While no longer part of mainstream fashion, a bustle can be a necessary, and very fashionable addition to a wedding gown. The bustle creates the loops, hooks or ribbons in the gown to allow the train to be pinned up during the reception.

Most gowns are not sold with the bustle already in them, because the bustle must be added to suit the bride. This means that a bride who would like to keep the train up after the wedding will need to have the bustle installed.