What to Wear Under Your Wedding Dress (Plus-Size Edition)

Because feeling good matters just as much as how your dress looks

When it comes to wedding dress shopping, a lot of the focus often tends to be on the dress, and with good reason! That's what you've booked your appointment for after all. But there is something beyond the silhouette, lace, and neckline that will also affect how you feel when you look in the mirror. What you wear under your wedding dress can make just as much difference to how confident and comfortable you feel on the day, particularly for plus-size brides who may choose to prioritise comfort, support, or ease of movement.

Our plus-size brides often feel like there’s extra pressure to “get it right”, fuelled by years of mixed messages about what you should wear and how a dress is supposed to fit. The truth is, there’s no single correct answer. The best foundation is whatever helps you feel supported, comfortable, and like the best version of yourself.

Forget the Myths, Learn New Rules, and Sidestep Unnecessary Stress.

Here’s our simple, no-nonsense guide to what to wear under your wedding dress, put together especially for our plus-size brides.

Start with comfort, always

Before we talk wedding day bras, shapewear, or anything else, let's look at what matters most - baseline comfort. If something feels uncomfortable when you’re standing still, it will feel ten times worse after hours of walking, sitting, hugging, and dancing.

Your wedding day will be long (in the best way), and as you progress from day into night, you will want to feel free to breathe, move, laugh, and celebrate without constantly adjusting or being restricted. Comfort isn’t a compromise, and it should be a priority.

A Good Bra Should Be Your Foundation

Many wedding dresses, including those designed for curvier bodies, include built-in support such as boning, cups, or internal structure. For some brides, this means a separate bra isn’t necessary at all.

That said, every body is different. Some brides with a fuller bust still prefer the added lift or familiarity of a bra, and that’s absolutely fine.

• If you do choose to wear one, look for a strapless or low-back bra, depending on the neckline of your wedding dress.

• Find a well-fitted style that offers lift without digging in or feeling too unnatural.

• Opt for nude tones rather than white, which tend to sit more discreetly under fabric.

If you’re unsure, don’t worry. During your appointment, we’ll talk through what will and won’t work with each dress you try on so you can select what feels best for you. We would suggest that before your wedding dress appointment, it may be worth considering a professional bra fitting if you haven't had one fairly recently. We entirely understand that the thought of having this kind of fitting done can feel quite invasive and uncomfortable. But you would be amazed at the difference a perfectly fitted bra can make to how you feel not just on the big day, but every day!

A bra fitting isn’t about squeezing yourself into a different size; it’s simply about providing you with clearer information. That way, when you’re trying on wedding dresses, you’ll have a better sense of what feels supportive, what feels restrictive, and what you’re happiest wearing.

If you’d like to get fitted, department stores and specialist lingerie boutiques offer complimentary bra fittings, and it’s worth booking one ahead of your bridal appointment if you’re unsure about your current size.

Shapewear Should Be Optional and Not Expected

Shapewear is a personal choice and certainly not a requirement for plus-size brides. Some of our brides love the smoothness it gives under certain fabrics, while others prefer the freedom of being shapewear-free.

If you choose to wear shapewear:

• Look for pieces that smooth rather than squeeze

• Avoid anything that rolls, digs in, or restricts movement

• Try your chosen shapewear on with  your dress to see how it actually feels and looks under bridal fabric.

Well-fitting dresses don’t need to be “fixed” by shapewear. Alterations and structure do far more for fit than compression ever will.

Keep Underwear Simple and Seamless

For most wedding dresses, seamless or smooth underwear in a nude tone works best. Avoid heavy seams, lace edges, or anything that shows through lightweight fabric.

If you’re trying bridal gowns on for the first time, neutral underwear is perfect, and there’s no need to buy anything special before your appointment. Just make sure you're wearing underwear you're comfortable for us to see, as we'll likely need to help you in and out of dresses in the fitting room. We don't care what you wear, but you should feel good in your chosen underwear.

Shoes Are as Much About Height as They Are About Style

There's no pressure to have already purchased your exact wedding shoes before your first bridal appointment, but having an idea of heel height will help.

If you already have your big day shoes, bring them along. If not:

• Let your consultant know the heel height you’re considering

• Remember comfort matters more than extra inches

• Alterations can always be adjusted to suit your final choice

How You Should Feel  When Everything is Right

When you’ve got the right foundations under your wedding dress, everything feels easier. You’re not tugging or adjusting throughout the day, and you can sit comfortably, free to move naturally without feeling restricted. Most importantly, you stop thinking about what you’re wearing underneath altogether. That sense of ease translates directly into confidence, and that’s what people will notice most.

Ready to start your wedding dress journey?

At Confetti & Curves, we’ll help you find the perfect plus-size wedding dress, and we'll advise on how to get the right foundations to ensure you feel comfortable, confident, and completely yourself.

Book your bridal appointment with Confetti & Curves, and let’s find a look that feels just as good underneath as it does on the outside.