Your Essential Wedding Underskirt Guide

Perfect Bridal Accessories from Taylor’s Bridal

At Taylor’s Bridal, we know that finding the perfect underskirt is a key step in completing your bridal look. Our bridal underskirt guide will help you understand how to choose the right underskirt to add shape, volume, and comfort beneath your wedding dress — all without overshadowing your accessories.

While we specialise in the more noticeable bridal accessories like veils and hair accessories, a well-chosen underskirt is essential for achieving that flawless silhouette every bride dreams of. Whether you want a subtle lift or dramatic volume, our guide to underskirts covers everything you need to know.

What are the benefits of wearing an underskirt?

Let’s talk about the benefits of wearing an underskirt with your gorgeous wedding dress. Firstly, the right underskirt will enhance the shape of your dress as well as your figure! They are ideal for supporting the weight of a heavier dress without taking away the ability to “swish.” An underskirt also stops your wedding dress from wrapping around your feet, making it easier for you to walk down the aisle and dance the night away.

If you have a princess-style dress, you won’t be able to achieve the full, fairytale effect without the use of an underskirt.

Do I need an underskirt for my wedding dress?

The short answer is: it depends on your wedding dress style.

Most A-line and all ball gown dresses will need an underskirt. Browse our full collection of A-line underskirts and ball gown underskirts. The same applies to many fit and flare, trumpet, mermaid and fishtail gowns, which will need a mid-thigh underskirt to give the flare shape at the bottom. Browse our full collection of mermaid underskirts.

For these more figure-hugging styles, it’s important that the underskirt kicks out at the knee rather than the waist. Ideally, for a true fishtail shape, the kick out should come nearer your ankles, but a mermaid style underskirt will often work well.

However, as there are so many different combinations of dress and underskirt, all you need to know is where your dress flares out. We at Taylor’s Bridal are more than happy to do the rest!

Dresses that usually don’t need an underskirt:

• Sheer dresses
• Dresses with a very straight drop
• Dresses with a thigh-split
• Slinky, slip-style bridal gowns

Are there underskirts available in my size?

The Bianco Evento bridal underskirts we offer at Taylor’s Bridal cater from UK size 8 to 24, so they’re perfect if you require an XL or XXL. Please refer to our handy underskirt size guide below for help.

Nearly all our brides worry about what will happen if they lose or gain weight before the wedding. Luckily, our underskirts are made with a Lycra waistband that fits either side of its stated size, so no alterations are needed.

To hoop or not to hoop?

Some underskirts don’t include hoops. These styles have fewer benefits, such as not clearing space around your feet, but they do create a softer, more floaty look. If your dress suits that style and you still want a little shaping, a non-hooped underskirt can work nicely.

Hoops are what give your dress its structured shape. Fishtail and mermaid dresses usually need only one hoop, situated at the bottom. Ball gown and princess-style dresses will need at least two hoops to support the weight and achieve the right volume. Heavy materials like duchess satin may require even more.

Why do I have extra wire left after inserting my hoop?

If the wire ends meet exactly, you get a weak point in the hoop. The extra wire is there so you can cross it over, giving the hoop full, even support and preventing collapse.

As this is a frequently asked question, we’ve made the video below explaining exactly how to insert your hoop! 🙂

Why do I have extra wire left after inserting my hoop?

If the wire ends meet exactly, you get a weak point in the hoop. The extra wire is there so you can cross it over, giving the hoop full, even support and preventing collapse.

As this is a frequently asked question, we’ve made the video below explaining exactly how to insert your hoop! 🙂

Step-by-step underskirt hoop insertion guide

1. Remove your underskirt and hoops from the bag.
2. Shake out the underskirt and lay it flat.
3. Flip the bottom up so you can see inside.
4. Find the hoop channel(s) and colour-coded tab(s).
5. Carefully unwrap the hoop(s) – watch for quick unravelling!
6. Lay them on the floor.
7. Don’t remove the plastic end caps – they match each hoop to the right channel.
8. Insert the hoop wire into the opening near the coloured tab.
9. Feed the wire through the channel carefully.
10. Once it reaches the starting point, continue pushing so the wire overlaps.
11. For two hoops, repeat this process with the lower channel.
12. Shake out your hooped underskirt and you’re done!

If the wire snags, gently pull it back and feed it again.