So, you’ve found THE dress – it’s perfect, you feel incredible in it and are counting down the minutes until you can wear it all day long. But the search doesn’t stop there – finding the right underwear for your wedding dress is a job and a half. Someone who knows that better than most is Ellie; not only has she spent years dressing brides, she also spent literally hundreds of pounds and too many hours to mention searching for the perfect underwear to wear under her heavenly Suzanne Neville gown when she got married in 2022. We spoke to Ellie about the dos and don’ts when it comes to buying wedding day underwear and which lingerie brands she genuinely rates.

Ask the wedding underwear expert

“Yes, it’s true – I know far more than necessary about the right pants to wear under your wedding dress. And I’ll cut to the chase; the right wedding day underwear may not quite be what you’ve been imagining or hoping for. Those gorgeous lacy bras and pants, complete with suspenders and pretty blue bows, just won’t work under your gown. Instead, it’s all about simple shapewear that isn’t exactly sexy, but is vital for creating a clean line – you do not want VPL stealing the show on your big day. Balancing the right amount of tummy control with comfort is trickier than it should be, but all of the underwear here gets my expert seal of approval.”

SKIMS

“Believe the hype – that Kim Kardashian really does know what she’s talking about when it comes to shapewear. I loved the smooth lines and support this offered, but it’s the inclusive skin tone shades which really made this brand stand out for me.”

 SPANX

“This classic shapewear brand has plenty of great options to wear under your wedding dress. I really rated the SPANXsculpt™ high-waisted shapewear thong but was disappointed it only came in nude or black colour ways when I got married. Thankfully they’ve expanded the range and it’s now available in black, as well as three different skin tone shades. The SPANXsculpt™ collection is all about firm hold to sculpt those curves, but if you prefer a lighter level of compression, I’d suggest checking out the SPANXsupersmooth™ or SPANXshape™ range. Also, if you’re not a thong girl, this high-waisted style is available as a full brief, too.”

“I also love this low-plunge and low-back bodysuit for brides wearing a soft fit dress like a floaty KYHA Bride or Rish Bridal. These offer excellent support and a soft hug on your figure. A poor choice of colour options though, just beige and black.”

Triumph

“This high-waisted style might not be for everyone, but I really liked the soft control they offered. They give a great shape without feeling too scary or uncomfortable. Again, these are only available in nude or black – no other skin tones – which is a real shame.”

Marks & Spencer

“You absolutely can’t go wrong with M&S for affordable and excellent quality shapewear. If you’re looking for some heavy-duty control pants, these are incredible, although a little too high-waisted for brides wearing corset dresses. I definitely recommend going up a size to avoid any squeeze and make sure you can get your pants down under your corset.”

And the ‘best bridal underwear’ winner is…..

“I’m disappointed to discover that my wedding day pants have been discontinued! I chose to wear the M&S Light Control Seamless Waist Cincher – a bargain at just £12 – on my big day. Offering soft control and the right cut to wear with corseted dresses, they were so comfortable and did a great job of not riding up or moving about. Please bring them back M&S! So, I’ve done some research and have it on good authority this pair of high-waisted pants from Victoria Secret are a brilliant dupe, albeit at double the price. Seamless, breathable and offering medium tummy control, they tick all the boxes. They’re available in a full brief, thong or short style – and in a wide spectrum of skin tones too.”

Great alternatives to bras for your wedding

“At our Ellie Sanderson studios we can often fit cups into your wedding dress for support and an extra bit of ‘va-va-voom’, but for those kinds of gowns which don’t allow it (typically the floaty, featherlight fabric gowns) these are my top recommendations.

Boux Avenue have some great stick-on options for brides with a smaller bust wearing a backless dress.

John Lewis have a U-Plunge stick-on bra which works for both backless and plunging wedding gowns.

Intimissimi have a super-comfy, microfibre strapless bra which comes in a three different skin tone shades.

If you’re looking for something subtle to wear under your wedding dress, these nipple covers by Nippies Skin are the ones I rate. Perfect coverage and available in a choice of skin tones – thumbs up from me.”

What to know before you buy your wedding day underwear

• “Give yourself time to find the right underwear for your wedding dress. It took me 4 months of online shopping and a serious amount of trips to the post office before I found ‘the one’. Be prepared to be on first-name terms with your local delivery drivers and post office staff by the end of your search!
• Have a selection of underwear ready for your first wedding dress fitting. It’s always worth buying a few options to try out, and don’t forget to keep the tags on so you can return them if they don’t work at your fitting.
• Buy bra and knickers in your skin tone. If in doubt, slightly lighter than your skin tone is better than darker, ALWAYS.
• Don’t buy any knickers with bows or lace as they may show under the smooth, clean lines of your wedding dress. Seamless bras and pants are your friends.”

• “If you are buying heavy-duty control pants, always buy one size up to avoid any bulge. Of course they still need to offer enough support, but it’s a fine line between this and too much squeeze.
• At your fitting make sure you can actually get your pants down once your dress is done up; quite important that one!
• I know you want the best for your wedding day, but don’t be seduced into buying big fancy designer brands just for the sake of it. The high street is packed with fantastic underwear. This really is one area where you can save some money. Hooray to that!”

Visit us at Ellie Sanderson

If you are still completely baffled, all of the Ellie Sanderson team are here for you. Give us a call,, Whatsapp us on 07903 310692 or drop us an email and we’ll happily give you some advice on finding the right underwear for your wedding dress. Get in touch with us here.