You've seen thousands of photos, tried on dozens of wedding dresses. But you may have missed some small items in your search for the perfect wedding-day look -- those essential unmentionables that go under the dress. Undergarments provide the foundation necessary for your outerwear to look how it's supposed to. They can change the way your dress fits, so you'll need to purchase them before your first fitting. Read on for the lowdown on bridal lingerie.
Bra
The bra is the uberundergarment, that leading piece of bridal lingerie to which all others play supporting roles. You'll need a good, supportive bra to lift you up as you walk down the aisle and keep you comfortable for hours of dining, dancing, and posing with relatives. Many bridal boutiques offer decorative bras that are as creative -- and nearly as costly -- as the gown itself. While some of these elegant brassieres have unique proportions that can be quite useful with the right gown, make comfort your priority: You don't want insufficient support or annoying wires cutting into your sides on your wedding day. And remember, you can slip into provocative, flimsy lingerie when you take the gown off.
Before you buy, ask about the store return policy. You'll likely want to try on a few different bras with your gown, so make sure that as long as you leave the tags on, the garment is returnable for a full refund.
Regardless of which style you choose, try not to have unrealistic expectations for your bra -- or yourself -- on your wedding day. If it's too uncomfortable to wear for a five-hour stretch on a normal afternoon, why suffer?
Slimmers
While old-fashioned girdles have long been out of style, you might try one of the several contemporary slimming undergarments that use Lycra or Spandex rather than stiff stays or ancient whalebone.
Panties
As with the bra and slimmer, choose panties that offer comfort over sex appeal. (There's just no way to discreetly rearrange a pair of creeping panties through a wedding gown!) If your gown has an unusually slinky cut or is made of very thin material, you may want to use pantyhose with built-in underwear.
Hosiery
If you want to wear a fancy garter belt with hooks to hold up thigh-high hose, make sure you choose one that fits snugly around your waist -- and won't be seen through your gown! The pressure of the hose can pull an inexpensive, elastic garter belt downward, leading to wrinkly knees and an evening of endless attemts to hitch up your hose (a task nearly as hard to hide as panty-tugging).
A garter belt is a pretty superfluous item, given the variety of sleek and sexy pantyhose available. But some women feel extra sexy just knowing they're wearing one. If you go with a garter, you'll need to test it out to make sure you can bear the inconvenience.
If you think you'll kick off your heels as the evening progresses, you might choose tights rather than sheer hose to avoid holes in your toes. You could also go with knee-highs that can be taken off along with your shoes. Whichever style you select, buy a few extra pairs -- when you accidentally shred one on wedding morning, you won't miss a beat.
Before your wedding, try on your gown -- with your bridal lingerie -- under the watchful eye of a close friend. Once you're sure you won't show more than you intend to show, forget about it and have fun!
-- The Knot
See More: Wedding Accessories + Wedding Jewelry