By Rhea Cortado (contributing)

When it comes to a wedding, women have carte blanche to be spoiled brats. They want exactly what they want and how they want it. So at the Something Blue wedding showcase event at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, it was all about customization and personalization. Shoes can be bedazzled or dyed to the bride’s precise Pantone number fancy and cupcake sprinkles can be styled to match whatever the decided theme.

The event covered all the details of the big day from announcement to consummation. (To see the full listing of vendors that participated and more tips, see the Something Blue facebook page: )

For the invitations before the wedding, Karla Rudolph (who was also host of the event) showed custom stationary under her label, The Card Lady.  She displayed a spectrum of styles from the traditional calligraphy romantic style to modern graphic design.

The new lingerie brand Claudette  laid out the expected bridal white, Victorian-like lace on its dresser display, paired with matching jewels. But I thought it was more interesting to see Claudette’s lingerie in oyster and pale pink hues that had the feeling of bridal white, in an offbeat, less mainstream and unpredictable way.

A really cute idea for you lingerie junkies regardless of pre-marital status was Danielle Biel’s “Sky Blue Boudoir” photography.  There’s something about a woman taking photos of another woman that’s sensually sexy and sensitive to easing women’s insecurities about their own bodies, as opposed to a male’s eye that sees women perhaps more as sculptural objects.

For the honeymoons in remote tropical islands, Beach Candy by Brit B  based out of Corona Del Mar exhibited some teeny bikinis and maillots. All the pieces shown were like samples because the shop specializes in making (of course!) custom bikinis. You can buy off the rack, make tweaks on what they have there already, or bring in magazine tear sheets of that bikini you love, if only it was in a different color and tailored to fit your body’s assets. This way you get the bikini you want, exactly how you want it.

by Libby Dowd

Any bride-to-be is likely to find herself knee deep in brand new lingerie by the time her honeymoon arrives. In fact, she may end up with more intimate apparel than regular clothes in her suitcase. Since it’s wise to travel with a little extra room in your suitcase, I’ve compiled this list of Honeymoon must-haves:

Something Sweet: Chemises and camisoles are a popular bridal gift item since the shopper does not need to know the bride’s bra size in order to get a perfect fit. Mesh or cotton styles can be sexy, but at the same time comfortable enough to sleep in.

Something Sexy: A striking piece of lingerie that she might not wear any other time should certainly find its way into a new bride’s suitcase. Sultry styles from Masion Close fit the bill. At a higher price point, Toad Lillie offers styles that are revealing, but still very tasteful.

Something Comfy: A comfortable and shapely robe is a necessity for vacationing newlyseds. I think any girl could live in these printed styles from Plum Pretty Sugar.

Something Blue: This is the only time a lacy blue pair of bridal panties will be appropriate. Go for the ones with the most bows and bedazzled details!  I love this pair from Betsey Johnson.

by Libby Dowd

If you’ve ever been to a wedding, been in a wedding or flipped to one of the many wedding programs on TV, you’ve heard the phrase, “It’s all about the details.” I was married last spring and as I planned the event, I spent the majority of my time focusing on the details. From the 40 or so vintage glass cake stands my mother and I hunted for at local antique stores to the monogrammed suspenders my groom and his men donned, I had them all figured out. It’s safe to say I lost sleep over many. There was just one detail I ignored—my bridal lingerie. As a contributing editor for The Lingerie Journal, I’m embarrassed to admit that I overlooked what every bride should consider to be the most important accessory. After all, the proper undergarments are what make an outfit. Luckily, I was working with an expert seamstress who fit me in the right bra, right away. But the whole experience got me thinking that not enough brides consider what they will wear under their gown. I recently asked readers on my blog, Followthewife.com what lingerie they wore on their wedding day and learned from many that lingerie was not their top priority either. One reader even said she didn’t notice the seamstress had forgotten to sew cups into her gown until after the ceremony. By that time, it didn’t even matter, she added.

With so many great products available, bridal lingerie can be a huge market for intimate apparel retailers and manufacturers. But the many options can easily confuse or frustrate brides. After all, not everyone thinks trying on girdles and push-up bras is as exciting as sampling cake. Educate brides about their options and show them how important their wedding day lingerie really is, and you’ll be well on your way to building a lasting customer relationship. Here are some of my favorite ideas for making the most of the bridal biz.

• Hold an in-store event for brides to introduce them to all the intimate apparel options you carry. Brides love to attend special events, and most will bring a friend or two. Ask them to come with a photo of their gown and offer mini lingerie consultations. Serve champagne and sweet treats to make the girls feel extra special.

• Partner with a local wedding boutique to set up a pop-up shop during a busy weekend. Once a bride finds the right dress, you can step in and offer advice on which undergarments will work best. Be sure you have extra business cards with you for moms or bridesmaids that may need intimate apparel suggestions once they find their dresses.

• Talk to local wedding businesses about becoming a preferred vendor. Ask if they can link to your website, mention you on Facebook and include your information on any printed materials. Word of mouth advertising is an important tool and getting recommendations from trusted industry professionals will help you become the go-to source for special occasion intimates.