How to Choose Your Bridal Lingerie

So you've found the perfect wedding dress, but have you even thought about what lingerie will go with it?! You want it to be comfortable, supportive and practical but also sexy and sensual. Read on to find our top lingerie shopping tips for all you brides-to-be...

www.brayola.com

Allow yourself plenty of time to shop for your perfect lingerie. If you want to enter the shops armed with a distinct idea of the bridal lingerie you would like to buy, ask yourself the following questions:

Wedding Dress by Berta Spring 2016 Bridal Collection

What Lingerie Will Go With Your Dress?

Ok so your probably already having dreamy visions of the romantic lacy surprises you have in store for your groom on your wedding night! It is important however to first consider the practical question of what lingerie actually will work with your dress. For each type of bridal gown, there will be different options available to you. Bear in mind some style dresses could even accommodate a built in bra if you discuss it with your designer.

 

For strapless and halter styles – Aim for a strapless bra that has a wide supportive band to give you enough lift but also a seamless style would make sure it looks smooth not bulky underneath a thinner dress. You could also try a halter style bra or a multiway bra so that you can adjust the straps to a halter style yourself. This will give you maximum lift and support and are especially supportive for fuller busts. For smaller busts look at extra padding to ensure you fill the style of the dress to its best.

 

Backless and low-back dresses – There are many brands that now stock underwired bra cups without the band or back. These are usually either entirely adhesive or have side wings that you apply adhesive or sticky tape too. Alternatively if you are comfortable to go bra-less, opt to use silicone pasties to keep the essentials revealed.

Princess line and ball gown dresses – These are quite forgiving, giving you more options in terms of panties and bras. You can maximise your assets by choosing a plunge style bra for v-necks and sweetheart necklines or a balconnette style for squarer necklines. These popular styles will be both comfortable and supportive and you will have plenty of options to choose the colour and materials its made in.

Fish tail and sheath dresses – Always try to achieve an invisible look with your lingerie under your wedding dress. These particular styles make this more difficult which is why you should go for seamless and invisible styles or even bustiers or shapewear which will give you extra smoothness and support. 

Nicole Miller Bridal

 

What Type of Panties Should You Wear?
For any style of dress with a large flowing skirt, you can wear any underwear you’d like as its not going to be seen. Opt for full coverage panties, frenchies or even a sexy thong with a big bow! If your dress is close fitting and made from a thinner fabric, go for seamless nude styles or shapewear to avoid unsightly VPL's. As these options aren't the most sexy styles around, you can always change into something more seductive after the reception.

Should You Wear Shapewear?

There is plenty of different shapewear styles on the market; bodysuits, longline bras, thigh shapers and full coverage shapewear and they all can provide a solution to your problem areas. Full coverage shapewear will keep everything tucked away and supported. For a similar effect but without being so restricted, wear a slip underneath your dress to keep things smooth and sleek. Wearing a Longline bra will provide more support than a standard bra whilst shaping your midsection. Bodysuits give you an instant tummy tuck whilst also providing good support for your bust. 

Onefabday.com

What Colour Lingerie Goes With Your Dress?

Nude underwear is the most invisible option for most wedding dresses that are usually a shade of white, ivory or cream. However if your dress is constructed of many layers or is thick, you can get away with white or even wear something blue for tradition. You can also get away with wearing your sexy lace styles all day as the thickness of the dress will hide the lacy details.

Should You Go Bare Legged?

Always consider leg coverage and whether you will wear stockings, hold-ups or go bare-legged. Bear in mind that stockings are held up by a garter belt and are extremely elegant and seductive however they could affect the smooth lines of your dress. Hold ups create smoother lines if coverage is necessary.

Our Advice!

Always try on your chosen lingerie BEFORE your big day to make sure it works perfectly and that it is comfortable to wear all day! Take your chosen lingerie to dress fittings and if your opting for a bustier or corset, dedicate a day before the wedding to wear it so you can get used to how it will feel. Remember, comfortable lingerie will ensure you can relax and enjoy your day and your sexy pieces can always be saved for your groom later!

Coming up... If lots of hen do's have come around at once this year and you and your friends purse strings are getting tighter, try our fun ideas on "how to plan a hen party on a budget".

For inspiration and DIY deco tips visit our 'Party Planning' page on our website.

xxx
Credits:

The knot via Pinterest | brayola.com |Berta Spring 2016 Bridal Collection | Nicole Miller Bridal | Onefabday.com

Top Tips to Get the Most out of a Wedding Fair!

As the flurry of excitement of getting engaged begins to settle, you may just start to panic about how on earth you are going to pull this wedding together! Our advice? Visit wedding fairs. For all the trawling of the internet that you can do, a wedding fair will save you time and energy to find the perfect elements for your dream wedding. 

 

Where else but at a wedding fair can you smell the flowers, taste the cakes, listen to the bands, preview luxurious locations, peruse photographers’ portfolios, and try on the dresses!? To top it all off, there is usually a catwalk show, showcasing all the latest aisle styles to fuel the excitement for your big day! 

 

Its a sensory explosion that is sure to get your ideas flowing and your sure to pick up a few freebies along the way! When face-to-face with the experts, you can ask them your most burning questions of how to tailor their services to you.

Follow our top tips on how to make the most out of wedding fairs:

 
Research
Firstly, find out which wedding fairs and venue open days are right for you and are therefore worth attending? Look online, in wedding magazines or start following wedding venues and suppliers blogs. There are bridal events that cater to everyone's needs, i.e for a particular religion or ethnic background. Suppliers at these fairs will provide unique requirements or tastes of these groups.
Once you know what’s going on and where, look to see who will be exhibiting, whether there are any demonstrations, catwalks and whether there is a champagne bar - a necessity! Narrow down your options by considering:

• Where you are getting married
• What time of year you are getting married
• Your wedding style
• What is your inspiration
• What suppliers you are looking for
  

You should now have a list of wedding fairs to attend! We would recommend no more than 3. Just remember to buy your tickets in advance to avoid the queues and higher prices on the door!

Prioritise your favourite exhibitors
At the larger more renowned wedding fairs, it can be difficult to get around all of the stands in one day. Before you attend try to view a floor plan or list of exhibitors so that you can prioritise who you want to see and write down where they will be exhibiting within the wedding fair.
Take note of any seminars or demonstrations that may be scheduled in that day. You won't have time to attend them all, but you can make sure you attend the most relevant ones to you. Arrive early to guarantee yourself a seat or a good view!

Set goals
It can be easy to get overwhelmed or carried away at wedding fairs by the myriad of exhibitors handing you business cards and information. Try to list a few things that you want to achieve by the end of the day; i.e finding a photographer, deciding on the style of wedding cake or choosing a colour theme. This way at least, you are less likely to get distracted, pressured into signing up for irrelevant services or run out of time!

Pack your essentials
Don't forget to take the following items to help you make the most of the day:

• Flat shoes – a must, especially for large national shows!
• Suitable and comfortable clothing if you wish to try on any dresses.
• Swatches of your colour scheme and fabrics or any inspiration pictures to keep you on track.
• A large bag, backpack or wheel along to carry all of the leaflets and freebies that you will be collecting.
• A case to keep all the business cards that you pick up.
• Pre-printed address labels or an address stamp are handy when signing up for mailing lists.
• Cash and a bank card for any on the day purchases - don't miss out on something special!
• Refreshments to keep you hydrated and your energy levels up.
• A diary to keep a record of any appointments you schedule in for later dates.
  

Take your partner/best friends
If your fail to convince your partner to go with you, don’t drag them along! It will be counter productive. If your partner does want to get involved however, make sure they don't get left out! Try to limit the number of people you take with you as too many people or too many opinions may confuse you and your ideas.

Meet and greet
Take business cards of suppliers you like the look of so you can contact them again. Link up with them on facebook Twitter and Pinterest to hear their latest offerings.

Don't be afraid to ask if suppliers are offering a discount for bookings made that day, you could easily save yourself up to 15%! It’s also appropriate to request references. By all means if you’ve already set your wedding date and you hear the band of your wedding dreams playing your special song then go ahead and find out if they're available!

Get stuck in
If your open to ideas, get involved in the demonstrations, try out new make up styles, have your hair styled in the latest trending up-do or even get your teeth whitened for the big day.

 
And finally, treat yourself to a glass of Bubbly!
A wedding fair wouldn't be complete without a glass of bubbles so make sure you take some time out to relax and reflect on a good days planning!

Coming up... So you've got your wedding dress sorted, but what about your wedding lingerie?! Not only does this have to look amazing it has to provide all the support too! We reveal our best shopping tips on "How to choose your bridal lingerie."

For inspiration and DIY deco tips visit our 'Party Planning' page on our website.

xxx


Credits:
www.inlovephotography.i.e | www.hercampus.com 

Oscar De La Renta Bridal Spring/Summer 2016 Runway Show | ulyana.aster via instagram

10 Hen Party Games to Make Your Guests Giggle!

Plan ahead a handful of hen party games that will have your guests mingling, laughing and best of all, have the bride blushing! These top ten hen party games range from sweet and innocent to daring and humiliating! 

Mr and Mrs

This is a Hen Party MUST! Before the party, ask the groom 10-15 questions about him and his bride to be. This can be as random or funny as you like! At the party the bride has to answer the same questions and see if she can come up with the same answer. You can then reveal the grooms answers to the bride and for all the wrong answers, the bride has to do a forfeit.

WE RECOMMEND: To film the grooms answers and expressions to add more humour!

Pass the Parcel

Using the same concept of the party game pass the parcel you played at your 8^th birthday party but a whole lot better and of course, a whole lot naughtier! First, wrap your biggest prize and then keep wrapping it inserting smaller prizes between the layers. Use fun lollies and sweet treats to eat, silly name badges and costume accessories to wear and naughty intimate products such as massage oils to use. 

WE RECOMMEND: You slip a few daring or just embarrassing challenges such as “kiss a stranger”, “swap an item of clothing with a random”, “perform a silly dance move in front of someone or try twirking”. The possibilities are endless! 

Pin the Hose on the Fireman

Instead of pinning the tail on the donkey, pin a “hose” on a fireman. Yes you guessed it, its not really a hose! Find a tempting photo of a fireman, draw your best “hose” and get pinning! 

Truth or Dare

This is a game set to embarrass the hen. At the start of the night, have all the hens write a dare or naughty question for the bride-to-be to complete or answer throughout the night. It can be humiliating, such as removing her bra while on the dance floor, x-rated (think pinching a stranger’s bottom or having a specific part of your body autographed), or something innocent, like asking a married couple for advice. Stagger them throughout the night until she’s gotten through the entire list. 

WE RECOMMEND: You give the bride a prize at the end as a reward for all her hard work and humiliation!

Scavenger Hunt

Compile a list of items to scavenge on your night out. You can pick random items or collect items to add to a theme, the choice is yours! Set a time limit and divide your hens into teams. The team to collect all the items first are the winners and can be rewarded with a prize or make the losers do a forfeit. Be prepared to make a few swaps for other peoples things you want to scavenge! 

WE RECOMMEND: Scavenging a single man’s business card, somebody’s tie, a temporary tattoo, a pair of chopsticks and a lemon. Another fun twist is to get each team to take snaps on their phones for photographic evidence!

Toilet Paper Couture

Get the girls in to teams and get them to create a wedding dress from toilet paper using one of the team members as a model. Give each team just 5 minutes to finish their masterpieces before they have to strut them down an imaginary catwalk and talk about its best features. The bride then chooses the winning team! 
 
WE RECOMMEND: You go all out and make a toilet paper veil and bouquet too!

Cheeky Charades

Write down 15 words that the Bride-to-be has to act out for the group! But to be sneaky, choose 10 words that are sexually related such as 'doggy-style', then choose 5 innocent words that are related to the wedding, such as 'church', 'flower-girl' etc. Place these words in either a hat or inside balloons for the bride to pop. She then needs to act out the word to the guests in 30 seconds. Everyone must shout out what they think the word is, if no one gets it right in 30 seconds, the bride will have to pay a penalty. The point of the game is to embarrass the bride a little and to get everyone laughing.

WE RECOMMEND: To only guess the words right that are related to the wedding. All the words that are sexually related (which you will see from her actions), try leave those words for the bride to act out for longer. Remember to inform the guests before hand to not guess the words right that you can see are sexually related! 
 

Banned Words

Fun, easy and as naughty as you like! Choose a list of words that CANNOT be spoken throughout the night – make sure you choose words that are hard to avoid! You get to decide how severe the penalty is for breaking the rules, such as doing a shot or doing a dare.

WE RECOMMEND: Words such as 'wedding' and the grooms name.  

Hen Night Cricket
This game is hilarious! Place a tennis ball inside a pair of tights. Tie the tights around the waist of the Bride making sure that the leg with the tennis ball is to the back of the Bride and the ball is about 12inches (a foot) from the floor. Get another guest to stand in front of the bride with her feet shoulder width apart. Place a half filled small bottle of water or soda on the floor between the guests legs. Then challenge the Bride to knock over the bottle with the tennis ball inside the stocking with out using her hands. She has to sway her hips to get the ball swinging!

WE RECOMMEND: Splitting the group into two teams and the first team to knock the bottle over are the winners. 

Rate the Man

This game is ideal for going out on the town! Each guest has cards from 1-10. When a guy walks by or comes in the door, he’s rated by the party.

WE RECOMMEND: You come up with an impromptu contest like a dance or striptease contest and recruit volunteers from the bar!

Now all you need to do is have fun!!

Coming up...

Its the end of summer and as wedding fayres are now popping up its time to get planning for your big day! Be prepared with our next post "Top Tips to Get the Most out of a Wedding Fayre".

 

For more party planning inspiration and DIY deco tips visit our 'Party Planning' page on our website.

xxx

www.lingerieshowers.co.uk
 

How to Plan the Perfect Hen Party!

Ladies its wedding season and unless you've had the pleasure of panning a hen party before, you may be a little overwhelmed with what seems like a huge task! Planning the perfect hen party means that you are required to ensure everyone has the “best time ever” and this can seem like a big responsibility. Juggling staying local or weekends away with must do activities, budget and not to mention if you've got grandma coming too to cater for, are just some of the things you will have to think about. 

But fret not, here is our simple checklist that is guaranteed to make you a party planning pro!

CHECK LIST

• Start Planning Early
  

Firstly, decide on a date with the bride, ideally 4-6 weeks in advance of the wedding day. Not only does that give the bride time to fully recover but it also gives enough in between time for the guests to be comfortable in the money department.

• Save the Date
  

Confirm the guest list with the bride and get everyone's emails and mobile numbers. Send out a 'Save the Date/ invitation ASAP so that the guests can book time off work. You want to get in before any other hen do's, weddings and holidays!

• All About the Bride
  

Ask if the bride wants to be involved in the party preparations, many like to be involved to some extent i.e. choose a theme, location or an always wanted to do activity, but usually this is a time for the bride to relax and leave the planning to their closest chum. If you have been chosen then she will already trust that you will plan something suited to her tastes. A top tip is to ask her what she liked and disliked about any other hen parties she has been on to save any disappointment or embarrassment. 

• Don't Forget About Grandma!
  

Remember that you may be catering for an array of age groups, and probably a diverse group of people that know the bride from different parts of her life. Don't plan something that will isolate the older generations or any of the guests. You want to plan activities that everyone in the group can get involved in. Grandma may well enjoy the butler in the buff but maybe not be so keen on zorbing!

• Timing is Everything
  

A jam-packed day is better than guests getting bored and wondering off, but be realistic about activities and timings. You want your guests to be relaxed and having fun not flustered and rushed. Make sure you give people enough time to get to and from activities and enough time for the guests to glam up for the big night out after. After all everyone will want to look their best and may need a little more time after a day of say paintballing! So plan your day wisely!

• Avoid Bridal Bankruptcy!
  

Its typically known that when one wedding comes around, they all come around and suddenly you find yourself trying to budget for multiple hen parties, weddings and presents! Not everyone will be able to afford all the trimmings so whether your planning a local do or a weekend away, do keep a budget in mind that will suit all your guests. On average a Hen Party weekend away costs approx £200, this should include 2 nights B&B, an activity, one evening meal, and either bar passes or drink tokens if you're heading out on the town!

• Balance and Flexibility
  

Sometimes if there is quite a varied group of girls, it is nice to offer a balanced and flexible schedule. You may have pregnant friends, yummy mummy’s, or some on a tighter budget then others. In this case it's best to offer options rather then have to exclude members. For example if you're planning a two night stay with an evening meal, drinks and an activity, then perhaps offer the option of just one night stay with dinner and drinks. This way the bride can enjoy the party with all her friends. 

• Organise Transport
  

Whether your just jumping in a taxi from the hotel to town or doubling up in cars for a road trip weekend away, you will want to plan and pay for all this in advance and include into the budget. No one likes being caught out for extra costs on the day and this will also keep you from losing any guests on the way!

• Spending Money
  

Allow for contingency money for unexpected extras. i.e. you could add £10 to everyone's costs, and hopefully if all goes to plan then it can go towards their drinks.

• Inform the Guests

When all is planned and decided upon, write and send out an itinerary letting the guests know what to expect on the day. You want to keep all your guests clearly informed and be reachable if they have any questions. You also want to build some email excitement here too! This itinerary can be as detailed as you like with breakdowns of times and even costs so that guests know what they are spending their money on! If there are some surprise elements just make this transparent to the guests that these are included in their costs. 

• What to Bring
  

Compile a pack list of essentials for the guests to bring. For example while killer heels and a knockout dress may be obvious, an afternoon of say go karting will require more casual attire. Remind your guests to bring their cameras too to capture all the action!

• Group Games and Memory Lanes

Prepare a few games for group bonding and for fun fill ins just in case there are any waiting around moments. These often make the bride feel extra special too if they are personalised to her. A popular game is 'Memory Lane'. Get each guest to compose a short rhyme or riddle of a memorable time or experience with the bride. The bride can then guess which friend wrote it and explain to the rest of the group the story behind it, giving each guest an insight into their story of friendship. Prepare to laugh uncontrollably and to shed a few tears as you take a trip down memory lane.

 

Coming up...

I hope that's enough to get you started on your party planning challenge for now ladies, but if you want more ideas for party games, there will be more of that in next weeks post! For more party planning inspiration and DIY deco tips visit our 'Party Planning' page on our website.

xxx

www.lingerieshowers.co.uk

Credits:
www.pinkbuslondon.co.uk | www.makeameme.org | www.notonthehighstreet.com | www.alittleobsessed.co.uk

Brits can do it better!

Its time to bring Lingerie Showers to the UK! 

"What exactly is a lingerie shower" I hear you ask?! Well let me inspire you, a lingerie shower is your instant 'naughty or nice' theme for a hen party, birthday or just a great excuse to get together with the girls! Americans see this as a tradition, a right of passage even, meaning they've had a lot of practice fine tuning the details. However! I feel us Brits can still do it bigger, better, and classier...or maybe just crazier!!

That is why I'm introducing you to the party packages worth telling your friends about. Get your girls together and get ready to have a giggle!

Try a 'Lingerie Making Masterclass' where everyone gets to customise a pair of knickers and a garter. This can be as innocent or dirty as your mind can imagine, usually the latter after a few champagnes! Everything you need to get the party started is brought to you by a mobile host who will also make sure you don't get your knickers in a twist! 

Perhaps you just love shopping for lingerie and even the occasional intimate product?! Then the 'Love Lingerie Party' is the one for you. Relax and enjoy in the comfort and privacy of your home, get a little silly and let the host entertain your friends with naughty games and prizes. Benefit from a bra fitting service and a unique consultation demonstrating which colours and styles suit different shapes and sizes. Whether your looking for something frilly and flirty, super seductive, comfy or just like learning about new products then this will be a fun experience for you!

Feeling inspired? Then it gets better! What if I told you, you can combine the Love Lingerie Party with getting pampered by a spa specialist?! No I'm not teasing, this is actually happening to lucky ladies around the UK. Book a 'Lingerie and Pamper Party' for you and your besties and you too can indulge yourselves!

Can't wait then visit www.lingerie showers.co.uk 

So that's it, we CAN do it better then the yanks! Follow me as I share party highlights, great tips and ideas for planning your party, how to pimp your panties for a special occasion and my party inspirations!

xxx