Wedding Dress Bustle Advice

Ready for some controversial real talk? I'm anti-bustle. That being said, I know most brides are pro-bustle (or bustle-indifferent) so when I went wedding dress shopping I had plenty of questions, particularly “What do I do if I hate bustles?” As it turns out, plenty of brides out there have a dizzying array of bustle related questions.

Lucky for me, one of my best friends who came along to my bridal appointments IS a bridal stylist, and lucky for you all she's a regular contributor here at Bridal Musings (for instance, my witchy bff finds the perfect dress based on your zodiac sign).

Christina says I'm not alone, and bustle related questions pop up in just about every bridal appointment she takes. So, for the benefit of all, I asked Christina all of my pressing bustle questions, and what one can do instead. Her advice is so key to any bride about to start wedding dress shopping or about to take their gown in for those fateful alterations.

Which Dresses Need To Be Bustled?

Essentially, any dress with a train that's going to hinder your ability to party. That includes any gown that has a train that will be stepped on all night, or a gown with a train that's so long you actually won't be able to walk around. I find this is one of my number one questions brides ask during their appointments. If it's long enough to be in the way, you could benefit from a bustle. Don't let a long train stop you from buying your dream dress!

Which Dresses Don't Need A Bustle?

Short dresses, dresses without a train, or dresses with a baby train. Slinkier gowns with very little train are super easy to add a loop to the underside of the train. This makes it easy for you to put the loop around your wrist and sort of “drape” your gown without compromising the design.

In my opinion, a gown with only a few inches of train should either be left to trail behind you all night or given a simple loop. Adding a bustle to a gown like that almost looks like an accident, and I'd say, enjoy the fact that you're wearing a wedding gown and embrace the little bit of gorgeous fabric trailing behind you. When else in your life do you get a chance to feel so extravagant?!

What Style Of Bustle Is Best?

There are two main types: an under bustle and an over bustle. An over bustle has one or more hooks on the top of the train that get lifted up and hooked over the top of the gown.

An under bustle is basically the opposite, with hooks or ties that pick up the train and fold it under itself. So depending on the fabric and construction of your dress, you may need more or less complicated bustling. I've heard conflicting rules as to whether certain fabrics should be busted over or under, and I think the most important thing to remember is that you like how it looks.

When Do I Decide My Bustle?

I recommend asking about bustles while you are dress shopping. Your bridal stylist is a valuable resource of knowledge and tips! Odds are, your stylist can show you a couple options and you can see what your dress may look like if you decide to purchase it. Once you've found “the one” your alteration appointments will be where you actually choose the bustle. A talented seamstress can talk with you about your bustle options and what style is best for you and the look you want to achieve.

What If I Hate Bustles?

Three suggestions: make sure to buy a dress that doesn't have an extravagant train, have the train shortened, or get a second dress!Almost any dress, whether lace or crepe, chiffon or tulle, can have the train dramatically shortened. Often times designers even make versions of a gown with less train! It's always worth asking during your shopping process, that way you don't compromise intricate applique details or unique laces.

But ultimately, it's what's going to make you the happiest and most comfortable. I've seen a bride hula hoop in a ballgown, so no train should ever get in the way of what you want to do at your reception!

Any Extra Advice?

On your wedding day you will be IN the gown – so someone else will need to bustle it for you. I'd recommend having your Maid of Honor or bridesmaids do a test run for you. Have them come to your final dress fitting! That way, they can learn from the expert seamstress, ask questions, and have a very clear idea of how the bustle works and is supposed to look on that day.

Bustles can be super simple or very elaborate, so factor in an additional cost for how much bustle your gown may need. I've heard some brides express frustration about how much their alterations cost, and if you're trying to keep things more simple and less expensive, perhaps a gown with less train is in the cards for you.

Tips to Choosing the Perfect Summer Wedding Dress

Planning a summer wedding? Having an outdoor wedding smothered in sunshine? Then you need the perfect wedding dress which can leave you looking cool, calm and fresh even on the hottest summer's day.

The first step to finding the perfect dress is to get to know your body type. Some dresses can be flattering while others may just not suit you at all. Visit your local bridal shop and try on a medley of dresses, don't be shy, the team don't expect you to make a decision there and then. Try on the designs you never dreamed of wearing, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Once you have chosen a style of dress, you need to decide whether to go sleeveless or strapless. If you're going to be outside on a warm summers day, then strapless may be the most elegant option, though remember to get a matching shawl to keep you warm as the weather cools later in the day. Remember you want to be comfortable and you're going to be wearing the wedding dress for a number of hours before you set off into the sunset together, so be prepared to avoid shivering the last half of your special day away.

Fabric will be a big deciding factor when it comes to a summer wedding. Choosing chiffon wedding dresses could be the best decision, because this is a breathable material which will help keep you cool when the sun is beating down all around you. While you may love the look of the satin dress, be realistic and know what to expect in terms of the weather you will have on your day.

Of course remember that the weather can go anyway and having a summer wedding doesn't guarantee a beautiful clear day, so be prepared for all weather types in terms of your shoes and something to throw over your shoulders should the weather turn on you on the last minute, you can always remove the shawl or jacket (whichever you have chosen), should the weather warm up as the day goes on.

Be selective when it comes to detailing. Embroidery, lace and beads are all top choices and you can complement any wedding dress by adding one or more of these to the gown you have chosen. If you've chosen a simple summer wedding dress, then consider beadwork on the bodice to give it that elegant and sophisticated finish that will show off in all your photographs.

Try and add a splash of color to your gown to add that summer finish. A splash of color doesn't mean add bright blue or brilliant red, but if your color scheme is light blues and creams, consider a cream band that goes around your dress. This can break up all the white and add the perfect finishing touch to your beautiful summer wedding dress.

One of the best pieces of advice you can ever learn when choosing your gown is to try on as many as possible, including those that don't quite tickle your fancy. The more you try on the more you can get an idea for the styles that suit you and those that don't. Remember to take photographs of yourself in each of the dresses to go over later, this can help you make your final decision.

Also remember that you don't have to only try on dresses made to your size. Most bridal shops have their own team of seamstresses who can tailor the dress to fit you perfectly, which enables you to try on dresses that are slightly too big or small and have it tailored to fit you beautifully on your special day.

How to Shop For Your Once in a Lifetime Wedding Dress

He proposed, you said yes. The wedding planning is in full gear and its time to shop for your wedding dress. Your wedding dress is the most memorable and expensive dress you will ever purchase. Here is some practical advice to make your shopping trip fun and let you know what to expect.

Make an appointment to try on wedding dresses. Some bridal salons don't require them, but an appointment will guarantee you the individual attention of a bridal consultant and space in the dressing room.

Time your shopping trip to your best advantage. If you shop on a weekday afternoon, you will get the most attention and you will not be competing with a lot of other brides like you would on weekends. You also get more time to shop.

You will get the best deals if you shop in November and December when the bridal salons are slow and new merchandise is arriving. There will be more sales and more incentives to buy because they need to clear out stock to make room for new stock that is arriving. Wedding dresses arrive in cycles, with the late fall and early winter being the time the manufactures ship out new merchandise.

Don't shop too early, if your wedding is two years away and you are not prepared to buy, stay home and surf the net for ideas. The styles will change and your idea of your dream dress may change, along with your weight and wedding plan. The style may also be discontinued by the manufacturer.

Don't shop too late. Wedding dresses should be ordered 9 months to a year in advance. The manufacturers take 16 to 20 weeks to fashion your dress because of all the hand work that is done on the dress. You also need to allow transportation time and time to have alterations done. If you shop at the last minute, you will risk major disappointment. You will either have to buy off the rack or pay the manufacturer extra for rushing your dress.

Shop prepared. This should not even have to be mentioned., Wear underwear on your shopping trip. Wear clean underwear and be freshly showered or risk major embarrassment. Some salons will send you home to shower or come back with underwear and who can blame them? You are trying on expensive white dresses! And if you don't wear underwear, you'll be standing in the dressing room buck naked. If you are uncomfortable, you consultant will be doubly uncomfortable.

Bring along a strapless bra if you have one and a pair of heels to get a feel for how the gown will look on you.

Don't shop with a posse. Shop with someone you trust, your mom, your sister, your best friend. Don't shop with your entire wedding party. Too many people means a lot of confusion for you and your consultant. Too many opinions will make you crazy. Are they giving you their true opinion, or picking out a dress they would wear to their own wedding? Invite your friends to see your choice after you've made your choice. They'll be more interested after you've chosen your dress. Sure, a huge shopping trip sounds like fun, but you'll totally regret it when you leave exhausted, confused and aggravated.

Don't try to cram too many shopping appointments in one day. Trying on wedding dresses is exhausting. You'll be standing up in heels for a long time. Some of the dresses are very heavy. Pretty soon you'll be suffering from white blur, a wedding term that means that all the dresses are starting to look alike. Limit your appointments to no more than two a day and take time in between to grab something to eat and drink. The only way you can be on top of your dress shopping game is to be fueled up, hydrated and relaxed. Its going to be a long day!

Shop with an open mind and a good attitude. You have a dress etched into your mind. You are closing yourself to dresses that may be more flattering on your figure, cost less money and be THE dress. Be open and receptive to different necklines, body styles and fabrics. You may leave with the dress still etched in your mind, but you may just find THE dress if you stop telling yourself that you are picky. By constantly reinforcing your pickiness, you'll make yourself and your shopping companion crazy. Bridal consultants are trained and experienced in finding dresses that make the most of your figure and hide the parts that need to be hidden. Stop whining and listen, you'll be amazed at how fabulous you can look if you just open your mind and adjust your attitude.

What to expect when shopping for your wedding dress. Expect to be warmly welcomed into the bridal salon and meet your consultant. Your dress consultant will ask you some questions about your wedding. They'll ask you about the type of wedding, the formality of the wedding and your wedding dress budget. They aren't being nosy. They need to help you choose a dress from a mind boggling selection of dress styles. You can't try everything on in the store, its physically impossible. They also need an idea of your dress budget, so you don't fall in love with a dress that is out of your price range. If you want to see dresses under a thousand dollars or under five hundred dollars, tell them honestly to avoid a lot of disappointment on your part.

You will be shown styles, feel free to say no to anything you don't like. Be honest, you will not like everything and it will help your consultant pull more dresses that are in line with what looks best on you and you like.

Top 10 Wedding Dress Shopping Mistakes

There are many common mistakes brides make when they come wedding dress shopping - often because they are underprepared or unwilling to think beyond the ideal vision that they have in their head. But wedding dress shopping needn't be stressful, or fruitless, or time-consuming. Here are our top 10 mistakes that brides make when shopping for a wedding dress - try to avoid these and you should be fine!

1. Not knowing their budget

Unless you really do have an unlimited amount to spend, you should have an idea of what you can afford. Obviously your budget will go a lot further if you choose to shop for discount wedding dresses, from a factory outlet or discount designer store, but you still need to know what your limit is.

2. Not considering extra costs

When you budget for your outfit, you need to remember that you will be wearing more than just a dress! You need to consider your shoes, underwear, a veil if you will be wearing one, any jewellery you don't already own (I'm guessing most of us didn't have a tiara before we got married!), and even your hair and make up should be included.

3. Bringing too many people

You should definitely bring someone. Many people bring their mum and a sister or a close friend. Whoever you choose, they should be people you trust to give an honest opinion but also not try to influence you to choose a dress they like rather than the one you like! Any more than two people and you're going to end up with too many different viewpoints, which can get confusing for you. Besides, you want your wedding dress to be a surprise for as many people as possible on the big day!

4. Getting all made up to come wedding dress shopping

Okay, so wedding dress shopping feels more special than normal shopping, but there really is no need to get all dressed up for us! You should make sure that you are wearing a well-fitting bra if you are likely to need extra support under your wedding dress, but apart from that, casual is fine. In fact, we would prefer you didn't wear any make up that could get smudged off on to the dresses.

5. Shopping too early (or too late!)

Shopping too late is less of a concern for shopping at wedding dress factory outlets, for example, as these dresses don't need to be made from scratch for you, but you should still aim to leave enough time for any alterations. As for shopping too early, you really need to at least have the wedding date booked, and preferably the venue, as both of these decisions will influence what style of dress you choose. Also, if you aren't ready to make the purchase, you could fall in love with a dress that isn't available when you have the money ready.

6. Not having done a bit of research before

It's all very well having an open mind as to what style of dress you want, but you should have some idea about what you like. Knowing your venue will help (beach weddings have a very different dress code to church weddings!), but take the time to look at some pictures and see what appeals to you. Perhaps you prefer plainer dresses to the more detailed ones, or a detachable train to a built in one. If you have no idea where to start, it can be a bit bewildering to look at all the wedding dresses on the rails!

7. Only trying one style on

Conversely, being adamant you will only try on white strapless ballgowns, may mean you miss out on a dress that would suit you more, as well as restricting your choice somewhat.

8. Trying to buy a smaller size saying "I'll lose weight before the wedding"

It's so easy to say, but not as easy to achieve, and while we're not saying that you won't lose weight before your big day, it is worth remembering that most dresses can be taken in by as many as four sizes without affecting the style. Letting a dress out is much more difficult, and if it is possible, you will only be able to let it out by one size. So choose a dress that fits now, and have it taken in when you lose that weight!

9. Forgetting they have to spend a whole day in the dress

This sounds obvious, but many people will try a dress on and decide to buy it without even trying to sit down in it. The wedding dress is for more than just the ceremony, so think about how comfortable it will be to wear while sitting down, eating and even dancing in. This is particularly important with corset style bodices that can be restricting, and fishtail dresses, which if too closely fitted can stop you being able to sit down at all!

10. Buying a dress you don't love

This is YOUR dress. It should be the dress that you keep comparing all other dresses to (I still do this 4 years after my wedding, and so far, I still love my wedding dress more than any other!). Choosing a dress because it made your mother well up, or just because it has a coloured trim that will match the bridesmaid's dresses is really not advisable. You aren't planning to do this more than once, so make sure to buy the wedding dress of your dreams.