My dress arrived, and I loved it. This is always good, but it didn't button properly in the back... which was problematic, as you can see here:

One of my bridesmaids took me to one of those faaaaaaancy pants lingerie stores - the kind where the staff can look at you and tell immediately if you are wearing the right bra size or not, with chandeliers in the dressing rooms and all that.

I tried on a couple of different bras, and after we put on this number, I knew it was the one:

I cannot stress enough the importance of proper foundational garments. They absolutely do make or break a dress. This bra cost $120, but I'll be able to wear it more than once, and it still cost less than getting my dress altered that dramatically.

I'm still going to have a tailor add a small placket behind the buttons, and maybe adjust the straps a bit, too. And the dress needs steaming, badly. But for all that, I am now very very very happy with the results.

Who else has Very Important Underwear Advice they'd like to share with the class?