Franklin Dean
Wedding dresses with long trains can be bustled to make it easier for brides to move around during their reception, first dance, and photos. A bustle is a series of hooks, buttons, or ribbons that lift and secure the train of a wedding dress so that it's off the ground and no longer trailing behind. Brides who want the best of both worlds—a long train for the ceremony and a shorter train later in the day—often opt for a bustle. The type of bustle chosen depends on the wedding dress, with options including the ballroom bustle, over-bustle, bow bustle, and royal bustle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to bustle your wedding dress | Between the ceremony and the reception, during the cocktail hour, or right before the grand entrance |
| Who should do it | The Maid or Matron of Honour, with the bridesmaids holding the dress up if necessary |
| How long does it take | 3-5 minutes |
| How to learn | Practise with a seamstress or watch a video tutorial |
| What is a bustle | A way to secure the train or extra fabric of a wedding dress so it doesn't drag on the floor |
| Types of bustles | Ribbons, buttons, hooks and eyes |
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What You'll Learn
After the ceremony, before the reception
The wedding day is a flurry of activities, with little time for pause. Amidst the excitement, it's easy to forget about bustling your wedding dress, which is often left as an afterthought. However, it's important to plan when to bustle your dress to ensure it stays pristine and you can move around with ease.
The best time to bustle your wedding dress is after the ceremony, before you enter the reception venue. This timing ensures that your dress is bustled before your grand entrance as newlyweds and allows you to move freely during the reception. It is also a convenient time as you will likely be taking family photos and couple portraits right after the ceremony, and you may want to keep your train intact for those pictures.
To ensure a smooth bustling process, designate someone to be in charge of bustling your dress. This person should attend one of your final dress fittings to learn directly from the seamstress or watch a video of the process. The Maid or Matron of Honor is often a good choice, with the bridesmaids assisting if needed. They should practice bustling the dress so that on the wedding day, it can be done quickly and efficiently, usually within three to five minutes.
When bustling your dress, it's important to start with the centre loops, hooks, or buttons and work outward. This ensures symmetry and makes it easier to find the correct pairings. The process may vary depending on the type of bustle your dress has, so it's a good idea to consult with your seamstress to determine the best method for your gown.
Remember, the bustle plays a crucial role in keeping your dress off the ground and preserving its cleanliness. Taking a few minutes to bustle your dress after the ceremony will ensure that you can fully enjoy your reception without worrying about dragging your train or accidentally stepping on it during your first dance.
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Before photos, if you want the train in photos
If you want your wedding dress train in your photos, you should plan to bustle your dress after the photoshoot. This is especially important if you have a simple wedding gown with just one loop, as you can easily take your train up and down. You can bustle your dress for the grand entrance and first dance and still let it shine in your sunset photos.
It's important to note that bustling a wedding dress can be complex, and you will likely need help. It's a good idea to designate a trusted individual, usually a bridesmaid or family member, to be in charge of bustling your dress. They should attend your final alterations appointment to get hands-on practice before the big day. Alternatively, have someone record a video of the bustling process during your final fitting so that your chosen helper can learn from it later.
When bustling your dress, it's crucial to find the centre loops, hooks, or buttons first and then work outward. This ensures that you match the correct loops with the corresponding hooks or buttons, creating a symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing drape.
The bustling process should be done during a designated time and place, such as right after the ceremony or just before your grand entrance as newlyweds. If you have a cocktail hour, this provides an excellent opportunity to bustle your gown without rushing.
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After photos, if you don't want the train in photos
If you don't want your wedding dress train in your photos, it's best to bustle your dress after taking photos but before the reception. This could be right after the ceremony, or during the cocktail hour, or even after the first dance.
The bustle is a series of loops and buttons that turn your bridal gown with a train into a manageable maxi dress. It allows you to tie up your train to be even with your hemline, so that it's out of the way. It is important to note that not every dress can be looped up in the same fashion, and there are a variety of bustle types. The American or "over" bustle, for example, creates cascading layers that fall over the skirt of your dress at the back. This style is particularly good for wedding gowns with cathedral-length trains or ball gowns with layers of tulle and taffeta. On the other hand, the French bustle ties the train up underneath the skirt in a billowy fashion and works best with A-line, sheath, and mermaid or trumpet gowns.
Before your wedding day, it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the various bustle styles and then head to your first fitting. During your wedding dress alteration appointment, your seamstress can help you determine which types of wedding dress bustles may work best with your gown. Once you've chosen a style, it's helpful to have your maid of honour, a bridesmaid, or family member attend your final fitting to learn how to bustle your dress directly from your seamstress. This way, they can help you with bustling your dress on your wedding day.
On your wedding day, make sure to designate a time and place to bustle your dress. For instance, if you're taking photos at sunset, you may want your train to be looking its best, i.e. not yet bustled. If you have a simple wedding gown bustle with just one loop, you can bustle it for the grand entrance and first dance and still let it shine during sunset photos. However, keep in mind that bustling your dress takes a bit of time and help, so be sure to factor that in.
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During cocktail hour, before the grand entrance
The wedding day goes by in a flash, so it's important to plan when to bustle your dress. If you're having a cocktail hour, this gives you ample time to bustle your gown before the grand entrance. Here are some tips and suggestions for bustling your wedding dress during cocktail hour, before the grand entrance:
Plan Ahead and Practice
Before the big day, it's a good idea to familiarise yourself and your bridal party with the bustling process. Bring a bridesmaid, your mom, or someone else from your wedding party to your final fitting. The seamstress can show them how to work the bustle, and you can even record a video for reference. Ask your seamstress to number or colour-code the various hooks, loops, or ties to make it easier for your designated helper. Practising beforehand will save time and reduce stress on your wedding day.
Choose a Suitable Location
Designate a quiet place to bustle the dress during cocktail hour. You may want to find a private room or area away from the main festivities to ensure you have the space and peace you need.
Timing is Key
Plan to bustle your dress during the cocktail hour, ideally right before your grand entrance as newlyweds. This timing ensures that you can make a smooth transition from the ceremony to the reception without having to worry about your train during the festivities. It also allows you to focus on enjoying your cocktail hour and mingling with your guests.
Consider Your Photo Preferences
If you plan to take most of your portraits before the ceremony, bustling your dress during the cocktail hour can be a great option. This way, you can keep your crew from trampling on your train during family photos and other post-ceremony shots. However, if you want to capture the elegance of your train in photos, you may want to leave it unbustled for some post-ceremony portraits before bustling it during the cocktail hour.
Avoid Last-Minute Rush
Don't leave bustling your dress until the last minute. The process can take time, especially for dresses with more complicated designs or longer trains. By planning to bustle during the cocktail hour, you can avoid feeling rushed and ensure a calm and enjoyable experience.
By following these suggestions, you can ensure that your dress is bustled elegantly and efficiently during the cocktail hour, leaving you ready for your grand entrance and the rest of your wedding celebrations.
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Practise bustling with your maid of honour before the wedding
Practising bustling your wedding dress with your maid of honour before the wedding is a great idea. This will ensure that on the day, the bustling process is quick and easy. Your maid of honour can accompany you to your final wedding dress fitting, so they can learn first-hand from the seamstress. They will be able to watch and learn, and it will be much more helpful than hearing about it from you. If your maid of honour can't attend the final fitting, have someone film the bustling process so that they can watch it later.
Your wedding dress and its bustle will be specifically tailored to you, so it's important that your maid of honour practises bustling your dress. While this will make your dress fit beautifully, it does add a layer of complexity to bustling. Your maid of honour should try bustling your dress either at your final fitting or after. This will ensure that they are confident in bustling your dress on the day.
The wedding day will be a blur, so it's important to make time to bustle your dress. This will usually be during a cocktail hour or right before you make your grand entrance at the reception. You should decide when to bustle your dress based on when you want to wear it during your wedding. For example, if you want your train for your ceremony and photos, you should bustle your dress before the reception.
The bustling process can be tricky. There will be loops, hooks, and buttons that need to be matched up correctly. Your maid of honour should start by finding the centre loops, hooks, or buttons and work outwards from there. This will ensure that the bustle is symmetrical and that the loops and hooks are easier to find. Practising bustling with your maid of honour will ensure that she is confident in bustling your dress on your wedding day.
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Frequently asked questions
A bustle is a way of lifting and securing the train of a wedding dress so that it's off the ground and no longer trailing behind you. It makes it easier to move around, especially for your wedding reception, first dance, and photos.
You should bustle your wedding dress when you want to move around more freely, especially during your wedding reception, first dance, and photos. The bustle can be done before these activities, and it's often a transformation that guests won't even notice if it's done smoothly.
The method of bustling your wedding dress will depend on the type of bustle chosen. Some common types of bustles include the ballroom bustle, where the train is folded under the skirt with multiple attachment points; the over-bustle or American bustle, where hooks lift the train over the skirt; and the bow bustle, which works well with dresses that have a bow or sash.
Yes, you can add a bustle to a wedding dress, even if it didn't come with one. Most bustles are created during alterations, and a tailor can match the bustle to the gown's shape, train length, and fabric. However, there is no one-size-fits-all bustle as it depends on the bride's height and the style of the gown.
