may be up to 12 months before your wedding, your bra may not fit you correctly when it needs to. An excellent timeline to be professionally fitted for a bra would be about three months before your wedding day. Again, ask your designer or the boutique for their recommendations when ordering your gown.
Below I have added some direct links to the Shapewear I recommend to 99% of my clients.
Cinch Hi Waisted Short - Rose Beige
The It's a Cinch Short features a special moisture-wicking knit microfibre, to keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. The super high waist and light boning help cinch the waist and the thigh-length style sculpts the legs and prevents chafing.
My budget-friendly favourite at only $49.95
Nancy Ganz
Nancy Ganz Body Perfection Waisted Shaper Short is a fusion of delicate, feminine lingerie and powerful shapewear. The innovative flocking technology is soft, comfortable and offers a smooth finish.
Budget $89.95
Nudi bra
These stick-on cups are amazing and the ones I recommend to those Brides who have opted for a low back or backless style of wedding gown.
Budget $29.95
Spanx Thinstincts
A new generation of power! A groundbreaking collection, Thinstincts 2.0 was designed to up the ante in your underwear drawer. Now with Printed Power, Thinstincts 2.0 is lightweight and breathable for everyday wear. Plus it’s anti-chafing and offers single-layer targeted shaping that’s designed to wrap around your body and target your tummy and hips.
Budget $$114.95
Fine Lines
The 'Refined Lines' Wireless Strapless Bra is the perfect example of the type of Convertible, Strapless or Balconette Bra I recommend for Brides who want or need to wear a bra with or without straps.
Budget $59.95
B-FREE High Compression Minimising Bandeau
This minimising compression bandeau is designed to minimise the appearance and size of your bust under clothing. This super-strong and compressive bandeau features a double-layer high compression knit fabric to firmly hold your bust to reduce projection, bounce and size. This breast minimiser includes adjustable and detachable straps so you can customise your look, while the bandeau design wears invisible under clothing.
Budget $64.95
B-FREE Spaghetti Strap Smoothing Bodysuit
This spaghetti strap bodysuit comes in a flattering V-neckline finish, with adjustable straps for easy fit sizing. Body smoothing fabric flatters your tummy area, and a snap button crotch creates easy access and wearability—flexible material around the bust area, suitable for all bust sizes.
Budget $44.95
B-FREE Tummy & Thigh shaping shorts
These Tummy & Thigh Shaping Shorts firmly hug and support your body from waist to mid-thigh for maximum compression throughout while minimising thigh rub or chafing. Constructed from a smooth and lightweight microfibre fabric, these seamless shorts give you a sleek and sculpted finish under clothing. Featuring an ultra-high waistband that shapes the waist whilst minimising the chance of a muffin top, these shorts will be your go-to essential for an instantly smooth silhouette.
Budget $64.95
Just out of Interest
Strapless: A fashion bra that relies on an extra-wide band for breast support. Achieve their strength through a longer underwire that encompasses more of the breast, and cups with added padding, boning, and shaping panels. Suitable for bare-shoulder outer garments like a strapless evening gown that exposes the shoulders and chest, as low as the tops of the areola. Some convertible bras allow straps to be removed, making a strapless bra. It may have rubberised or silicone beading inside the top edge of the cup to help keep the bra attached to the breast. An alternative when an outfit would otherwise prevent a bra being worn.
Adhesive: Sometimes described as backless/strapless or a stick-on bra. Usually made of silicone, polyurethane, or similar material, they are attached to the underside of the breasts using medical-grade adhesive. Some versions provide one piece for each breast. May be reused for a limited number of times and provides little support. Suitable for backless and strapless outerwear where a strapless bra is not possible or preferred, or as an alternative to going completely braless
Balconette: Sometimes known as a shelf bra. One source equates them to a balcony bra. Lifts the breasts to enhance their appearance, shape, and cleavage. More revealing version of a demi-bra, offering little to no coverage. The name means "little balcony" which could refer to the shape; it is also claimed, less plausibly, that the name comes from the notion that the bra is not visible from above, as when looking down from a balcony. First designed in the United States in about 1938, and came into mainstream fashion in the 1950s. Compare to full-cup and demi-cup bra.
