The Most Popular Types of Wedding Dress Bustles

Congratulations, you’ve found your perfect wedding gown and rings from https://www.labgrown.com/diamond/engagement-rings. Though the toughest phase may be behind you, there are still a few things you need to focus on, including adjustments and fittings, selecting your perfect veil, and, crucially, mastering the art of bustling.

Yet, while bustling a wedding dress might seem straightforward (since most brides bustle their gowns, it can’t be that difficult, can it?), it does present some challenges—particularly because there are different types of wedding dress bustles to consider. That’s why it’s advisable to get acquainted with these different styles before attending your initial fitting and discussing them with your seamstress.

Next, we explain the main types of wedding dress bustles that every bride should be familiar with—along with the common bustle errors that all brides should avoid.

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What Does a Wedding Bustle Mean?

To bustle a wedding dress means to modify a bridal gown so that it appears as if it lacks a train. This is accomplished by attaching the train to the rest of the gown, enabling a bride to move around comfortably without tripping over her attire throughout the evening.

Moreover, against common perception, this bridal adjustment isn’t exclusively for grand ball gowns: Any floor-length dress can be bustled to achieve a shorter hemline after the ceremony.

When is the right time to bustle my wedding dress?

Brides usually bustle their gowns after the ceremony but before the reception, although some choose to let their train trail during the first dance.

Who usually helps a bride bustle her wedding dress?

A maid of honor, bridesmaid, parent, or dear friend should be responsible for bustling a wedding gown. Because securing a bustle while in a bridal gown is almost impossible, brides must rely on a dependable individual to assist them with this job.

How much time is needed to bustle a wedding gown?

Bustling a wedding dress won’t take more than a few minutes, based on if your assistant knows how to. This is why they must participate in at least one fitting with you to grasp the technique and minimize any awkward moments on the wedding day.

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Mistakes to Avoid When Bustling a Wedding Dress

Do you want to make sure your wedding dress is bustled properly and securely? In this section, we emphasize the three main errors to steer clear of prior to and on the big day.

Attempting to bustle your wedding gown by yourself

Once you’re wearing your wedding dress, it’s almost impossible to properly set the bustle yourself. That’s why it’s essential to seek assistance from your maid of honor, a bridesmaid, your mother, or your mother-in-law to bustle your dress on a special day. Indeed, anyone assigned this crucial role must be present at your last fitting and understand how to modify your outfit directly from your seamstress.

Failing to allocate funds for your wedding dress bustle

Wedding dress bustles can be quite expensive, and the total cost will vary based on the number of bustle points and the style of bustle required. Typically, the expense of incorporating a bustle into your wedding gown falls between $75 and $250, on average, so be sure to include that expense in your total dress budget.

Neglecting to include a “bustle repair kit”

Regardless of how meticulously your seamstress attaches your bustle, there is always a chance that it might malfunction during your reception. Wedding gowns can be quite weighty, and you’re depending on a few fragile bustle points to keep everything secured while dancing, strolling, and socializing. Hence, get ready for the worst case situation by having a sewing needle, safety pins, and a clear fishing line on hand in your bridal dressing room.

If your wedding gown is bustled with ribbons and one ribbon comes undone, a bridesmaid should be ready to stitch the ribbon back onto the dress using a clear fishing line. If the problem is more intricate, you can fasten the dress at the harmed bustle area using a big safety pin.

The common Types of Wedding Dress Bustles

If your dress isn’t short or tea-length, you will probably need a bustle to comfortably dance and move around at your reception. Nonetheless, since most wedding dresses do not feature bustles, consult the guide below to work with your seamstress in choosing the style that suits your gown.

American Bustle or Overbustle

An American bustle, often referred to as an over bustle, features multiple hooks distributed along the dress’s waistline that allow the train to be raised and secured over the gown. This design can showcase one, three, or even five bustle pick-up points for a highly dramatic look.

Ideal for: Evening dresses

Ballroom bustle

This style often alters a dress’s shape from the rear, effectively causing the train to vanish. With a ballroom bustle, the dress appears as though it was always a floor-length gown; various bustle points are stitched around the bodice, enabling the fabric to gracefully fold into itself. This style, however, is usually the priciest since additional bustle points must be stitched in.

Ideal for: Ball gowns

Austrian Bustle

This distinctive bustle design is rapidly becoming fashionable and forms a striking silhouette. To create this style, a seamstress will collect fabric centrally—along the center of the dress and through the back—producing a vertical effect akin to ruching. Bridesmaids can particularly assist in arranging everything for you.

Ideal for: Dresses featuring elaborate designs

Train-Flip Bustle

Similar to the ballroom bustle, this design creates an appearance of having no bustle whatsoever. What’s unique, though, is that the dress’s train tucks beneath the fabric and is secured within itself—creating the appearance of a floor-length gown, with an even more voluminous bottom due to the additional fabric located underneath.