Post # 1
Member
258 posts
Helper bee
Hi bees – I’m thinking about what to do with the train of my dress and I’m not sure whether to cut or bustle. I’d love to hear and see what you are planning to do / what you’ve done with your dress / how much the alteration cost.
Bustle pros: have the train for pictures, may be less costly than cutting (??)
Cutting pros: I don’t actually like the look of bustles that much (if I did bustle I would try to do ballroom style – not sure if that’s possible for my dress), don’t need to worry about bustle breaking, train won’t get in the way.
Here’s the dress I’ll be wearing – Alfred Angelo 2509. Any thoughts?
Post # 2
Member
2990 posts
Sugar bee
I think cutting is cheaper than bustling, actually. It cost $36 to hem my skirt and about $60-something to have the bustle I wanted. So go with the look you like best! I have seen mermaid bustles, so I know they’re possible.
Post # 3
Member
258 posts
Helper bee
is_a_belle: that would be great if it was cheaper to cut than bustle. Can I ask what your dress is like style and material wise? I’ve heard some things are easier to cut than others.
Post # 4
Member
9575 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
I cut off my train and loved it. Another con of the bustle is the time it takes to rig it up and carrying around the weight of the train. I loved being able to spin and the movement of the skirt
Post # 5
Member
1309 posts
Bumble bee
I cut off the train. I’m so glad. I hated the idea of dragging a bunch of fabric around and/or looking like a duck in the back.
Post # 6
Member
9519 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
To hem my dress was $90, fair for 4 layers of chiffon and the bustle was free. My Maid/Matron of Honor didn’t understand the bustle concept and hooked the hanger loop under the dress to the bustle hook, luckily it was fixed before anyone else noticed. Looking at pictures I am glad I had the train and the bustle ended up being pretty cute. I For that dress a bustle would be cute and the train will be beautiful for pictures
Post # 7
Member
2990 posts
Sugar bee
Mine was a two-layer organza and satin A-line dress… I hemmed the front due to my height (I’m 5’0″) and bustled the rest. Pretty sure yours would be easier to cut than mine since it’s just one layer and doesn’t have embroidery or beading.
Post # 8
Member
244 posts
Helper bee
In your case I would probably just cut it off. I can’t imagine a bustle looking very good with the style of your dress and there’s no lace or intricate beading you need to save or work around.
Post # 9
Member
258 posts
Helper bee
is_a_belle: thanks that makes sense! Cheaper is always good to me 🙂 and your dress is beautiful!
MrsBuesleBee: Kaymar: thanks both of you for sharing positive experiences of train cutting!
leathernlace: I’m not sure how it would bustle either
theatrejulia: any idea what bustle would work? I’m hearing some conflicting things as to whether it would work or not so I am curious.
Post # 10
Member
1206 posts
Bumble bee
Giblets: I really don’t like the look of bustles but I didn’t want to cut my train off because I loved it so much. My seamstress put in a bustle that just had one loop and button and I was glad I had it. We did pictures before the ceremony and were walking around the venue a lot so while walking I bustled the dress and when we stopped for pictures one of my BMs could easily let it down. It only took a few seconds to bustle and unbustle but it’ll depend on how complicated it is. In the end I decided I lived the train more than I disliked the bustle look and my steamstress did a good job not making it look too bustley if that makes sense.
Post # 11
Member
544 posts
Busy bee
I cut mine. I don’t like bustles and the trains all get so dirty so quickly.
Post # 12
Member
258 posts
Helper bee
Curlycupcake: that sounds easier than i imagined a bustle to be, thanks!
Post # 13
Member
9237 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
Giblets: I bustled but was able to create one that I could do by myself in about 5 seconds flat. It swept behind me and pinned on my side – liked having the extra movement in the skirt that my bustle gave.
Post # 14
Member
1610 posts
Bumble bee
- Wedding: October 2014 - Cape May
I had a beach elopement and I bustled. I hemmed and hawwed on cutting but in the end just had a simple bustle putting in to keep the dress it’s original condition. I hate bustles but mine was easy and held through out the night. Totally should have cut it though. Sand and a train? Ain’t nobody got time for that!
Post # 15
Member
258 posts
Helper bee
LilliV: I’ve never seen a bustle on the side! Can you share a pixture?
Strawberryshmoo: I may do an outdoor wedding so I have the same concern – wouldn’t have sand but yes that sounds difficult to deal with.