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It is kind of odd, wearing something around your leg underneath a wedding dress, isn't it!? I get it! Wearing a wedding garter on your special day brings up all kinds of issues and concerns for brides. Some brides are really excited about the garter and some could care less and some are really scared. The thought of wearing something about their leg makes them really nervous! But, don't worry, I'm here to help!
Next up in my wedding garter 101 advice blog series, I'm going to give you lots of help and advice for what to do if you are concerned about your wedding garter hurting your leg or rubbing against your other leg. So much drama, I know! But, it is OK, that is why I'm here and I will help brides get through this! Call me the fairy garter mother, if you will!
Photo Credit: Olivia Richards Photography
Regardless of how you feel about the wedding garter tradition itself, just know that if you want to wear a garter there are a few things that you can do to ensure that your wedding garter fits you properly. Keep in mind, proper fitting wedding lingerie will solve almost all issues or concerns, but read on more advice! Just like you get your wedding dress altered to fit you perfectly, the same should be for your lingerie and under garments. When it comes to the garter, there are so many styles and options that finding one that fits you perfectly should be no problem at all.
If you are concerned about your wedding garter rubbing your leg, itching or hurting you at all on your wedding day, here are some tips to avoid the pain…
Fit
The number one thing to keep in mind about a wedding garter is that it is hot under the wedding dress. Even if you are wearing a light weight or sheath dress, you will still be nervous and moving around a lot, perhaps dancing, which can add to the temperature. I know that it isn't pleasant to talk about, so I won't dwell on this topic, but suffice to say that for many reasons, it is important that all of your wedding lingerie fits you properly. Heat will only make something that doesn't fit well in the first place worse.
Try It On
I can't stress the importance of trying on your wedding garter and all of your bridal accessories before your wedding day. The day of is not the time to find out that something doesn't fit as you want it to fit. If your garter is uncomfortable when you try it on, it will be uncomfortable on your wedding day. So, hopefully you'll have some time to remedy the ill-fitting garter situation before the big day.
Material Matters
Just like clothing, the better quality the material for the garter, the less of a chance for rubbing, redness and/or itching. If you are worried about your garter not feeling good, try to get one made of the best material you can find. Something soft, like satin, is a good choice. Extra embellishments like features and glitter will just make it worse, so better to keep the garter simple here.
Location
I generally recommend that brides wear their wedding garter just above their knee. This is the smallest part of the leg, which is ideal for comfort. Also, in this spot just above your knee, the garter is less likely to rub against your other leg. Yes, we also have to think about your other leg in this situation! Some of us have legs that rub together when we walk and so moving the garter down lower will avoid any kind of rubbing.
Size
Size doesn't necessarily matter, because most wedding garters will stretch to fit the area that you want it to fit. And, you need to try your garter on to ensure it is the proper size. That is the only way to know. Some garters indicate the size on the package and some are one-size-fits-all. If you are concerned before your purchase your garter, measure the area around where you want to wear it and make sure that the garter will stretch to fit that area. But, again, you really need to just try the garter on. If the garter doesn't fit, try moving it up or down your leg to have it fit how you want. If this doesn't work, it might be time for another garter!
Take It Off
If you are going through your wedding day and your garter is uncomfortable, just take it off. Go to the bathroom or hide somewhere and remove it. There is no need to suffer! Pass it off to a bridesmaid or put it in your spouse's pocket for safe keeping.
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So, that's it! This is my advice for what to do if you are worried about your garter rubbing you other leg or hurting under you wedding dress.
What advice to you have? What did I miss? Leave me a comment!
More garter questions? Check out my garter 101 blog series and remember that you can shop for your garter right here in my collection.
