Tips for Adding a Bustle to Your Wedding Dress

Maybe you’re considering train lengths for your Anomalie Wedding Dress, or you’ve already purchased your dress and you’re starting to prepare for Alterations. If you have a train longer than a sweep (2-3 inches), you’ll want to consider what to do for your Bustle.

Here’s exactly what you need to know about adding a bustle to your wedding dress.

What is a bustle?

A bustle is a method of temporarily reducing or eliminating the train behind a wedding dress so that the extra fabric no longer drags along the floor. It’s often sewn into the dress in the form of buttons, hooks, or strings by your tailor.

Bustling your dress makes it easier for you to mingle and dance without tripping or stepping on your train! The reason this is added by a tailor  is to ensure that it is in the correct position once you have the dress on and because the choice of bustle type is a very personal one.

There are several bustle types, from traditional to unique. Work with your tailor at your fitting to decide what type would look best with your specific style of gown.

• American Bustle – The most common, this is a type of over bustle. The buttons or hooks are attached to the exterior of the gown.
• French Bustle – Also known as an under bustle, attachment points are under the dress and fabric is folded in.
• Ballroom or Train Flip Bustle – These styles give the illusion of no bustle at all. The fabric is folded strategically to make it seem like you had a floor-length dress the whole time!
• Austrian Bustle – A ruched design with ribbons (think of the way theater curtains cinch upward).
• Wristlet Bustle – A loop is added on the underside of the train so you carry the train of the dress around your wrist.

When do you add a bustle to your wedding dress?

After you receive your dress, you’ll work with your seamstress during fittings to add the bustle. This helps ensure that the bustle is is at the preferable length and that the bustle point on the dress is exactly where you want it.

Don’t forget to bring someone who will be with you on your wedding day to help learn how to execute the bustle. Your mom, a sister, or bridesmaid should practice with you in advance of the big day!

How much does a bustle cost?

We work with tailors throughout the country and have seen bustles start at $80 and go up as high as $400+ depending on the length of the train and number of layers. A ballgown with a cathedral length train is going to be more costly for a bustle than a crepe dress with a court length train.

**Stylist Tip: Unfortunately, bustles can break, especially with heavier fabric and intense dancing! Have your seamstress put together a little emergency kit with safety pins or other items that will help you fix it on the fly if needed!**

Check out more bustle styles on Anomalie brides: