Pre-Bridal Gown Shopping|Where do you FIT|What Fabric Suits You|Bridal Shops

Body Shape|Styles|Necklines|Bustle|Bodice|Lengths|Sleeves|Colors|Taking Your Own Measurements

Wedding Dresses

Bridal Gowns

Wedding Dress Bustle

Sometimes the only way to amend a dragging dress is with a bustle. At the actual ceremony, you'll want your train to trail down the aisle; but at the reception, you don't want to worry about guests and children accidentally stepping on the back of your gown as your trying to do dance the rendition of “Thriller.” This is a recipe for disaster! And while some brides can afford to spend a small fortune on their wedding by buying a 2nd bridal gown for the post-ceremony celebration, others will have to make due with one dress.

When some women hear “bustle,” they think of coquettish ladies from the late nineteenth century, all dolled up in bouffant Victorian-style dresses and carrying lacy parasols. Those women used bustles not only to keep their dresses from dragging but also to add height to the back of their skirts. We have good news! Bustles don't have to be that obvious or obnoxious. Nowadays, they're used primarily to hold the train up, and can even be strategically situated so that it doesn't create a camel hump on the back of your A-line wedding gown.

Opt to bustle your gown so that when it's your turn to break loose on the dance floor, you're not tripping all over yourself.

There are two types of bustles. One is known as the under-bustle, or the Victorian bustle. This works by drawing the excess fabric under the train and securing it with ribbons. This is a popular choice for brides because it is highly effective as well as comfortable. Just think; the reception is at least three hours long, during which you'll be sitting and standing. Do you really want to be wearing something that feels as though it may fall apart at any minute?

The other type of bustle is the over-bustle. This kind supports the train by securing it to parts of the waistline underneath the skirt. This can be a little discomfiting as it involves bringing the train all the way up to your hips. The skirt is attached with the use of hooks and loops, and you don't want this poking into you throughout the course of the evening!

You should experiment with both types and see what you like. Try dresses on utilizing both bustles; walk around for a bit and get an idea as to what seems to work best for you. Who knows – you may realize that the over-bustle is way more sufficient and easy to work with. Figuring out which bustle would be most useful will be greatly determined by the length of your train, so you may want to wait until you have the dream dress within your grasp.