TLDR: If your dress has a train and you plan to do any dancing or moving throughout a crowded room, you definitely should have a bustle.

I’ve seen it. The bride was pinching pennies and didn’t want to pay for a seamstress to bustle her dress. So, she spent the majority of her first dance with her husband and the next dance with her father trying to corral the massive train. What she really should have been doing during these dances is treasuring her special wedding day moments.

What is a bustle and how does it help?

A bustle is the series of hoops, buttons, hoops, ties, or snaps that alter the wedding gown to lift the train. The bustle allows the dress-wearer to go about their wedding day without the worry of stepping on or snagging the train. Bustles keep the dress from getting dirty and damaged after the ceremony and allow you to dance uninhibited.

You may not need a bustle if—

1. You plan on changing into something else for the reception.

2. You have a loop on the underside of your dress to secure around your wrist for easier control.

Talk to your seamstress/ alterations specialist for information on pricing, bustle styles, and the best move for you. Don’t spend your wedding day trying to keep that giant train under control. It will hamper your activity more than you know.

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