Now that you’ve selected a wedding dress, it’s time to figure out what you’ll wear underneath it. Even with a dress that’s been tailored to your every inch, finding the correct shapewear to enhance your figure, offer support, slim, and avoid bulging or lines is key. Ill-fitting shapewear can actually do more harm than good, which is why bridal undergarments can be even more important than the dress itself.
Obviously, the cut of your dress plays an important role in narrowing down your search. Strapless dresses and dresses with plunging backs and necklines are the most tricky to work with, but not impossible. Modern technology has made it possible to find really nicely designed bras and bustiers that do the same job without a visible strap.
Fabric is also a big factor to keep in mind when shopping. If you’ve selected a dress that hugs your curves, you’ll want to make sure that your bra and underwear are removing lines, rather than creating them. In this case, more full-bodied shapewear is the recommendation.
Check out our roundup of bridal shapewear below, with an option for every bride. If none of these pieces meet your needs, you can shop bridal shapewear from top designers here for the perfect option.
Strapless dresses can be really tricky for women who have bigger busts. Without the right support, you’ll be pulling at your dress all day, trying to get it to sit in the correct place. No bride wants to be dealing with that. To avoid wedding day struggles with your dress, a properly cut and size bustier is your best option. This bra is engineered to offer a ton of support, something that’s hard to achieve with strapless bras. It also slims the waistline and offers support throughout your torso. It’s available from size 34C to 50FF, covering a broad range of shapes and sizes. It’s also available in nude if the white color is too stark against your ivory dress.
If your dress has a very simple and sleek front, you’ll need a seamless bra that goes undetected underneath. Strapless bras are often more of a nuisance than they are helpful, but that’s not the case here. The shape and cut of this bustier actually offers a great amount of support, without showing where the undergarment ends and your body begins. It’s sleek, simple, and comfortable. The front lining is 100 percent cotton, which keeps it breathable, and the actual bra is made of 16 percent spandex for a good amount of stretch. Bustiers of this quality can easily cost over $100, which makes this price even more attractive. You can purchase matching low rise bikini panties here that are equally smooth and seamless.
Sleek and simple wedding dresses can be unforgiving in photos, especially those made with satin and silk. Some fabrics are a bit clingier and thinner fabrics (white romantic and elegant) can highlight lines and wrinkles underneath. To avoid this on your wedding day, consider wearing full-bodied shapewear that will smooth your hips, thighs, and tummy. While it might seem counter intuitive, this is also an awesome piece to layer under your dress in the summer. While it does add another layer of fabric, it will help you to avoid any chaffing from heat and humidity. While this is one of the most affordable and highly rated options, there are a ton of similar options available for you to shop.
If you’ve decided on a backless dress, you’re probably already in the market for a bra like this one. The fit definitely takes a little bit of getting used to, but if you purchase the correct size, you’ll definitely feel supported under your wedding dress. Use the sizing chart for an accurate fit and keep in mind that you might want to size down. The bra features adhesive-lined foam cups and a front closure for cleavage and lift (even for larger sizes). If you’re still unsure of sizing, shipping and returns are both free, so order a few sizes and returns the ones that don’t fit.
Plunging necklines are another cut of wedding dress that are hard to find the correct undergarments for. If your dress has a low cut front, then you certainly want to make sure that everything is tucked into place and doesn’t shift with movement. The slight padding used in this bra provides support and coverage and also gives a little bit of lift for some (conservative) cleavage. While the above version is great if your dress has thick straps, consider this version if your straps aren’t thick enough to cover it completely or this version if your dress is both strapless and low cut.
If you have the option to basically wear a sports bra on your wedding day, we don’t see why you wouldn’t. Perfect for backless or low back dresses, this simple and sleek bra offers support without being detected. Since it doesn’t have much lining or wires you might think that support and lift would be impossible to achieve, but it really does do its job. With that being said, the thin nature of the fabric and lack of structured cups is best for girls with size D or smaller. If you do need something without straps, this highly rated seamless strapless bra is a great option.
Every woman should own a pair of these as they can be worn both under thinner bras and on their own. If you’re worried about your nipples showing on your wedding day but don’t need the support of a true bra, these are the solution. Made with a tapered edge that doesn’t press against clothing, it cannot be detected. The cupped shape flatters the natural shape of the breast and also helps them to adhere and stay in place. They also come with a perfect storage case that helps to maintain their shape between wears.
Comfort is key on your wedding day and unfortunately comfort isn’t a word often used when women describe shapewear or bras. Underwires and boning can be extremely uncomfortable, adding pressure to your shoulders, back, and chest. This bra is quite the opposite, and if your wedding dress allows for this type of cut, you can’t go wrong. The thick banding around the chest offers lift without a wire and the soft lace fabric has a great amount of stretch and softness. Cosabella is known for extreme comfort, so don’t miss out on the rest of their undergarments for everyday wear.
This one piece body slimmer goes beyond just the hips and waist to offer full body smoothing. A great option if you’re sporting a sleek and simple silk dress on your wedding day, you’ll have head to toe support with one piece that doesn’t need to be toyed with or adjusted once its on. David’s Bridal has teamed up with Spanx for an entire line of bridal shapewear that is designed specially with a bride in mind.
Heavy, Inc. is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon. Our product recommendations are guided solely by our editors. We have no relationship with manufacturers.
You've selected a wedding dress and now it's time to find a bridal undergarment that will enhance it, flatter your shape, and keep you confident on the big day.
