A Wedding Gown Trick You Should Know

 First, an Admission ~! I am NOT the sort of man who is into (big F) Fashion. I'm a bit blokey, really, and if you find a heap of dog-eared Vogue or Marie Claire mags on the back seat of my car, that's research.  Except when it comes to wedding and bridesmaid gowns.... I am constantly amazed by the gowns that brides choose, and the way they wear them; again and again, wedding after wedding, I see  brides turn these lifeless pieces of fabric into Works of Art by the simple process of draping themselves in them.

Of course, putting on wedding dresses is often more complex than "draping" yourself, and it's a wise bride who learns the process from her dressmaker or supplier, and makes sure that her Bridesmaids and her Mother learn how to fit and form the gown to her. Without some practice it takes a long time, and often several tries to get it right. Some brides have an experienced fitter attend their preparations just to ensure this goes without a hitch (so to speak) and it seems to me a good investment. Your seamstress, dress shop or wedding supplier may offer this service.

What has this to do with ruining your wedding day? Not so much - a bit of a delay in getting to the Ceremony is no disaster. The problem is that, simple gowns aside,  a wedding dress is unlike any other gown you are likely to wear.  It tends to be heavy, especially if it has petticoats and underskirts and hoops....Even more if it has a built-in foundation garment, or requires you to wear one. Add a train and you add to the effort of bearing up under the weight of it; not for just an hour or so - Even if your change into a "going away" outfit, you will be carrying that beautiful weight with you for perhaps 10 to 12 hours!


There will be consequences! Even on a cool day, you will feel the heat.  more than just feeling warm, you are likely to perspire;  what that does to your make-up is not the big thing. You can repair that; but the way a dress is draped and worn, the real problem is  going on ~ to be delicate - lower down.

My mother always insisted that animals sweat, men  perspire, but ladies only glow...well this is a case wherethe glow is intense! It takes place between your legs, and it can leave you  with a painful rash that might spoil your first dance and that you really don't want to take on your honeymoon!

So Do This: before  you put on the dress, apply a layer of anti-chafing gel - Lanacane, Monistat or the like - you can get them from most chemists and make-up outlets; if you can't get it  for some reason, talcum powder is a worthwhile substitute - a puff between your thighs will avoid chaffing, If it has an antiperspirant, that's good, too ~ and I promise not to photograph this particular part of your preparations!