Bridal BoudoirChoosing Bridal LingerieWhether you choose to have intimate portraits done or not, choosing what you wear under your wedding dress is just as important as the dress itself. Celebrate your first night together as husband and wife in a way you can fondly look back on. The purpose of this article is simple... I hope to impart to you some of my thoughts on the subject of bridal lingerie, some of my experiences as a photographer, including things I have learned from the women I’ve worked with, and. lastly, some input from the male perspective. After selecting your wedding gown, the next step in completing the bridal ensemble should be your lingerie. Selecting the right items to be worn with your dress is crucial. By this time, you know if it is going to be strapless, off the shoulder, low back, loose or close fitting, etc. Remember to make note of how thin or revealing the fabric is, keep in mind which areas are sheer or lacey, and the fabric color (white or ivory). If you're wearing a close fitting, thin, sheer or lacey fabric, you'll want to choose items that keep that look flawless.
One of the things to consider when selecting your outfit is that you want to be comfortable in it. By that I don't just mean that it doesn't bind or pinch you through out the day. You have to feel comfortable in the way you look. If you are accustomed to wearing a plain panty and bra and now you're wearing things you didn't even know existed and it makes you feel silly or embarrassed it's not going to work. What you wear should make you feel good because so much of being sexy and being perceived as sexy is how you feel and act. If you're wearing something completely different I suggest you spend some time in it and get used to the way you look in it. Look at yourself in the mirror from different angles and expect to see things you like and don't like. Focus on the things you like. (Remember there's no such thing as perfect.) The right angles, lighting and pose makes all the difference when you are viewing yourself and when you are being photographed. Another reason that I suggest you spend time wearing your new lingerie would be for you to find out in advance just how comfortable you really are in it. You will be wearing something for several hours that you may not be accustomed to, such as a corset, garter belt, or under-wire brassiere. Some women may find them to be uncomfortable or binding after a few hours. If this is going to be your first time wearing an authentic corset, you will need to wear it a few times to break it in. Consult with a corset training expert if you are interested in things like "Tightlacing" or "Waist Training". (Yes there are coaches for underwear.) 
Get to know what your fiance likes about your body. Don't sit him down with a pad and pen and go through a questionnaire trying to figure it out. By now you should have some idea what he likes. Think about what clothing he likes to see you in, the parts of your body he likes to touch and kiss the most. Try and recall things he may have said or commented on in the past. There are ways to ask but it's different for every couple so unless you know how to ask my advice is don't. Also ask yourself what you like and dislike about wearing certain types of clothing and what you feel your best physical assets are. Once you have the information you can start choosing the intimate apparel which will flatter those specific parts of your body.
Really think about what you are wearing on your legs. Even though they may be covered up by your gown, everyone is eventually going to see them. If you plan to do the traditional garter toss, your legs will be seen and will be photographed. I can't think of anything more perfect than a white garter belt with stockings. Get a nice pair of good quality stockings that are plain and elegant. The ones with little bells, doves, hearts or other patterns may be cute but from a distance and in most photos they'll probably just look like runs or clumps or lint You might want to get an extra pair and have someone in your bridal party keep it in her purse in case you have a run before the garter toss. Thigh-highs that stay up on their own can make a dent in your thigh muscle which may not be very appealing if you legs are not very well toned. I’ve never been a fan of the fake stockings that have a permanently attached garter belt; I feel the real thing is so much more elegant and sensual. For those who wish to wear pantyhose, you may want to consider selecting a style with a more elegant panty style and also consider going pantyless with them. Keep in mind that the elastic waistline of your pantyhose may cut into your waist and result in a ripple or wrinkle line in your dress. The link below is one of the best sites I have found for bridal stockings and accessories. Don’t be concerned that it is UK based site,if you choose to place an order online you have the option of paying in US Dollars, Euros, or British Pounds.To get to the bridal section click on the banner or link below. Once there, select the SHQ shop link on the left, then select "bridal" under the Special Occasion Wear. Check out some of their other pages as well. They have a vast selection of garter belts (or suspenders as they like to call them) and other related garments. They carry standard and plus sizes. If there wss anything you ever wanted to know about stockings I'm sure you'll find it here. If not, you can ask in one of their forums.
 http://www.stockingshq.com Torso In this section you have a few different options, and I will offer you my own personal recommendation on which one I think works best with different body types. Corsets/Merrywidows/Boustiers This may be personal preference but I think corsets are great for everybody. A good corset is slimming, provides back support for good posture and is very attractive. They are available in push up and plunge designs that can emphasize your breasts and give you a nice hourglass figure. They come in under bust versions that leave your breasts bare or covered in a soft material or over bust designs with a push up or plunge version that can emphasize your breasts. Custom made corsets are the best if you can afford it but ready to wear ones are available in many styles and price ranges. Merrywidows are similar to corsets except they have straps. Boustiers have a similar look but won't provide the same slimming/support features as corsets. If you have a slim midsection a half boustier looks very nice. If you are going strapless, a corset or boustier is going to give you a lot more lift and support than most strapless bras will.
I ran across this site and was completely blown away by their corsets. They have some of the most beautiful corsets I've seen. They are also in New Jersey. You'll also find a lot of information on authentic corsets there. Have a look at
http://www.absolutecorsets.com Bras If you want to emphasize your mid section keep it bare by wearing a bra. There are long line bras that will come down to around your belly button. Nice simple designs with a bit of lace look best. Shelf bras that expose your nipples can look great but open tip styles that are full bras with the nipple exposed seem a little too tacky for your wedding day. Padded bras are fine but I wouldn't add anything to a bra that will fall out when you take it off. Some Suggestions (Click for more details): Panties At this point you want to get something that matches the rest of what you are wearing. Lace or solid panties are available in different cuts and styles. The novelty wedding type are probably better during your honeymoon. For your wedding day I would suggest a more classic style. If you want to emphasize your rear, thongs come in a variety of styles or you might want to consider tanga shorts which are also very sexy with a bra. If you're daring and you think he might enjoy it you may choose to skip the panties and give him the slightest little surprise when he's pulling off your garter. Just be discreet and take note of where the cameras and children are. Some Suggestions (Click for more details): Gowns A simple gown is all you need when you want to slip into something more comfortable. Choose one with as much or as little lace to suite your tastes. Some Suggestions (Click for more details): Traditional or Something different? The look of white or ivory lingerie in classical styling is the best bet. Even if you normally have different tastes on this one day or for the photos you'll both enjoy it more. You also need to remember you'll be wearing this all day. Slipping out of your wedding dress and wowing him would have more impact than running to another room to get prepared. Even if you're into some fetishes a break from them on this day might be a nice change and I can't imagine wearing PVC or latex all day underneath your dress would be too comfortable, especially in the summer. Though I would have to admit, if you're both into it, stripping down and revealing a white cotton crotch rope would be interesting as long as it's not too tight.
* Note the product photos are not ones I have taken unless otherwise indicated |
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Some women feel uncomfortable about the entire subject of intimate lingerie, often times thinking "I could never wear something like that".They feel intimidated looking at these catalogs and websites of professional models with seemingly perfect bodies. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is no such thing as perfectand men, not just women feel that way. The important thing to remember is, you don't have to have a perfect body to look and feel sexy for your husband. Your sexuality is in your attitude and emotions as a woman in love, responding to your fiancé’s feelings towards you. Remember, above everything else, he loves you, he's marrying you, and he wants to spend his life with you. When he looks at you he sees your inner beauty and your physical beauty and this is further enhanced by his deep feelings towards you. If you take the time to do something special, and dressing in this manner is special, he will see this true gift of love and beauty that stands before him... his bride.
