You are about to be announced as Mr. and Mrs. for the first time. You’re still flying high from the amazing morning surrounded by family and friends, your emotional and intimate first look and the best wedding ceremony you could have asked for. Now, as your guests are getting seated and situated, it’s time. Time to bustle that dress. Maid of Honor this is all you!

Bustling a wedding dress can be a daunting task! Every wedding dress has its own, unique bustle and if you are anything like me, I wouldn’t even know where to start. That’s why, I always suggest being prepared!

Here are YPPs “Maid of Honor Bustle Five Step Survivor Guide” for all the amazing and incredible Maid of Honors out there!

Step 1: Go to the Wedding Dress Fitting!

Cue the tears and the champagne!! As Maid of Honor it is not only a privilege but your duty to go along to at least one of your besties wedding dress fittings! Seeing your best friend try on her dress before the big day is a moment you will cherish forever! Plus, it gives you the perfect opportunity to watch the pros at work and see exactly how to bustle the dress! The bustle isn’t usually designed until the alterations begin so this is a great opportunity to really understand the bustle for the wedding day!

Step 2: Record it!

Imagine, you are watching your BFF stand in front of you in her white dress, huge smile and twinkling eyes. It’s her final wedding dress fitting. All the alterations have been made. The bustle has been perfectly placed and her wedding is in just a few short weeks. You are in complete awe as you watch the bride-to-be glow in every way. Get your head in the game! You are here for a reason! Ask the stylist to show you exactly how to bustle the dress. Pull out your phone and hit record! Make sure you get every detail on video. It will make it that much easier to bustle it on the big day!

Step 3: Take note of how long it takes!

As you stand there watching the stylist expertly bustle your friends dress in, pay attention to how long it takes her! Bustles can go from a simple, one button contraption to a few dozen hooks, you need to make sure you have plenty of time to bustle the day of!

PRO TIP: I always suggest adding an extra buffer of 10-15 minutes for the bustle just in case!

Step 4: Squad Goals

Although the responsibility usually falls on the Maid of Honor, it’s never a bad thing to have a few other helping hands! Grab a couple of the other bridesmaids to help you bustle as quickly and as well as possible! The more eyes on the video, the more people holding the dress, the easier and faster it is to get your bride moving as swiftly as possible!

Step 5: Emergency Kit

Bustles are delicate. Buttons can pop, ribbons can break, ties can loosen but the show must go on! Your responsibility as the Maid of Honor is to make sure you have a back up plan. More often than not, a damaged bustle can be fixed with a safety pin! That’s right, a safety pin! To be the ultimate Maid of Honor and win major points, come prepared. bring a little bag full of all different sized safety pins. You will be the hero of the night!