How to Bustle a Wedding Dress | French vs Standard Bustle Explained

How Do I Bustle My Wedding Dress?

During your wedding shopping journey, you might be wondering as you try on each dress “I love this, but the train is so long – how am I going to move on the dance floor?”. Adding a bustle to your wedding dress is the answer.

A bustle, put quite simply, is one of those details that may feel small, but makes a huge difference to how comfortable and confident you feel on the day. If you’re curious about how to bustle a wedding dress or even how to bustle different wedding dress styles (in particular), you’re not alone.

At Love Spell Design, we love a bustle. If you do end up finding your dream wedding gown with us, we always add bustles during the alterations stage, tailored specifically to your gown, your height, and how you plan to move throughout the day.

What Is a Wedding Dress Bustle, Exactly?

Your wedding dress bustle sits right at the back of your wedding dress. It’s usually designed with a discreet system of hooks, buttons, or ties that lifts and secures your train at the back, to avoid your dress from dragging. A bustle is usually used after the ceremony, for example to take photos, when walking around or most commonly at the evening party. Once your wedding dress is bustled, it becomes a lot easier to walk in, dance in, and enjoy your day, without losing the shape or elegance of your dress.

When Is the Bustle Added?

In bridal, your bustle can only be added once your dress has been fully hemmed to your exact heel height. This is pretty industry standard across bridal shops, – because if we were to add a bustle before hemming, the bustle may become too high, or too low, and therefore ruin the back of your dress. Until the hem is finalised, it’s impossible to position the bustle evenly, as the length and weight of the train will still change. This is why hemming always comes first, followed by the bustle during later fittings with your seamstress.

Standard Bustle vs French Bustle

Many of our brides are unsure of the difference between a standard bustle and a french bustle. That’s completely normal!

A standard bustle lifts the train up and secures it on the outside of the dress. This style creates a clean, classic look and works beautifully with structured skirts or gowns featuring buttons down the back.

A French bustle tucks the train underneath the dress using internal ties or ribbons, creating soft folds and a seamless, romantic finish. This option is especially popular for flowing fabrics, lace gowns, and more relaxed silhouettes.

Your seamstress will help guide you toward the best option based on your dress and your vision. If you choose to go with our regular seamstress, she can give you her expert tips as she has created beautiful bustles for most of our brides. 

Our Built-In Train Loop:

All Love Spell gowns are made with a small loop, which is added during the manufacturing stages. This loop is designed to temporarily hold the train, for example when walking between locations. However, it isn’t intended to replace a bustle, which offers far more support for dancing and extended wear. Some brides however, who are not so keen on the idea or look of a bustle, do feel comfortable enough to just use the loop on their big day. This tends to work okay for indoor weddings or summer weddings, but we would always recommend a bustle for outdoor weddings. 

How to Bustle Your Wedding Dress on the Day:

This is where your beloved bridesmaids will step in! During your final fitting, your seamstress will show you (and your entourage)exactly how to bustle your wedding dress, and we always recommend recording a video of this process too, to refer back to on the big day.

Final Thoughts From the Team:

So, to conclude, knowing how to add a bustle to a wedding dress , or at least how we would add one at Love Spell, takes away the last-minute stress and ensures that you can move comfortably from ceremony to celebration. Whether you choose a French bustle, or a standard bustle, the key is proper timing and expert alterations.

If you have any questions about bustles, fittings, or alterations, the Love Spell Design team is always here to guide you every step of the way.