Wedding Dress Shopping Guide - The Bustle

The Bustle

Depending on your style, some dresses have long trains that make for a beautiful and elegant effect during your ceremony. After your ceremony, many brides will "bustle" their train, allowing them to move around more easily and prevent the train from dragging on the floor (and your guest from stepping on it). A bustle involves "gathering up" the train (with loops or hooks) so that it is off the floor and attached to the top of the skirt portion of the dress. There are two styles of bustles to consider for your dress:

a. Overbustle

This involves raising the train by securing parts of the train to the waistline or any part of the train.

b. Underbustle (also known as French or Victorian bustle)

Draws excess fabric under the train and is attached using ribbon ties. This seems to be the more popular style while also being more secure than the overbustle.

The amount of material you will need to bustle depends on the length of your train. The average bustle requires 3-5 bustle points but this depends on the length and type/weight of the material.

Generally, the gown will be bustled after the ceremony and before your reception. Be sure to designate someone to assist you with bustling the dress to avoid unnecessary stress and confusion.