If you are a bride who has begun shopping for your wedding dress, you are likely starting to figure out what shapes and silhouettes you like for your body and what style wedding dress you want to wear down the aisle. Finding a wedding dress that will fit you perfectly is an important part of wedding dress shopping, and working with a skilled and experienced seamstress for your wedding dress alterations is equally important.
When it comes to having your wedding dress fit you perfectly, you might be wondering if you should wear shapewear under your wedding dress and if so, what type of shapewear is best to wear on wedding day. Is there anything you can do in the alterations process to give your wedding dress more support?
Today we are talking all things shapewear and wedding dress support. We’ll share the pros and cons of shapewear for wedding dresses and boning support in wedding dresses that can be improved in alterations to help the fit of the dress on various body types.
Video: Pros & Cons of Wearing Shapewear & Adding Boning To a Wedding Dress
If you are a bride who is wondering what undergarments to wear under your wedding dress so you feel supported, be sure to tune in to our expert advice video sharing the pros & cons of wearing shapewear & adding boning to a wedding dress.
Boning In Wedding Dresses
First, let’s discuss boning and wedding dress support. You will be wearing your wedding dress all day long and want to ensure you feel supported and secure in your dress. We have talked in the past about how your wedding dress will move and expand with your body throughout the wedding day because of your body heat. Just like your favorite pair of jeans may feel a little looser at the end of the day, your wedding dress may expand by the end of the night. This is why you want to start with a snug fit and work with an expert wedding dress seamstress to tailor your gown to fit you perfectly.
Now what is boning? If you are not very familiar with fashion, you might not be familiar with this term. Boning is essentially a thin piece of flexible plastic that is used to reinforce the structure of garments. You might be familiar with what a corset looks like, and the boning would be the vertical elements that give the corset it’s structure.
Boning can be added to any wedding dress to help give support and reinforce the structure of the dress bodice. If you have a larger bust size, you may need to add extra boning to your dress to give you the support you need. Boning is a flexible plastic so it will move and bend with you, especially as it reacts to your body heat, so extra boning may be needed to help support additional weight and stress from your chest size.
Wedding Dress Fabric
Many brides who shop with us at Lovella will ask our advice on what shapewear they should wear under their wedding dress. One important thing to keep in mind when considering shapewear is the fabric that your wedding dress is made of. Depending on the fabric used in your wedding dress, it may not be very forgiving. Some wedding dresses do not hide things like wrinkles or cellulite, especially in a more fitted silhouette. You will certainly want to be mindful of seams and lines if you are wearing a fitted wedding dress as opposed to a ball gown wedding dress.
The thickness of your wedding dress fabric should also be considered when deciding on shapewear. You may find that your belly button shows through the fabric and our expert tip for this is to put a waterproof bandaid over your belly button to hide it on wedding day. It may seem silly, but it works really well so be sure to add a few of these bandaids to your wedding day emergency kit! Another option would be to wear a thin, high waisted control short.
Shapewear
When selecting shapewear to wear on wedding day, be mindful of the overall design of your wedding dress. If you have a low back design or cut outs on the sides, you will need to check to make sure any control shorts or underwear do not show through or peek over the top. You also want to be sure to choose a material that is very thin to avoid any panty lines showing through.
In our experience, shapewear is not actually necessary to wear under your wedding dress if your gown has been properly altered and has all the correct support added. Shapewear can actually add an extra layer to you and make your dress fit tighter which can be more unforgiving. We have also seen dresses shift around on a bride’s body because of the material of the shapewear and the material of the dress not molding together. It can be like oil and vinegar.
Alterations
In the end, alterations and a skilled wedding dress seamstress will be your best friend for ensuring a properly fitting bridal dress. Once your wedding dress is altered to fit you properly, with the proper boning in place, it will have the structure and the support that you need. On wedding day, you should not need additional support.
Once you have done that and you know your dress is properly reinforced, bring some options to try on at your final fitting. We know that many brides want to wear shapewear to feel more comfortable or “held in”. Wedding dresses are designed to hold you in and will have more structure than your everyday clothing so we encourage you to see how your body feels in your dress without shapewear underneath.
A control short can be helpful to prevent thigh chafing, but there are also lotions and creams to help with this. A high rise thong can be a great option to eliminate panty lines but also give you some feeling of being held in around the belly area. Bring a few different underwear options to try on during your final dress fitting, and then make the final decision once your seamstress has worked their magic on your wedding dress.
More Helpful Bridal Fashion Advice
We hope you have found this advice helpful for when you are considering what to wear under your wedding dress and if you will need shapewear or not on wedding day. For even more helpful advice when it comes to shopping for your dream wedding dress and finding your bridal style, be sure to check out our past posts:
- Is Wearing a Bra Necessary with a Wedding Dress?
- What Wedding Dress Style & Shape Should You Wear For Your Body Type
- How To Overcome The Most Common Bridal Insecurities
- Tips For Shy Brides Trying On Wedding Dresses With A Bridal Stylist
About Lovella
If you're shopping for your perfect wedding dress, come visit us at Lovella Bridal in Glendale, CA. We carry wedding dresses in all sizes and styles, including plus-size bridal gowns and a full selection of veils and accessories. Lovella Bridal is the premier, luxury bridal wedding dress shopping boutique located in Los Angeles, California. Lovella features couture, feminine, modern and chic bridal gowns in all sizes from the best wedding dress designers. Schedule an appointment to find the wedding dress of your dreams at Lovella Bridal. We can't wait to help you!
About Wedding Fashion Expert
Our wedding dress shopping tips and advice are from Nayri, Lovella's own, in-house wedding fashion expert. Nayri is truly the expert when it comes to bridal fashion and wedding style. As the Wedding Fashion Expert, Nayri is the top bridal fashion stylist and the best-selling author of the book "I'm Getting Married And I Have Nothing To Wear," the ultimate guide to helping brides find their wedding day style and their perfect wedding dress. You can subscribe to her YouTube channel or listen to her podcast for more helpful and practical advice on wedding dress shopping.
