Guide to Wedding Dress Bustles

A wedding dress bustle will keep your gown clean and danceable while adding a lovely dimension to your look using hooks, buttons, or ribbons that lift and secure your train. A seamstress will tailor the bustle for your exact measurements to make it easier for you to walk post-ceremony. The bustle is a must-have if want to keep your dress in great condition and possibly resell your dress. Read on for popular types of bustles and which will best enhance your wedding dress silhouette.

American bustle or over bustle

The train is gathered up and fastened over the rest of the skirt, resulting in cascading folds. Works best for ball gown wedding dresses or gowns with cathedral-length trains.

French bustle or under bustle

The bustle tucks beneath the skirt, creating a tidy billow or two of fabric. Recommended for A-line, sheath, and mermaid or trumpet gowns.

Royal bustle or victorian bustle

Also known as a traditional bustle. This is a more elaborate option, as the train is affixed down the back of the dress at multiple points, creating dramatic folds. Recommended on a very full ball gown or a cathedral-length train.

Ballroom bustle

Disguises the train altogether by fastening it beneath the skirt at several attachment points. Works best for a ball gown, though it can actually be used on most silhouettes.

Bow bustle

Adds a little extra romance and whimsy to the gown. It attaches similarly to the over bustle, secured with a ribbon or sash. Best for A-line wedding dresses.

Wrist Bustle

You will hold the train on your wrist with an attached bracelet or ribbon. This style is great for brides who have a delicate lace, or a fabric that is lightweight. There is very little styling or fastening to do for this style, as you aren’t connecting loops, and ties.

We recommend training someone in your bridal party on how to bustle your wedding gown or having your stylist on hand so that they’re ready to help you out and have all the knowledge they need to make your bustle picture perfect.