To bustle or not to bustle?

That's true I've seen that style...maybe ill consider doing that and skipping the bustle. Are you thinking of doing that Linda?

Yes, I am. I just love how romantic it looks and since it is ballroom style with pickups, and with it being organza, I'm not crazy about the way it looks bustled.

I do remember though my DIL had to be careful about reaching for things with that hand though LOL!

Also, depending on the dress, it can get REALLY heavy. My friend didn't have time to have a bustle put in her dress and she got so tired carrying it around all day. Plus there are lots of pictures with her having it flung over her shoulder which was not attractive. You can always do both, have a bustle put in and leave the loop. Then when you get tired of carrying it around you can bustle it.

How much does it cost to have the bustle done? anyone?

Between $25-100 or possibly more, depending on the dress and the type of bustle you want. Mine was around $100 because I had a 3 point over bustle for the top layer and a 5 point under bustle for the bottom layer. The heavier the dress, the more "points" you need.

My bustle was included in the alterations cost so I'm not totally sure how much it was but the total I paid was $250. I had a low french bustle (similar to below) There were 3 ribbons that were tied to bring the train up.

I completely agree with Pumpkin when she said it can get heavy. I had a friend who didn't get a bustle and she complained about having to hold it up the entire night. At one point while dancing someone's foot got caught in it and ripped all the beading off. If her skirt was bustled that would've never been an issue. I posted something about bustles a little while back and a seamstress weighed in on what she thought. It's worth taking a look. I didn't realize how many existed! I hated the way bustles looked too but I was pleasantly surprised that you can find one that flatters your dress: https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/lets-discuss-bustles/f164d6d993a44c4b.html?page=1

My dress bustle only cost $64 and the style of dress I have the bustle just falls into place with the rest of the look of the dress.

This is my alteration picture so its pinned, not sewed yet.

I wasn't going to have a bustle added until I went to try it on the other day (to play dress up lmao) and had to keep remembering to pick it up. My mom just suggested I get one and she put it on for me . It helps to know people who do everything on their own lol.

I bought my dress with the intention of not having to have it bustled... I wanted to get a dress that I didnt have to alter in any way so that I could keep within my budget.

But Ive seen french bustles and they are lovely.

Ive also seen the loop thing and I think those are beautiful too but would worry that the bride might get tired of holding it up all night?

My seamstress is awesome. She added a bustle that I love and my dress is so light I can move around in it very easily.

If your dress is light in weight, you could pull it off. I think a bustle type really depends on your dress. The seamstress can try different ones for you to see what you like. If you're dress is beaded or heavy, it'll definitely make sense to have it done. I have to do a 3-point overbustle because my dress is beaded. My cost was included in the dress cost, with additional alterations at $200.

I have had several brides recently want to have a wrist strap instead of a bustle. These brides had weddings where there would be a limited reception, no reception, no dancing or some other factor in which they felt they would not benefit from a bustle. The loop is installed in between the layers of the gown, and a buttonhole, or opening in the seam is made so the loop can be brought to the outside of the dress when it is needed. You need to figure out where on the train to place the wrist strap in order to keep the train off the floor, and also a comfortable length for the wrist strap so it stays on your wrist.

That long satin loop on the inside of your dress is a hanger strap - not a wrist strap. If you use that you will be seeing the underpinnings of your gown when it is in use.

I have a light dress (chiffon and lace) and plan to bustle so I don't step on it all night. And having it attached to my wrist sounds romantic but also sounds like a giant pain. lol I have a 5 point bustle and it's 50.00

Not a bustle fan...

No bustle here, I need to have my dress hemmed (at 5'8" I am shocked at this) so I am just going to have the whole train taken off.

My seamstress is doing the bustle it was included in the purchase of the dress (all alterations free) so I didnt even have to ask for it. So I am lucky there. Otherwise I figured I would just loop it around my wrist

I'm going to have mine bustled bcuz the train is long and the dress is heavy

I vote for the bustle. I'm so glad i did it for my dress because that sucker weighed a ton. Just make sure you have someone go with you to learn how to do the bustle. My MOH was MIA for all planning and that proved to be disasterous on the wedding day. Thankfully the hotel coordinator had plenty of experience with various types of bustles and was able to step in and save the day.

I think pictures look great with the train down, but as soon as our ceremony was over, I bustled the dress immediately. It was a 4 foot train. It was so heavy and I was tripping on it. So in our pictures, my train is bustled, and I didn't care, I didn't need a train, my dress just happened to have one.

Days like this i really miss my mom. There are different types of bustles? OY!