Most brides spend months tracking down the perfect wedding dress only to buy lingerie almost as an afterthought. It's well worth investing a little time in your research - the right underwear can flatter, flatten, boost or minimise.
Getting married is a wonderful excuse to splash out on expensive lingerie but don't get too carried away. Sure it has to look good but, more importantly, it has to work hard. You want to feel comfortable and not have to spend the day worrying whether your guests can see your knickerline or that your bra straps are showing.
As soon as you've decided on your dress you should start looking for suitable underwear. Get yourself professionally measured (most department stores now offer this service) to make sure you're buying the right size. A good-fitting bra should sit in a level line round your bust and back all day. If it rides up at the back it's too big; if you're spilling out, or the straps are digging in, it's too small.
Colour and material are also crucial. Florals look pretty but they can show through your dress and even white may be too obvious. Nude-coloured is often the best option as it becomes invisible once you're dressed. Smooth fabrics will show less - you want guests to be stunned by your dress not your knickers!
And if you're not exactly thrilled with your shape, a clever choice of underwear can get you close to perfection. If you've got a small bust, a padded, underwired or push-up bra will create a cleavage while gel-filled breast enhancers (known as "chicken fillets" in the trade) give the effect of surgery without the cost or the pain. At the opposite end of the scale, a minimiser bra can take an inch off your bust. Big knickers aren't glamorous but many of them have panels to trim your tummy, hips and bottom.
If your dress is off-the-shoulder or strapless, you'll need a strapless bra or basque, while a dress with a low back looks best with a multiway bra with adjustable straps. Alternatively, you might want to try the new stick-on cups that give seemingly invisible support.
Photo Gossard (01525 859 777)
