An absorbent garment includes a body panel having a terminal waist edge, at least first and second layers terminating at the terminal waist edge and at least one elastic element disposed between the first and second layers. The body panel has at least first and second adhesive regions. The first adhesive region is defined by the at least one elastic element, which is strand coated with a first adhesive. The second region is defined by a control coating of a second adhesive applied between the first and second layers. In one embodiment, the first region has a greater sensory softness than the second region. In one embodiment, the body panel, in an unstretched condition, has a surface softness with a can deviation of coefficient of friction less than about 0.020 in the first adhesive region. A method of assembling an absorbent garment include strand coating at least one elastic element with a first adhesive and applying a control coating of a second adhesive to a portion of at least one of a first and second layer of web material.