Do the hustle: Wedding Gown Bustle

If I want to dance the hustle and walk around the reception with ease, my wedding gown must have a bustle. My gown has plenty of material layered in the skirt and a train a few feet in length. It also has lots of lace and bead detailing to consider. So when we went on my first dress fitting, the bustle and skirt hem were the main to-dos.

I did not know very much about a bustle besides that it lifts up your train, securing it to your upper skirt with hooks or loops. Bustles keep the train from dragging or being stepped on. Luckily, With This Ring Wedding blog had a very helpful post on the varying types of bustle styles available. Beaucoup also had some information about the difference between an overbustle and underbustle.

Here I am trying to walk around the bridal salon. Definitely need the skirt to be hemmed and realizing that there was so much material/bulk. A bustle will definitely help!

And here I am sad that the skirt must be hemmed a mere 1.5 inches because, even with heels on it was still too long. I always knew the skirt would have to be hemmed, but after we were quoted the price (high due to the lace and bead work at the trim which had to be moved) if I were to purchase a gown again, I probably would have chosen one without any lace or beading.

But I digress. Here is a photo of my train. Lovely to look at, lots of pretty detailing, but it drags ;)

The seamstress suggested an overbustle with three points to secure the train. She pinned it up to give us an idea of how it would look. Because of the slightly diagonal design of the ruching, the bustle will be slightly diagonal as well.

A close up of bustle detail. The gown was definitely more maneuverable once the bustle was up. Now I can do the hustle.

Next fitting is August!

Will your gown have a bustle? How did you decide on which bustle style to have?


Blog title is from lyrics by Van McCoy.