To Bustle or Not to Bustle..?

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I feel like the photos at the dress shop didn’t do it justice, it gets this big…for reference!

If you don’t bustle the dress, you and guests will trip over it. Your seamstress doing alterations can show someone in your group how it is done on your dress. Take a video for reference.

The dress is absolutely beautiful. However, this is definitely not something I would choose for a reception. The main focus of the dress is the long beautiful train, which you will have to bustle for the entire reception. Also, tulle does not look really great bustled. And some tulle gowns cannot be bustled because of the weight it places on the delicate fabric – it would just tear. Your best bet will probably be to remove the train all together, or wear the dress for the ceremony.

Gorgeous dress! There was a post on here not too long ago with a bride and her seamstress said she couldn't due a bustle on her tulle dress due to the delicate nature of the fabric. I believe the seamstress suggested adding a wrist loop so the train could be carried instead of bustled but that could get might heavy by the end of the night. There are quite a few different types of bustles but I m not really sure what works best on which fabric, your best bet is asking a few seamstresses and seeing what options you have. Really beautiful choice though I hope you figure out something you love for the bustle. Good luck!

As previously mentioned, tulle is incredibly difficult to bustle and sometimes impossible. I think this dress is beautiful but not practical for the reception and especially dancing. If you don’t step or trip on it, someone else probably will and I’d hate for that to happen. Also depending on flooring, tulle can get dirty really easily ie grass, dirt, unclean floors, and if there’s raw wood planks, the tulle will rip. I’m not exactly sure what the best solution is, but I’d think to recommend removing the train or changing into a different outfit.

That might not be able to be bustled and it will be stepped on all night by guests while dancing. Maybe not the best dress for a reception unless you plan to stand in a corner away from everyone

My dress is very heavy and has lots of tulle and she said she wouldn’t have any issues adding a bustle … That dress is GORGEOUS!!

Love your dress! It's gorgeous.
My dress had an even longer train I think... With 8 layers of tulle.

First - your dress is absolutely suitable for a reception. Trains ARE suitable for receptions too.
Second: -the tripping rubbish is absolute nonsense. People don't trip over dresses. It's not like that. It annoys me everytime I see a bride scared into getting a bustle she doesn't want because of a theoretical tripping risk. If you like the look of bustles, get one - but only for that reason. Maybe once in the history of weddings a bride tripped and since there has been a panic with brides getting pressured into bustling and / or cutting their dresses too short. It's silly.
Thirdly: -loops! A loop is your friend Mine came in super useful all day including at the reception. I love the look of long dresses and there was no way I was going to bustle mine - or have it hemmed. It presented no trouble on the day.

If you haven't ordered the dress already, ask if they'd be able to make it without the train, but leave all the detailing. There's a lot that can be done when the dress is being made, and that can save you big time on alterations.

If you've already ordered it, I'd talk to a seamstress about whether they'd be able to remove the train but keep the detailing.

If you don’t want to bustle it you can have the seamstress add a loop to the end of the train and attach it to your wrist. I would suggest the next time you try it on hold it in one hand and see how heavy it is. If you think you can deal with it for an entire night then that would be another option.

View Quoted Comment Thank you Joanna, I completely agree with you! I’ve been thinking about this nonstop since I posted and I came to the realization that celebrities wear gowns like this or bigger to awards shows/after parties Year after year. I know they have assistants but I’ll have one too…MOH. I knew all of this, but I guess in the real world I just wanted to hear it from someone else, so thank you!


I didn’t realize this when I first saw the dress, but there is already a loop sewn in for hanging the train, so that could be my loop…it appears to be the perfect location on the inner lining of the train. I just wonder…when I get it altered, should I have the tailor replace the ribbon? The current one has the designers name written in big black letters on white ribbon…it appears to match the shoulder and waist hanging support ribbons, so it’s interior for hanging, not decorative.

Thank you all for the helpful responses! It means a lot and definitely helps to get perspective from different people. I think I’m just going to go with a loop located on the central hem of the interior lining. I found one in there for hanging that I didn’t notice before. As far as having a big dress with a train for reception…I’m not a huge dancer, neither is FH. We will do first dance and probably a little dancing after some drinks, nothing crazy, but I think I’ll be ok/manage with a loop when I walk or dance a little. I know it’s crazy to some to want a dramatic dress like this for a reception, but I love this dress so much I don’t mind. What’s funny is my ceremony dress is a ball gown too, but way less fussy…it’s satin with a modest train. I guess I’m just in opposite world for this one event lol!

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I hadn't thought about the celebrities, but you're absolutely right! Some of the dresses people walk up the stairs with at the met gala, in front of hundreds of photographers, are completely crazy. If they can do it so can we

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I can see your MOH on the dance floor protecting you and your train. This discussion also answers the train-vs-no-train discussion as long as the train is manageable without a bustle. Anyhow, for most wedding couples, they are involved in greeting the guests more than dancing, so the dance time is pretty limited, except for some couples who will try to maximize the dance floor time.