Different Types of Bustles

Picking your wedding dress can be a fun but daunting experience. On your wedding day your dress will be the talk of your friends and family, it will be cried on, fawned over and danced in. If your gown has a train, it will be dragged on the floor of the ceremony and will be exposed to the elements outside while getting your fabulous pictures taken. But have no fear of your dress being dirty all night or being stepped on by many a guest. A bustle will hide any imperfections and you’ll be able to dance and enjoy your wedding!

The first step in choosing the perfect bustle is finding some inspiration. Ask your seamstress what she would recommend for your gown and do some research on your own! Search the internet for pictures of bustles or ask recently married friends what type of bustle they had on their dress and if it stayed in place. If you see one you like, ask your seamstress if this is possible for your gown. Keep in mind that certain fabrics are better suited for certain types of bustles and you want to be sure to ask if your bustle will stay in place. If the fabric is too heavy for your bustle, it will most likely break. Also, keep in mind to ask the price of the bustle when speaking with your seamstress. Some are more expensive than others.

Here are a great group of options for your wedding gown!

One Point Over-Bustle
This is one of the easiest and simplest bustles and is also usually the least expensive! It is easy to find this bustle on dresses with lighter fabric as if the dress is made of heavy material, it will break. The seamstress adds a loop to the gown and a button to the bodice and you just hook it on! Super easy and makes for a traditional look.

Three Point Over-Bustle

A three point over-bustle will spread out the train and is more secure than a one point over-bustle. Since this is a more secure option, it is better for heavier fabrics.

One Point Under-Bustle

This bustle is secured with ribbon ties under the gown making it completely hidden. Since they are tied together, they tend to be stronger than over-bustles.

The French Bustle

This bustle is great for any type of fabric and is also secured with ribbons that are tied under the dress. The ribbons are colored coded or numbered and can have a wide range of 2-25 points placed low or high underneath!

The Double and Triple French Bustle

Just like the French Bustle, this is secured with ribbon ties underneath the dress but they are usually in series or rows of ribbons making it appear to have layers of ruffles on the outside.

The Ballroom Bustle

Gowns with very long trains are a perfect candidate for this bustle. Your gown will look like it never had a train at all after being bustled! Several points along the bodice hold the train up, making it look like a noraml skirt and it tends to be very secure.

The Austrian Bustle

Much like a loop and pull system you’d see in a window shade, this bustle is becoming more popular thanks to its security. You simply pull a string and it bunches the train upward.

From the easy one point bustles, to a more intricate series of ribbon tied bustles, something can always go wrong. Your seamstress can sew the loops very well, but it’s always better to be ready for at least one of the loops to break at some point during your reception. It is always smart to color code or number the ribbons that need to be tied together. The color coding will help your wedding coordinator or bridesmaid to know exactly which loop goes with ribbon. When going for your final fitting, bring a bridesmaid or family member and have the seamstress show them how to do the bustle. Remember to bring a few diaper pins with you as they are more capable of holding heavy fabrics and they can replace a broken loop. Keep all of this in mind and you will have a beautiful bustle so that you can dance the night away!

-Amanda

*all images found through Google

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