Whether you’re an old-fashioned kinda gal or a modern woman, whether you have a grand fairy-tale wedding or a secret Vegas elopement, on that night you’ll most likely want to look and feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. This is supposed to be the passionate night of smouldering consummation.

A trousseau is a collection of fancy finery accumulated especially for a wedding night and honeymoon. It comes from the French word trousse, meaning “bundle”, and that’s pretty much what it was: a bundle of stuff the new bride took with her to her new home. In Victorian times the trousseau became more elaborate and the size of a woman’s bridal bling would depend on her family’s wealth and position. It would usually consist of negligées, lingerie, jewellery, and lovely little handmade delicates monogrammed with the bride’s initials. If you came from money, you’d have dresses and gowns for all events and occasions, as well as bed linens and other such goodies for your new home. Basically, it was supposed to be everything you needed to go off into the wide world and start your new life as a proper wife.

These days, for most, a trousseau is mainly the sexy stuff you wear on your wedding night and throughout your honeymoon, as well as whatever else you might want to bring along for that first month of marital bliss.

One very traditional trousseau item is still as hot as ever, though, and that is the corset. Historical yet timeless, dainty yet strong, corsets are extremely feminine and a little bit naughty.

Local corsetière Melanie Talkington of Vancouver’s Lace Embrace Atelier (www.laceembrace.com/) says corsets are popular among brides to wear under their wedding dresses because they “offer bust support and give waist shaping. They are also sexy lingerie for the wedding night.”

Other fancy frilly pieces that brides are loving are the delicately deadly stretch-lace panties with adjustable lace-up detail in the back. “The bride can lace it with a blue satin ribbon for her cheeky ‘something blue’,” says Talkington. Pair those with a matching lace camisole with a flattering and vintage-inspired wide V-neck and short capped sleeves under a corset for a fetching look.

The corsets, available by custom order or in four different in-stock styles, look great worn with stockings and a pair of silk-ribbon leg garters—one for the groom to throw and the other for the bride as a keepsake. “Our garters are reproduced from vintage favourites and made from ribbons or lace and work very well when worn alone or over the corset for a Moulin Rouge look,” adds Talkington.

It’s important to get the right size: four inches smaller than your natural waist to give enough curvy waist definition. If you naturally have a 32-inch waist, you’ll get a 28-inch corset. There is also a knack for putting it on yourself, as well as tightening and tying it without suffocating yourself. “When we do corset fittings, we show the bride how to lace herself in so that she feels comfortable and supported. The corsets also come with an information package full of tips for pleasurable corset-wearing.” It’s not that tricky, just take your time and don’t rush. When worn correctly, a corset not only gives you great posture, but can be surprisingly comfy and look and feel totally smokin’ hot. Go figure.