When Should the Bride Bustle Her Gown?

Mar 24

When Should the Bride Bustle Her Gown? A Guide to Timing and Tips

For brides planning their big day, there are countless decisions to make, and one that often leaves brides wondering is when to bustle their gown. The bustle is a crucial detail to ensure your wedding dress doesn’t drag on the ground after the ceremony, allowing you to mingle with guests, dance, and move freely without worrying about tripping. But when exactly is the best time to bustle your gown?

What is Bustling and Why Is It Important?

Before diving into the timing, let’s quickly touch on what bustling is. Bustling refers to the process of gathering and securing the excess fabric of your wedding gown, usually in the back, to keep it off the floor. It's a vital step for ensuring your dress stays pristine throughout the reception while making sure you can move without the risk of tripping over your train.

Without bustling, the train can get dirty, caught on things, or simply become a hassle. Bustling also allows you to dance and enjoy yourself with less worry about your dress.

Make sure you speak to your wedding tailor/seamstress about the different types of bustle your dress can use, and factor this into your alterations. It will be your seamstress or tailor that makes sure your specific bustle contraption is ready to go. (This can be a series of hooks, buttons and loops, or sets of strings that tie together.)

When Should You Bustle Your Gown?

The best time to bustle your gown is generally after the ceremony—whether that’s immediately afterwards, or after a photo session, is going to vary bride to bride based on the wedding day timeline. Here's a breakdown of when to bustle your gown and why:

1. Right after the Ceremony, Before or During the Start of Cocktail Hour

The most common and traditional time to bustle your gown is after the ceremony, once the formal part of the wedding is complete. Typically, this is when the bride transitions from walking down the aisle to celebrating with her guests at the reception. The gown can be bustling-ready for photos with guests during this time, and the bride can then dance and move freely without worrying about tripping. Right after the ceremony also makes sense if you already did your bridal party photos and couples shots before the ceremony.

However, don’t wait until the last minute to make your plan! It’s a good idea to have a trusted bridesmaid, maid of honor, or the wedding planner ready to bustle your gown quickly once the ceremony concludes so that you don’t miss too much of your special day! We recommend building this into the timeline – maybe budget for it to take 10 minutes.

2. After your Post-Ceremony Photoshoot

For brides who choose not to do a first look with their partner, many opt to do all their formal photos after the ceremony. In this case, the bride often chooses to leave the gorgeous train down to be showcased in those beautiful post-ceremony shots. This allows the train to truly shine in photos with the stunning backdrop of the ceremony.

Once the photos are taken, the bride can then bustle the gown before joining the rest of the guests at the cocktail hour. This ensures that the dress is photo-ready for the most important pictures while remaining practical for the reception.

Practical Tips for Bustling Your Gown

Practice Makes Perfect: Bustling can be tricky, so make sure to practice beforehand! Have a bridesmaid or family member practice bustling the gown so that they’re prepared for the real deal. Choose someone you trust!
Know Your Options: There are different types of bustles (American, French, over-bustle, under-bustle), and each has a different look. Make sure you’ve chosen the bustle style that complements your gown and your wedding vision.
Be Patient: Bustling a gown can take a few minutes, so allow time for this process between the ceremony and reception. Your guests will understand! As we stated above, we recommend building a 10-minute time slot into your wedding day timeline for this important detail.

Ultimately, the decision on when to bustle your gown is up to you. Whether you prefer to do it immediately after the ceremony, during the cocktail hour, or a bit later to allow time for more photos, the goal is to make sure you can move, dance, and celebrate comfortably without the worry of tripping. Your wedding day is about enjoying yourself, so bustling at the right time will help ensure you stay stylish and stress-free.

No matter when you decide to bustle, remember—build it into your wedding day timeline, and make sure you have someone you trust who has already practiced the bustle before wedding day! You got this!