Newer blog post
more in Blog
Older blog post
Newer blog post by Mrs. Taffy
more by Mrs. Taffy (oldest)
Older blog post by Mrs. Taffy
Mrs. Taffy's Picture
Mrs. Taffy, Ann Arbor Age and Occupation: 28, Color and Materials Designer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Automotive Designer Engagement Date: May 9, 2008 Wedding Date: May 2009 Blogging Since: September 14, 2008 Venue: University of Michigan Union About Me: I’m a girl who is crazy about Mr. Taffy, sewing, dancing, almost all types of sweets, and our cute pet canaries. I dislike touching fuzzy fabric of any kind, eating somewhat squishy food, and Michigan winters. Mr. Taffy and I are having a blast planning our Ann Arbor wedding, and cannot wait to share our day with friends and family.
About Mrs. Taffy

I didn’t think twice about bustles before my first dress fitting. I had no idea that it would be such a difficult decision to make! I went to my first fitting alone without a camera, and that wasn’t a very good idea… I didn’t have anyone to bounce my opinions off of, and didn’t have pictures to show anyone afterward. I ended up going back to the salon a week later so my mom could see the different bustles in person.

During the initial fitting, the first bustle that the seamstress/shop owner tried was the popular French bustle. I have seen these many times, and found them to be quite lovely. I assumed that this was the bustle I would go with—another reason that I didn’t do any research before the fitting. To my surprise, it just didn’t work with my dress style. The underpinning hid a lot of the lace, and the width of the underbustle looked weird against the silhouette of the dress.

The seamstress then tried an overbustle. It started out simple, but soon had many, many points. It was way too complicated for my taste, and I began to worry. The dress would be bustled for the majority of the time that I would wear it, and I really wanted to be happy with it.

I didn’t get any pictures during the first fitting, but I brought my camera for round two.

Mr. Taffy, do not look any further!!!

My First Fitting... Rushing the Bustle :  wedding ann arbor wedding dress 1 1

It may not look too crazy from this view, but look at this close up:

My First Fitting... Rushing the Bustle :  wedding ann arbor wedding dress 2 2

It was just too complicated for me.

I don’t have a side view to show you, but it was very frilly and poofy, and not what I was looking for. The problem was, I was wearing the dress and couldn’t get back there to show her what I wanted, and was having a hard time communicating it. This was not the salon’s fault—they have been great. I just didn’t know enough about bustles to suggest something verbally.

The seamstress agreed to try something simpler, and we came up with this:

My First Fitting... Rushing the Bustle :  wedding ann arbor wedding dress 3 3

This is kind of close up and taken at a weird angle. In this side view, you can get a better idea of the bigger picture in my reflection on the left. We forgot to take a full-length image!

My First Fitting... Rushing the Bustle :  wedding ann arbor wedding dress 4 4

I am so happy with this bustle. It doesn’t hide the lace, and it maintains the simple silhouette of the dress. It will also be easier for my mom and bridesmaids to bustle, which is great.

I am so glad that I took some time to think about this, and brought my mom in for a second opinion. Don’t rush on your bustle if you aren’t happy with it! I’m so glad that I listened to my gut and tried other options.

What was the most difficult dress decision during your fitting?

Tags: ann arbor, wedding-dress |
advertisement below
Newer blog post
more in Blog
Older blog post
Newer blog post by Mrs. Taffy
more by Mrs. Taffy (oldest)
Older blog post by Mrs. Taffy

27 Responses to “My First Fitting… Rushing the Bustle”

1 2 

1.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Bruschetta (message)  5,565 posts, Bee Keeper

I really like the complicated one, but YOU have to love it and feel comfortable with it!

My dress is going to be a bear to bustle, since the hem in front is assymetical, so the first point’ll start there!

 
2.
liane4tino
Member
liane4tino (message)  44 posts, Newbee

I’m actually a fan of the more complicated one myself, but like magpie said… you have to be the happy one. The second option looks great too! Either way it will be lovely!

 
3.
Member Icon
Member
karilynn6 (message)  99 posts, Worker bee

I do love the second one. I might have to save your picture so I can show my seamstress. The first one looks kind of Victorian. Also, I love the lace on your dress- it’s gorgeous!

 
4.
Guest Icon
Guest
janet

I like the simple bustle that you came up with. It shows off the lace around the edge better, and I think it will create a much nicer silhouette!

 
5.
Member Icon
Member
Miss sea spray (message)  98 posts, Worker bee

Oh I lLOVE your dress. it looks so beautiful! I love the complicated one, but knowing me I would have gone with the similiar one. I don’t handle complication well:)

What designer made your dress? I’m on the look out for lace dresses :)

 
6.
BeachBrideT
Hostess
BeachBrideT (message)  1,052 posts, Bumble bee

Your dress is beautiful!
I am starting my fittings later this month, so I will have to ponder the bustle before I go. Thanks for the thought!

 
7.
driftslikesmoke
Hostess
driftslikesmoke (message)  1,224 posts, Bumble bee

Your final bustle choice is beautiful. I like the simplicity of it, and the fact that it doesn’t look like you have a horse tail springing from your derriere!

My dress has more fabric on one side than the other due to gathering, so I’m hoping there’s still going to be a good way to bustle it. We’ll see!

 
8.
LzzNYC
Member
LzzNYC (message)  882 posts, Busy bee

Your dress is gorgeous!!!

I still am lost about the definition of a bustle.. so I don’t know what to look for :-(

 
9.
Ruby Slippers
Member
Ruby Slippers (message)  509 posts, Busy bee

I love the one you chose! How does it hook up - are there little buttons? I ask because it looks like they’re going to be right where you sit down!

I had one single button which hooked up my lacy train just above my bum.

 
10.
SpinningJenny
Member
SpinningJenny (message)  557 posts, Busy bee

I with you on the simplicity factor. I’m hoping whatever gown I end up deciding on I can just do a simple 1 or 2 button bustle.

 
11.
naangel55
Hostess
naangel55 (message)  3,054 posts, Sugar bee

I like both but I think Ill be doing a french bustle. My dress, like driftslikesmoke, has gathering from one side that leads to the other so Im interested to see how it will look with the bustle. One salon I asked told me they just did one and it had 20-30 points! Heres to hoping mine will be color coordinated :)

 
12.
missbean
Member
missbean (message)  528 posts, Busy bee

Your dress is lovely!

A tip of advice - how many points is your bustle? Your dress doesn’t seem too heavy, but if someone steps on it, if it is a singular point, it might break.

Another thing - I had a similar bustle on my dress and every time I turned while dancing I whomped my husband in the legs. He wasn’t expecting it, so it threw us both off beat. So maybe warn Mr. Taffy ahead of time!

 
13.
Member Icon
Member
DrDazey (message)  56 posts, Worker bee

Great choice!! and beautiful lace detailing!! but yeah, how will u sit without pulling??

 
14.
Amber1279
Member
Amber1279 (message)  319 posts, Helper bee

love the final choice!

 
15.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Peep Toe (message)  1,804 posts, Buzzing bee

So cute.

 
16.
MightySapphire
Hostess
MightySapphire (message)  7,632 posts, Bee Keeper

Oh wow, you have some GORGEOUS lace and it’s hard to bustle that without hiding the detail! Your seamstress rocks!!

 
17.
Guest Icon
Guest
MrsF

I agree with MissBean on the breaking part- so my advice is try it on one last time before you take it home and bustle it.

When I went in for my fitting and discussed the bustle the seamstress pinned it up- we agreed it was great and I didn’t want to get it dirty before the wedding so I just took it home. Well I didn’t realize that the dress still dragged on the floor a bit and it was stepped on quite a few times during the reception (and torn)- my MOH sewed it up right before cocktail hr ended and my DH stepped on it at the beginning of dinner again- I ended up holding the wrist loop later into the night to avoid more stepping and further tearing.

Gorgeous dress btw

 
18.
Member Icon
Member
buttercup (message)  28 posts, Newbee

Your dress reminds me of mine because I had lace detail at the bottom that I didn’t want to cover up either. And my bustle looked just like yours. And at my fittings it looked great. Then at my reception everytime I sat down it came undone, and almost everytime I started dancing it came undone too. It was terribly frustrating. My seamstress had done many wedding dresses before, but I was really disappointed that my bustle didn’t work well. So anyways my advice is to make sure your bustle secures really well before your wedding, instead of at your wedding like I did :) I ended up trying to safety pin it about 10 or so times, then just decided to use the wrist loop to hold it up for the last hour or so of the reception.

 
19.
Member Icon
Member
talymo (message)  8 posts, Newbee

Love the simple bustle you came up with. I agree that the first one is a bit much. =]

 
20.
mrspaetz
Member
mrspaetz (message)  3,805 posts, Honey bee

i like your choice. keep the bustle plain and show off the lovely lace of your gown.

glad you got a bustle you like, and remember to get your mom/bridesmaids to practice! :)

 
1 2 

Leave a Reply


You can also just...

Newer blog post
more in Blog
Older blog post
Newer blog post by Mrs. Taffy
more by Mrs. Taffy (oldest)
Older blog post by Mrs. Taffy

Visit our sister sites eHarmony
Online Dating
eHarmony Advice
Dating Advice
Project Wedding
Wedding Songs
JustMommies
Pregnancy Calendar

Copyright 2004-2012, Weddingbee.com
 

Find your vendors on Weddingbee

Real reviews from brides in your area!

Favors by Weddingbee

  • Favors by season

Shop Now »

Mrs. Taffy
Mrs. Taffy

Mrs. Taffy, Ann Arbor Age and Occupation: 28, Color and Materials Designer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Automotive Designer Engagement Date: May 9, 2008 Wedding Date: May 2009 Blogging Since: September 14, 2008 Venue: University of Michigan Union About Me: I’m a girl who is crazy about Mr. Taffy, sewing, dancing, almost all types of sweets, and our cute pet canaries. I dislike touching fuzzy fabric of any kind, eating somewhat squishy food, and Michigan winters. Mr. Taffy and I are having a blast planning our Ann Arbor wedding, and cannot wait to share our day with friends and family.

Boards
Classifieds

Blog Calendar
February 2012
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
2930311234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
26272829

Weddingbee Bios
Wiki
More