Bride Lingerie Do's And Dont's

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For the modern bride, lingerie selection is usually an important part of wedding-day preparations. There are two types of lingerie that most brides require: the supportive bridal undergarments that are worn beneath the wedding dress, and then the provocative, erotic lingerie worn on the wedding night itself. It's possible to find lingerie that can pull "double duty" and be worn for both the public and private parts of the wedding day. However, most brides appreciate the opportunity to take a shower and put on something fresh after the long and exhausting wedding festivities.

The cut of the wedding dress will largely indicate the wedding underwear choices made by the bride; bridal lingerie worn beneath the wedding dress is designed to be invisible and simply make the dress look the best it can. Brides with mermaid-style gowns or other clinging styles frequently select a comprehensive body-shaper for wear beneath the dress. These garments provide shaping and support for the thighs, butt, abs, torso, and breasts. However, they can create logistical problems when it's time to use the bathroom; brides who wear these shapers may need to entirely remove their gown in order to step out of the shaper and use the toilet.

Many brides imagine themselves walking down the aisle wearing a virginal white bra and panty set, with a white garter belt and white stockings. As attractive as this option appears, women who are not used to wearing garter belts often may find that they are more binding and uncomfortable than anticipated. Adhesive stockings are an excellent alternative; these thigh-high stockings have a lacy top with a slightly adhesive backing that allows the stockings to stay up on the legs without needing support from a garter belt. The thigh-high option also makes trips to the bathroom much easier, since a garter belt worn over panties will need to be undone in order to remove one's underwear.

Brides whose gowns are made from very thin fabrics should consider wearing foundation garments that match their skin color as closely as possible. White undergarments will easily be seen under thin fabrics such as certain unlined types of satin, but fabrics that are close to the bride's skin tone will not be visible, ensuring that only the dress will be visible. The texture of all fabrics must also be taken into consideration; satin or cotton undergarments are almost always a wise choice, but lace or other rough materials may only be worn under fabrics that are stiff enough not to reveal the outline of the bra and panties beneath them. This is a fashion faux pas that many women regularly make; however, it's particularly unattractive when immortalized in wedding photos!

After the public wedding festivities are over, the bride and groom retire to their suite for the much-anticipated wedding night. For both groom and bride, lingerie and intimate apparel can play a huge factor in setting the scene for this most romantic of nights. It's wise for the bride and groom to talk through their expectations beforehand, so that everything is on the proverbial table. Most couples appreciate the opportunity to undress and shower after the long and arduous wedding day; many brides prefer to shower after their new husbands so that they can emerge from the bathroom clean, refreshed, immediately begin making love.

Carmen Petitclerc is the owner of the popular lingerie and intimate apparel site, Love of Lingerie. If you are considering wedding underwear be sure to check out the valuable tips on bridal lingerie.

Choosing Mother of the Bride Shoes - 10 Do's and Don'ts

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As we get older, our backs and feet aren't what they used to be.  So what's a mom to do when she knows she must wear fancy dress shoes at her daughter or son's wedding?  Don't use excuses about comfort to avoid looking the best you can on your child's wedding day. Your shoes can make or break your outfit.  Those wedding photos will be around forever, so make sure you look your absolute best, from your feet up, on the big day.

 If you're not sure how to make the transition from sneakers to stilettos, then here are 10 Dos and Don'ts for choosing the perfect pair of Mother of the Bride shoes.

1.    Don't buy shoes that can be dyed. Perfectly matching the color of your shoes to your mother of the bride gown is very passé. Plus, when your feet sweat, your feet will turn color.

2.    Do break your shoes in before the wedding. Vacuum in them. Walk up stairs in them. Otherwise you'll be walking around the reception with big blisters.

3.    Don't change into rubber or plastic flip flops during the reception, or even worse, go barefoot.  Is the dance floor a dormitory shower, or the boardwalk? Change into a lower heeled formal shoe if you must, but respect the formality of the event.

4.    Don't choose mother of the bride shoes with boxy or squared toes.  These heavy, clunky looking styles do nothing to elongate your leg, and are best left for more casual outfits. Fine occasions call for fine shoes.

5.    Don't buy shoes that are not your size!  Too many women fall in love with a shoe that's a half size too big and end up stepping out of it, or they buy a size too small hoping  they'll l  be able ignore the pain.  You can't.  If you really can't get the store to locate it in the correct size, move on!

6.    Don't wear a heel you may slip out of, or fall off.  A mule or a 5" stiletto heel will give you rolled ankles and swollen feet if you are not used to wearing them. Let's make sure the limo, not the ambulance, is what transports you from the ceremony to reception!

7.    Don't opt for price over quality when buying Mother of the Bride shoes.  Expensive, well-made shoes are worth the investment.  Scrimp on less important things.  (We won't tell anyone those earrings are faux-pearl!)

8.    Do try wearing a neutral or metallic shoe like gold, silver or pewter, instead wearing a shoe the same color as your mother of the bride gown. It is much more sophisticated and classy!

9.    Don't wear flats to the ceremony.  If high heels make you squeamish, try a kitten heel or a wedge instead - you'll walk taller and look slimmer with some extra height!

10.    Do choose age appropriate shoes.  Ditch the Granny orthopedic wannabes, but also don't choose a shoe that looks like it belongs in your teenage daughter's closet.  Anything too strappy or sparkly will look tacky on a woman over 40.

Follow these rules for Mother of the Bride shoes and you'll look fabulous from head to toe. And don't forget to get a pedicure!

(c) 2009, Boland-Tyler Productions.  All rights reserved.  Article may be reprinted so long as text and by-line are reprinted intact and all links made live.

Deborah Boland and JoJami Tyler (The Glam Gals) are Image and Style Experts specializing in helping women 40 plus look and feel fabulous. They are the authors of the book, The Glam Plan ~ 12 Simple Steps to Take You from Frumpy to Fabulous, as well as coaches for their Tweak Your Chic(TM), Image make-over program. To learn more tips about choosing your mother of the bride (or groom) dress visit http://www.fabulousafter40.com/ebooks/mother-of-the-bride/, sign up for their bi-weekly newsletter and visit Worth The Splurge to see 100 Style Links Women Will Love.