DIY Bustle?

Do you have experience sewing and altering wedding dresses?

No, but both my mom and I have lots of experience sewing. We technically wouldn't really be altering the dress at all, just adding buttons and hooks to it. The problem is I won't see her until a few days before the wedding and I'm not sure if I dare to try it by myself.

Eeep. I don't think I'd be willing to take that risk. I would say that maybe you could call around and see if someone else can do it for cheaper, but you have less than a month left so you might have to pay extra to put a rush on it.

I think it is a big mistake.

IMO, dress alterations are not the place to DIY.

There's no way I'd be doing my own bustle with so few days left before my wedding. I'd suck it up and pay for the bustle.

I'd get more quotes. My seamstress is charging $35 for a 3 point bustle and $10-15 for every point after that.

I suggest getting more quotes. The few days before a wedding is stressful enough let alone taking on a DIY project of such enormous importance.

I've done it. I added a bow with hook and eyes up under it. The bride I did it for was very pleased. If you have the experience do it.

I'm making my own gown for my wedding! Good luck and post pics!

My dress had a loop somewhere under it. My seamstress told me that if the bustle breaks I could put that loop on my wrist. You should look for it and get quotes from other places.

Thanks for all of your good advice! I think for now I'm going to call around and see if I can get a better quote.

I have done this, twice, and it sucked both times lol. Even just a simple six point bustle. I'm sure you can find something cheaper and honestly, if the seamstress is good and you don't need origami butt, it shouldn't be that expensive.

That seems really expensive. I would call other alteration places for quotes. Do not DIY!

@OP Where are you located? My seamstress in Mt Laurel is doing ALL of my alterations (including bustle) for around $200.

Is the cost high because it would be a rush?

Getting a better quote is a great idea. Mine was $10 a bustle, and with 9 of them it was $90 total.

GET A BUSTLE! I was a bridesmaid in my friend's wedding in March. We got to the reception and did a few more photos and then ran to the restroom to freshen up before the grand march. I asked her if she needed help bustling her train and she said "what's a bustle?". I almost died... we ended up safety pinning her foot long train under in a super sketchy french bustle, otherwise her dress would have been ruined by the end of the night dragging around and getting stepped on.