Rhiannon Hendricks
Wedding dress trains have been popular since the Middle Ages, when they were used to showcase the bride's wealth. Today, they are a stylistic choice, adding a touch of drama, elegance, and romance to a bridal look. Trains come in a variety of lengths and styles, from short and subtle to long and formal, and can be detachable or built-in. When deciding whether to include a train on your wedding dress, it's important to consider factors such as venue, formality, comfort, and practicality. While a train can make for a grand entrance and beautiful photos, it can also be heavy, expensive, and difficult to move in, requiring assistance from bridesmaids and a bustle for dancing. Ultimately, the decision to include a train on your wedding dress depends on your personal style and preferences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| History | Wedding dresses with trains became popular in the Middle Ages to showcase the wealth of the princess bride. |
| Definition | A train is an extension of the skirt from the hem, waist, or shoulders. |
| Purpose | Trains add a touch of elegance, style, and drama to a bride's look. |
| Types | Sweep, chapel, cathedral, royal, detachable, illusion, long, and short trains. |
| Considerations | Venue, formality, comfort, weight, ease of movement, cost, and maintenance. |
| Pros | Adds grandeur and a dramatic entrance; can be detachable or bustled for convenience. |
| Cons | Can be heavy, expensive, difficult to move in, and easily damaged. |
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What You'll Learn
Pros and cons of a train on a wedding dress
Wedding dress trains have been a staple in wedding fashion since the Middle Ages, when they were used to showcase the wealth of the bride's family. Today, they remain a stylistic choice, adding a touch of drama, elegance, and grandeur to a bride's look.
When deciding whether to opt for a train on your wedding dress, there are several pros and cons to consider.
Pros of a Train on a Wedding Dress:
- A train can add a touch of drama, elegance, and grandeur to your bridal look, creating a majestic silhouette as you walk down the aisle.
- Trains can be a great way to make a grand and unforgettable entrance and exit, leaving a lasting impression on your guests.
- They are versatile and can be detachable, offering flexibility throughout the wedding day. You can have a long train for the ceremony and then remove it for a more manageable style during the reception and dancing.
- Trains can be made from lightweight fabrics like tulle or lace, which won't add too much weight to your dress.
Cons of a Train on a Wedding Dress:
- Trains can be heavy and cumbersome, especially if made from heavier fabrics or adorned with intricate details and embellishments. This can make it difficult to move around, dance, and mingle during the reception.
- They can be easily damaged, stained, or snagged, especially at outdoor weddings.
- Trains can be expensive, especially if you require alterations or an elaborate bustle to pin up the train after the ceremony.
- You may need assistance from your bridesmaids or flower girls to carry and arrange the train throughout the day, which can be inconvenient and slow you down.
- The length of the train may limit your venue options, as you'll need to ensure the ceremony aisle is wide enough to accommodate your gown.
Ultimately, the decision to have a train on your wedding dress depends on your personal style, the formality of the occasion, and the venue setting.
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History of wedding dress trains
Wedding dress trains have been a part of wedding traditions since medieval times. Back then, trains were seen as an incredibly luxurious and elevated detail, affordable only for those in high society. The length of the train was thought to speak to the bride's social ranking—a long train was equated with excessive wealth and status. The longest trains were reserved for royalty, and the closer the bride's family was to the royal family, the longer her train could be. There were even rules about the train styles that could be worn by non-royals based on their rank in society.
Trains were used to impress and wow wedding guests, drawing attention to the bride and creating a lasting impression. They were never meant to be a practical feature, but rather a glamorous embellishment to make wedding gowns look more dramatic and elegant.
Over time, as fabrics became more affordable, connections to royalty and social rank became less important. Today, a wedding train is more about adding high impact to a bride's style and making her feel special. It is a unique detail, as it is not something one would wear in everyday life.
Wedding dress trains come in a variety of styles and lengths, from short and modern to long and dramatic. Some common styles include the sweep train, which is the shortest and most common, typically six inches longer than the rest of the skirt; the chapel train, which is semi-formal and extends 3 to 4 feet from the waist; and the cathedral train, a very formal option that extends 6 to 8 feet and is perfect for grand venues. The royal train is the longest, with trains over a yard long, and is commonly worn by royal brides.
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Different types of trains
Wedding dresses with trains became popular in the Middle Ages, with longer trains indicating greater wealth and social status. Today, trains are used as beautiful statement pieces that add drama and elegance to a bridal look.
Sweep Train
Also known as a "brush" train, this is the shortest wedding train length. The fabric extends about six inches or less than a foot from the bottom hem of the gown, providing a touch of drama without being cumbersome. It is a sensible choice for brides who plan to move around a lot or have an outdoor wedding.
Court Train
The court train is slightly longer than the sweep train, extending about one foot from the waistline or hemline of the gown. It is a good option for brides who want the look of a traditional wedding dress train without the hassle. Court trains add a touch of elegance and are suitable for semi-formal and informal weddings.
Chapel Train
The chapel train is a traditional choice, offering a happy medium between simplicity and formality. It extends 12 to 18 inches from the waistline, providing a dramatic appearance without being unwieldy. Chapel trains can be detached or made into a bustle for added convenience.
Cathedral Train
The cathedral train is a very formal option, extending 6 to 8 feet from the waistline. It is perfect for black-tie weddings, grand church ceremonies, and ballroom venues. This style is often associated with fairytale, Cinderella-inspired gowns and may require assistance from bridesmaids to carry and manage the train.
Royal/Monarch Train
The royal or monarch train is the longest wedding train length, flowing over 10 feet behind the bride. It is named after regal figures who have worn it, such as Princess Diana, whose train was 25 feet long. This style is for brides who want to make a grand statement and is not the most practical choice for the entire wedding day.
Watteau Train
The Watteau train is attached to the top of the gown at the shoulders or upper back, falling loosely to the floor. It can vary in length from short, floor-length options to cathedral length. Watteau trains are a popular choice for detachable trains, providing brides with versatility and two looks in one.
Ultimately, the decision to include a train and the choice of train length depend on the bride's style preferences, the venue, and the level of formality desired.
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How to bustle a wedding dress train
Wedding dresses with trains became popular in the Middle Ages to showcase the wealth of the princess bride. Today, a train is a stylistic choice that adds a touch of elegance and style to your bridal look.
Trains, however, can be heavy and difficult to move in. They can also be easily damaged. If you want to dance and move around during your wedding reception, you will need to bustle your wedding dress train. Here is how to do it:
Firstly, decide on the type of bustle you want. There are several types of bustles, including an over bustle, under bustle, French bustle, and American bustle. Each type looks a bit different but benefits the wearer of the dress in the same basic way. For example, an over bustle is perhaps the simplest type of bustle. It is created by simply attaching the midpoint of your train to a button on the upper part of the back of the skirt of your dress, on the outside of the dress. A French bustle, on the other hand, is when the train tucks underneath the dress.
Secondly, work with a seamstress who is familiar with wedding dresses and can sew in the appropriate bustle for your dress. Your seamstress may use multiple bustle points to add a more dramatic look to the back of your dress or a simple one-point system where the train is secured by one point on the back of the bodice. You can also ask your seamstress about the possibility of a wrist bustle, where a loop is added to the underside of your train so that you can carry it from your wrist.
Finally, make sure to designate someone to be in charge of bustling your dress on your wedding day. It is recommended to have your maid of honour or another member of the bridal party attend your final fitting to learn how to bustle your dress. Take most of your family and newlywed photos before your dress is bustled so that you can show off your train in all its glory.
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Wedding dress trains and comfort
Wedding dress trains have been a staple of bridal fashion since the Middle Ages, when they were used to showcase the wealth and social status of the bride's family. Today, they remain a popular stylistic choice, adding a touch of drama, elegance, and grandeur to the bridal look.
However, when considering whether to include a train on your wedding dress, it's important to also think about comfort and practicality. A long train can be cumbersome and heavy, making it difficult to move around, especially in tight or crowded spaces. It may require assistance from your bridesmaids to carry and navigate, and there is a higher risk of it becoming stained or damaged, especially at an outdoor wedding. If you're planning on dancing at your reception, a long train will likely be a hindrance, and you may need to pay for alterations to bustle the train, pinning it up to make it the same length as the rest of the skirt.
If you're set on the dramatic look of a long train but are concerned about practicality, a detachable train could be the perfect solution. This option gives you the best of both worlds, allowing you to make a grand entrance and then remove the train for a more manageable style during the reception. Detachable trains are currently one of the most popular styles due to their versatility and ability to provide two looks in one.
For brides who prioritise comfort and ease of movement on their wedding day, a short train or no train at all may be the best choice. A sweep train, for example, extends only six inches from the skirt, providing a subtle accent without a lot of extra fabric. This style is ideal for less formal weddings and outdoor settings, where a long train might be impractical. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to include a train on your wedding dress comes down to your personal style, the venue, and how comfortable you want to be on your big day.
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Frequently asked questions
A train is a part of the wedding dress that extends from the back of the gown, creating a cascading effect and leaving a lasting impression on your guests. Trains can be made from the same fabric as the dress or a different fabric, and they come in a variety of lengths and shapes.
Trains can add a touch of elegance, style, and drama to your bridal look. They are also a stylistic choice that can define the aesthetic and tone of your wedding attire. Trains have been a symbol of elegance and grace in wedding ceremonies across the globe since medieval times.
Trains can be heavy and cumbersome, making it difficult to move around, especially in tight, crowded spaces. They can also be easily damaged, expensive, and may require alterations to bustle (fold into itself) the train for the reception, adding to the cost.
If you want the dramatic effect of a train without the commitment, you can opt for a detachable train that can be removed for the reception. You can also consider other ways to add pretty elements to your dress, such as unique lace or a cape veil.
