Every bride has a desire to look their absolute best on their wedding day, and no detail should be left to chance. Glamorous hair, perfect make-up and of course the stunning dress are all key. Selecting the right shape-wear can have incredible impact on your figure by accentuating your curves for a truly a sensational look.

Can you wear a corset under a wedding dress? You can wear a corset under your wedding dress to greatly enhance your figure. As you may be in your dress most of the day, you can adjust your corset as the day progresses. You can consider changing into more flexible shape-wear for an evening of dancing.

You don’t want a feeling discomfort to overshadow the best day of your life, so you need to invest some time in making sure both your corset and dress fit together in perfect harmony. Coming up now are 20 insightful answers to common questions to help you plan ahead.

1. Why Wear A Corset Under A Wedding Dress?

Working out is not the only way to achieve the right look on your wedding day. You can create some truly stunning curves by wearing a corset, but can you wear a corset under a wedding dress, and will your wedding dress look the same with a corset hiding underneath?

You can wear corset under your dress, As long as you wear the corset when you try your dress on and every time you have a fitting, there is no reason why you can’t take advantage of the corset’s ability to pull in your waist and give you curves in all the right places. It can also work out cheaper to wear a corset to reallocate the odd inch or two rather than to pay to have a dress altered if too tight.

Related Post: 17 Benefits Of Wearing A Corset

A corset can also be a fabulous way to offer support to a fuller breast without straps if you have opted for a strapless gown. Some wedding dress designers will fit the dress around your corset so there no bumps or lumps in usual places. Others might even help design the right corset to match the dress. Your corset could even be built into the dress itself so it has two functions: one to make your body look its best, and one to make the dress look as beautiful as can be.

2. How Comfortable Is A Wedding Corset?

Much depends on the type of corset you have chosen and how heavy you need it to be. If you are planning to squeeze in every morsel from your waist and push it all upwards to create a full cleavage, you may be tempted to haul in those laces as tightly as you can. This is not advisable as could leave you very uncomfortable, barely able to breathe or struggling to move!

The best wedding dress corsets are light and smooth. Considering a custom made corset can allow you can get the most precise body sculpting results without having to over-tighten the corset. This way, you can also choose a fabric that will blend perfectly with your wedding dress and allow both to move in unison without unnecessary friction.

A dress with a built in corset can be surprisingly comfortable and give you excellent support, feeling like having a constant hug. Longer corsets that stretch down to your thighs will be more restricting, but a lovely short corset made of light material should feel perfectly comfortable and give your confidence and figure a real boost.

3. How Long Can I Wear My Corset For?

Most brides want to stay in their wedding dress for as long as possible, from the start of the day right the way through to the end of celebrations after the evening party. Anyone who has worn a tight-fitting corset will tell you that your body can ache as the hours stretch on, especially when food, drink, and dancing are included into the mix.

Related Post: Corset Facts: A Beginners Guide To Corsets

You want to be able to enjoy indulging yourself on your wedding day, which means you need to make sure your corset is really comfortable. It can help to wear your corset on a number of occasions before the wedding, gradually increasing the time until you start to notice it less and less. By “breaking in” your corset in this way, you should be able to wear it throughout your nuptial celebrations without feeling too restricted.

4. Can Wedding Dresses Have Built-In Corsets?

Many do, and these are often the most comfortable types of corsets to wear on your wedding day. The corset is part of the top, and can actually be the top itself.

A dress with a built in corset will give your bust line increased support. Some dresses can also have a corset-style back displaying attractive lacework and the whole top will hold a robust shape throughout the day.

You could even adjust the laces accordingly so you feel more comfortable, and keeping a trusted bridesmaid on hand to let them out a little as the day wears on could offer the ideal balance between looking elegant for photos whilst having the freedom to eat, drink and dance at the reception.

5. What Else Can I Wear Under A Wedding Dress?

Wedding day underwear can come in a huge variety of different styles, largely dependent on your style of dress. A strapless dress will mean you will need to opt for a strapless bra if you are not wearing a corset while a low cut might mean you need a plunge bra or even an adhesive bra if the back is also cut very open.

Related Post: Choosing Lingerie By Your Body Shape

If you want to achieve some of the slimming results without actually wearing a corset, you might find shapewear a good option as it can be lighter and sleeker meaning it fits easily beneath a gown.

6. How Can I Hide My Belly In My Wedding Dress?

Some brides choose a dress that deliberately makes their belly look flatter by selecting an A-line cut. This can make all the difference as a tight fitting dress can sometimes make your stomach look bigger than it really is.

A dress that is tailored at the waist before flowing outwards can hide your belly perfectly. You could also opt for a belt or a dress that draws the eye to another part of the body, such as a halter-neck to emphasise the shoulders. Shapewear with panels over the tummy are also great at pulling in your belly fat and making your stomach look flatter on the big day.

You need to be careful about where these extra curves are reallocated, as you don’t want them to spill out over your midriff. They could be directed lower which could either enhance the buttocks or be disguised easily under a flowing skirt section.

7. What Types of Bridal Corset Are There?

There are many styles of corset but two distinct main types described below. Each designed to create a slightly different silhouette and to suit a slightly different body shape.

Underbust Corset

An underbust corset is designed to begin beneath your bust line and travel downwards while cinching in the waist to create an hour glass shape which enhances your hips and bust.

An underbust corset will offer little support for your breasts, but can give you greater freedom and mobility. They can be very well suited to ladies with a smaller bust. They can stop at the waist or continue to the top of your legs which can be a good choice for tall ladies with a long torso.

Some corsets are so tiny they only really focus on the waist area, which can be a good choice if you just want to pull in your waist without affecting the overall appearance of your dress too much. These little corsets are also like to feel more comfortable as there are fewer bones or wires to dig in around your chest area.

Overbust Corset

Alternatively, you could opt for an overbust corset which will lift the breasts to give you a fuller cleavage. Again, these can stop at the waist and are great at creating the perfect hourglass shape. You could even opt for a bustier which might combine garter straps to allow you to fit stockings. The neckline can vary on your bridal corset to suit the dress, with both sweetheart necks and corsets with straps available.

8. How Do You Choose The Correct Corset Size?

To choose a correctly fitting corset, you need to measure your waist at its most natural, which means without wearing any belts or holding yourself in an unnatural position. As a rule of thumb, most people should opt for a corset that is between 2″ and 4″ smaller than your natural waist.

On average, if your natural waist is 30 inches, you could wear a corset that is size 26″ to 28″. If you are tall and opting for a longer corset, you will have a larger area to redistribute inches from your waist which means you could go for a smaller corset. Check out Corset Story’s excellent corset size guide.

If you are used to wearing corsets, you will probably feel fine in the smaller sizes but if you are new to corset wearing you might find it best to start with a larger size and work downwards.

You should also measure the diameter of your body under your best and the length of your torso as these sizes are usually referred to as well as your waist. Different manufacturers will have different size guides for reference as many are designed to produce different amounts of reduction in your waist.

9. How Much Waist Reduction Will A Bridal Corset Give Me?

This depends on how comfortable you are wearing a tighter corset and how muscular your waist is to begin with. In general, a bridal corset can give you anywhere between 2″ to 5″ waist reduction, although you will probably need a little practice to build up to the larger reductions.

If your natural waist is over 34″, you could be looking at a greater reduction though this is only really possible if you are tall enough to redistribute that reduction across the rest of your torso.

10. What Sizes Do Corsets Come In?

Corsets come in sizes measured in inches and are usually two inches apart, using only even numbers. For example, you can find corsets in size 22″, 24″, 26″ and so on. Most manufacturers will issue a size guide that refers to your natural waist, underbust and torso measurements for the ideal fit.

11. Will A Corset Be Visible Under A Wedding Dress?

Again, this depends on both your choice of corset and style of wedding dress. An underbust corset that stops below the waist is likely to be hidden completely, unless your dress is cut low in the back. Thin, sheer and clingy fabrics can make it very easy to see what is underneath making it very difficult for you to disguise your corset.

The design of your neckline can be easily accommodated as you can find corsets with plunge necks, sweetheart lines or those that stop just beneath your bust, You need to take your corset with you when you try on your wedding dress to make sure everything looks sleek and discreet.

12. What Is A Bridal Corset Made Of?

Bridal corsets are usually white or beige and can be made of a number of different types of material. Satin is a popular choice as it sits smoothly under other fabrics and will allow your dress to move freely. Comfortable and breathable materials that keep you cool such as cotton are also freely available, along with spandex for elasticated support.

The bones in a corset are often made of steel or plastic, and some of these are often sprung steel that can give you some more freedom of movement. The fastenings can be metal clasps for security and to keep a robust shape or laces which gives you a little more potential for adjustment.

13. What Is Corset Boning?

The bones of the corset are firm, thin blocks that run vertically down the length of the corset, usually spaced an inch or more apart. This is what helps the corset keep its shape and manages to redistribute your curves and tuck everything in. They stop a corset from creasing and help it stay in position.

Corset bones are usually made from strips of metal or plastic. Some of the best quality corsets use steel as this keeps it shape even when the laces are pulled tightly, while some plastic bones may bend or even break.

14. Should Your Bridal Corset Match Your Wedding Dress Colour?

If your bridal corset is a part of the dress then usually the corset material will match perfectly well with the rest of the dress. If you are wearing a bridal corset that are not part of the dress itself, choosing as close to the colour of your dress as possible will ensure it cannot be seen from under the dress.

Wedding dresses come in all colours, and many like to keep their underwear white, including the corset, to create a traditional look. Alternatively your corset could even be your “something blue” if you desire, providing the material and cut of your dress is such that it will remain unseen until you get undressed.

15. Is Overbust Better Than Underbust?

Both overbust and underbust corsets have their advantages and your choice largely depends on personal taste and whether or not you want to wear a bra.

An overbust corset takes the place of a bra and can offer you excellent support for your bust, often redistributing your curves to make your cleavage as full as possible. An underbust corset will stop beneath your bust and you will most likely want to wear a different bra for support for your breasts.

If you have a particular bra you really want to wear, you might like to opt for an underbust corset as this gives you the freedom to combine both worlds, whereas if you want your breasts to be part of the corset effect, an overbust may be your best choice.

16. How To Lace A Corset

If you have ever laced a solid trainer or football boot, you have had good practice in lacing up a corset. The key thing is to make sure the laces remain even at the end so that they loop together easily with no unsightly leftover fabric.

Video Guide

Check out this great step-by-step video guide by Orchard Corset and show them some love by subscribing to their channel!

Step-By-Step Instructions

1. Starting at the top, pull the laces through the grommets from the back to the front so that the fabric lies flat against your body.
2. Next, create little “x” shapes by crossing over from the left to right and pushing the laces through the next grommets from front to back.
3. Create a further “x” by crossing again from left to right and this time pulling the lace through from the back of the grommet.
4. Continue in this way, making “x” shapes all the way down and keeping the laces flat and even.
5. When you tighten the laces, pull them gently on one “x” at a time, making sure not to allow any slack to slip back into the rows.
6. Finally, tie a secure bow at the bottom.

Some corsets are designed to be tied with one set of laces that cover the entire back of the corset, while others are divided into a number of smaller bows. For the latter, simply start again beneath the last row and keep your bows evenly spaced.

17. Will I Need Help Lacing Up My Corset?

It is definitely much easier to lace up a corset if you have an assistant but it is not impossible to do alone. Before you put the corset on, make sure it is laced up loosely with the laces flat and even. It helps if the corset has extra snaps or fasteners in the front so you can leave the back laces alone while you make the main adjustments.

Once everything is in place, you need to reach back and tighten the laces gradually, using a mirror to make sure everything stays even. Finally, tighten the loose laces into a secure bow. It might feel as though you need extra hands, but it is more than possible with a little patience and time.

18. Can I Attach Suspenders To My Corset?

Some longer corsets come with suspender attachments ready for you to add your stockings, and some of these can be sewn in although most need to be separately attached. Most corsets come with garter loops at the bottom, and there are often several to choose from to give you more choice in where you want your garter strap to sit.

There are usually three loops in the front and three at the back. If your corset doesn’t have garter loops, you can purchase garter straps with clips that will fit to any corset but you need to be careful not to pull your corset out of shape if it wasn’t originally designed to hold garter straps.

19. What Are The Best Bridal Corset Brands?

There are many excellent bridal corset brands to choose from. Some of the best include:

• Orchard Corset
• Corset Story
• La Perla
• Studio Pia
• Rigby and Peller
• Love and Lemons
• Vollers Corsets
• Ava Corsetry

20. Should I ‘Break-In’ My Corset?

Whatever type of corset you choose to wear on your big day, the main thing to remember is that you need to “season the corset” as much as you can beforehand. It may feel wrong to wear your bridal lingerie (or corset wedding dress) before the actual wedding, but breaking in your corset can be the difference between enjoying a relaxed wedding and being uncomfortable or preoccupied the whole time.

You will probably try on your wedding dress for adjustments and fittings several times in the run up to your wedding and it is really important that you wear the exact corset each time or the measurements for your dress could be completely wrong.

Final Thoughts

Provided you choose carefully, you certainly can wear a corset under a wedding dress. Wearing your corset as part of your special day can give you a huge confidence boost just when you need it as you know your silhouette looks fantastic and you won’t have to worry about holding your stomach in every time someone lifts a camera.

Whether you want to achieve a tiny waist or just a streamlined outline, corsets and weddings go together as well as bride and groom. They also look fantastic as part of your bridal lingerie set when you are not wearing your wedding dress. Whatever type of corset you go for, a high quality, reliable corset can be the first layer of a beautiful day.

You may also enjoy browse a curated selection of what I feel are some of the worlds finest lingerie ranges available today that are perfect for your wedding night!