You've got the dress, now it's time for alterations and getting it prepped for bustling. Here we will discuss the most popular bustle types and tips to know for each.
First thing first, does your dress need a bustle? Best way to determine this is, does it drag the ground? If so, then yes; otherwise, you'll be stepping on it and fighting with the train throughout the night. And no one wants that. Even if you intend to change dresses and slip into something more comfortable for the party part of the reception, you'll still need to consider a bustle to get you through the early parts of the reception. This includes being announced into the ballroom, your newlywed first-dance and making your way around the space to visit guests.
Most brides tend to be confused by the bustle process. How do I know which type is best? Who will bustle the gown during the night? How much will it cost to add a bustle? Well fret not, there are a couple of tips to help guide the process.
What Is a Wedding Bustle?
Bustling a dress refers to the process of altering a bridal gown to function as if it had no train. This is done by fastening the train to the back of the dress so that a bride can walk freely without tripping over her ensemble throughout the night. And, contrary to popular belief, this type of alteration isn't solely reserved for wedding gowns. Any dress that is floor length can be bustled to create a shorter hemline to make it easier to move in your gown throughout the designated event.
Should I Budget for a Bustle?
Absolutely! Good news is this fee is typically lumped in when you schedule to get your dress for alterations. Most dresses, not all but most, require some type of alteration. Whether it's to adjust the hem, bring in the waist, let out the waist, bust, etc., one should always account for adding a bustle to the price point...again, assuming that your dress has a train and you don't want to fuss with it throughout the night.
How Much Should I Budget?
That depends on a lot of factors? How much alteration is needed? What part of the dress is being altered? How many layers need to be altered. Where bustles are considered, the final price will ultimately depend on how many bustle points, and what type of bustle you need. In general, the cost of adding a bustle to your wedding dress can range from $50 to $300. Then consider the fact that most basic alterations are around $350, you'll need to estimate - on the high end - roughly $650 on top of what you already spent for the dress, to have it altered and bustled for your big day. If no alterations are needed other than to add a bustle, then you are back to the $50-$300 range depending on type and bustle point.
What if My Bustle Breaks?
Regardless how your seamstress stitches your bustle, almost every single one will break or a stitch will pop at some point during the night. We always recommend reinforced stitching for bustles. If your planner goes with you to your appointment, they should do this for you. If you are going it alone, be sure to ask for a reinforced bustle. This is most important on the American bustle...but we'll get into that in a moment.
If your bustle breaks during the night, a small sewing kit or a large safety pin will be your best friend. If you have a planner, again, they should handle this for you...see picture to the right. We've fixed our fairshare of bustles. This repair actually took place during the Best Man and Maid of Honor toasts and not one of the guests knew it. We stitched it up and crawled away. Just remember, whey you Plan It With Me, you plan it the right way ;)
If you don't have a planner, make sure to pack a sewing kit and a handfull of large safety pins. For a quick-fix, simple use the safety pin and pin from underneath the dress. This will ensure maximum coverage and minimize the visibility of the pin.
Types of Bustles & Ease of Use
American Bustle - Easy
By far the easiest of the bustles, an American bustle (also known as an over bustle) has 1-5 hook points scatter throughout the waistline of the dress. The most common is 3 and makes this the easiest of all trains to bustle.
AustrianBustle - Moderate
While not the most common, this style is gaining popularity due to it's unique and eye-catching shape. To achieve this style, your seamstress will softly gather fabric down the back middle of the gown, connected to an internal ribbon or cord and pull to create a vertical ruching appearance.
French, Victorian, or Under Bustle - Difficult
A French bustle (also known as a Victorian bustle or under bustle) is most popular with gowns that have a more natural waistline. This type of bustle is the reverse of the American bustle. It hooks pick up the train of the gown, and tuck under the silhouette itself. Most commonly, this is done with color-coded or numbered ribbons to secure the fabric and have numerous pick-up points. The French bustle is the most difficult when seamstresses use the number system. If you are looking at this type of bustle, we highly recommend the color-coding process to speed the process during your event. When a bride has this type of bustle, we typically allocate 15 minutes for bustling.
At the end of the day, it comes down to communication...like everything else. Speak up and be sure to talk to your seamstress about your dress type and be honest/direct about your budget. Having this conversation before you begin the pinning process of securing your alterations will help you be prepared for what to spend, and help you adjust if you need to, to stay within budget.
And remember, if you are looking for an advocate to help make the most of your wedding planning process, reach out today to Plan It With Me! We'll guide you along the way in all things wedding and event.
Happy Planning!
Blog Graphic Image by: Marriage Celebrant DJ-MC
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