How to Buy Wedding Lingerie

No one might see it but your new husband, but the lingerie you wear underneath your wedding dress can make the difference between looking good and looking absolutely amazing on your wedding day. Choosing the right bra, hose and shapewear is an important part of your wedding planning process. Here's how to buy wedding lingerie.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Choose your wedding gown first. It might be tempting to purchase frilly white items as soon as you get engaged, but the lingerie items you will need depend on the cut of your dress. A strapless wedding gown requires different undergarments than one with long sleeves.

2. Get professionally fitted for a bra. Wearing the wrong bra size can make you look heavier or saggier than you actually are--and if there's ever a time to look at your best, it's your wedding. Make sure you know your true bra size before buying any wedding lingerie.

3. Buy a longline bra in your appropriate bra size. A longline bra fastens at the small of your back and has a corset effect on your torso. You can find strapless longline bras and ones with straps. These bras can be worn under almost any type of wedding gown and will show off your body to its best advantage.

4. Weigh the pros and cons of purchasing body slimmers or shapewear. If your gown clings to your hips or you've gained weight, a good shapewear item will flatten any bulges and make you look thinner. But shapewear rarely is sexy and it can be uncomfortable--and if your gown has a full skirt, it's not necessary. Decide whether shapewear makes enough of a difference to be worth the less than elegant look and possible discomfort.

5. Decide whether to purchase hose. If you're wearing closed toe shoes, you'll need pantyhose, but if they are open-toe sandals, you might decide to either skip the hose or buy toeless pantyhose. You can choose a hose and garter belt set rather than pantyhose for a sexy wedding night surprise.

6. Buy a wedding night negligee to wear after you've changed out of your wedding gown. A teddy, nightie, merry widow, corset and garter set or silk nightgown will heat up the wedding night--choose what looks sexiest on you, what you think will appeal to the groom and what you feel most comfortable in. Wedding night lingerie often is white or ivory, but if you feel sexier in a different color, there's no rule against red, black or any other hue.