Hoop skirt or petticoat?

livelifelarge24

How do I know which one I need? I talked to another bride that wore my dress and she wore two petticoats under to make it more poofy. I don't necesarily want that but a lady at a bridal store said I should have a hoop skirt so I can walk easier. I looked online and there are so many to choose from - 6 bone, 3 bone, ruffled, etcc. How do I know what to get?

LittleMissCutiePie

So, I will tell you right now, from experience, that if you aren't used to a hoop skirt, you will probably hate it. I've been an actress for quite a while, and recently did a civil war era play. I had to wear this six foot diameter, six bone hoop skirt, and yes you can move your legs easier than you can with petticoats, but (especially if you get six bone) your balance will be way off. I would recommend a 3 bone ruffled, to give yourself enough  body, but to keep it soft (the last thing you want is the indentations of the bones showing through your skirt) and keep yourself from teetering over. Also, if you do get a hoopskirt, I advise wearing it for a few hours a couple times before the wedding, so you don't look like one of those Weebles (weebles wobble but they don't fall down...) when you walk down the aisle. I had to wear my hoopskirt to two weeks of dress rehearsals before I could walk and not have my costar standing at the ready to catch me. Also, petticoats may be easier to keep your balance in, but they get so hot!

colstj1

I would try things on. At first I thought I wanted a petticoat (that I was going to borrow from my aunt). But then when I went in for my first dress fitting my seamstress showed me how a hoop can be so much more comfortable and still give the same look. Having an August wedding I now won't have all of the material touching my legs and I will stay cooler with the hoop.

MrandMrsParks

I agree with Little Miss Cutie--

I'm an actress as well and one of my many recurring gigs is working at a renaissance fair. I own a six bone ruffled hoop skirt, and while it certainly will give you that perfect bell shape, it takes awhile to adjust to walking (gracefully) in one. I would definitely go for the six bone skirt with the ruffles-- three bones won't give you that perfect round shape, and without the ruffles to cover the boning, they might show through your gown depending on the material. I bought mine online over five years ago for around $100.

You should also definitely wear the skirt (with other skirts or fabric over it to mimic the weight of the dress) several times before your wedding day to practice walking, balancing, and (dare I say it) using the ladies room. There is an art to peeing in a hoop skirt!

Good luck!