Front Bustle?

I would just own the height difference. A shorter heel is fine, but you have a height difference day to day, why try to hide it for the wedding?

I DID bustle the front and back of my wedding gown!

I used to work in a bridal shop doing alterations, and I had done a fair amount of bustling all around a bride's dress. Most people don't ask for that, because they are not aware it's an option. The reality is most brides will take off their heels, so after measuring the hem, I always made it a point to ask if she would be taking her heels off or switching shoes for the reception. If she said "yes," I would give her the option of having me measure the bustle with heels (& it would drag after she takes the shoes off), or measuring the bustle without heels (& it would be shorter in back if she keeps her shoes on during the reception). IF she opted to have it bustled barefoot, then the option of bustling the front comes into play.

How it's done, completely depends on the style of dress. If it's a skirt with pickups/bunches, it's super easy, 'cause you just do french bustle ties where the pickups are & it pulls it up shorter without looking any different. If it's plain smooth satin with a lining layer, u can do little flat loops along the inside edge of the hem with little ribbons sewn up inside on the lining, then u just fold the bottom edge of the skirt up inside & tie it. Some styles don't lend themselves to being front-bustled as easily, & the best you might be able to do is some bustle points at the sides that are just high enough to pull the front up a little, but not so high that it starts to look odd. (Keeping in mind of course, a bustled gown WILL look different than an un-bustled gown, and that should be celebrated! Think of it as getting to wear two different dresses in one night ).

With your dress, I'm guessing you have a satin layer underneath the lace. I would maybe bustle that satin/lining layer separately. I would probably do buttons & loops for it in the back, and then the folding-under idea I mentioned above for the front. Then maybe something creative with buttons & loops for a traditional / over-bustle on the outer layers. (I gotta look at the pic again after I post this reply.)

I will see if I can find pics of my dress bustled. Talk to the seamstress & see what she can come up with. She should be able to pin up something. If she seems stumped or like she isn't sure what she's doing, maybe tell her you need to think about it. Get any other alterations done first (anything for fit or length), and then you could always talk to other seamstresses to see if someone else can take it on. But it's totally doable. Bustles are just a creative way to get all the fabric up off the floor. I like to think there is no "right" or "wrong" there.

Ok, found my flash drive of wedding pics. Tried to find some that show the bustle. My dress was more straight across in the front, so I had a flat folded edge of skirt pulled up to the bodice in front & buttoned, and then buttons/draping around the sides and in the back. Yours would be unique to your dress, since it is shaped differently.

It was hard to find a pic that showed the front well. With all the beading & embroidery, it was pretty hidden in my case.

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