Junior Rasmussen
When it comes to wedding attire, there are many components that contribute to the overall look, and it's important to understand the terminology to bring your dream dress to life. One crucial aspect is the veil, which is worn behind the head and can come in various lengths and styles, such as the blusher, cathedral, and Spanish-style mantilla. The train of the dress, which drags behind the skirt, is another key feature with different variations, including the royal, chapel, and court trains. The length of these trains can range from a few inches to over 10 feet, with the longer trains often requiring a bustle to pin it up and make it easier to walk and dance. In addition to the veil and train, the silhouette of the dress, including the shape of the skirt and the volume or fit, plays a significant role in the overall aesthetic. Understanding these terms can empower brides-to-be when choosing their wedding dress, allowing them to confidently express their vision and select a gown that aligns with their unique style and preferences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Veil type | Blusher, Cathedral, Pouf, Mantilla, Elbow-length, Fingertip-length |
| Veil fabric | Lace, Tulle, Chiffon, Netting, Cotton, Satin, Silk, Nylon, Rayon Polyester |
| Veil weight | Lightweight, Heavy |
| Veil decorations | Lace, Beading, Jeweled pins or combs |
| Train type | Sweep, Chapel, Court, Monarch, French |
| Train length | 1-2 feet, 3-4 feet, 5-7 feet, 10+ feet |
| Train attachment position | Waist, Shoulders, Top of back |
| Train accessories | Bustle (English, French) |
| Dress fabric | Lace, Tulle, Netting, Cotton, Satin, Silk, Nylon, Rayon Polyester |
| Dress weight | Lightweight, Heavy |
| Dress decorations | Applique (fabric flowers, lace, tulle, beading, crystals, bugle beads, pearls, gemstones), Boning |
| Dress silhouette | Sheath, Mermaid, A-line, Ball Gown, Column, Trumpet |
| Dress parts | Bodice, Skirt, Hem, Neckline, Sleeves, Straps |
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What You'll Learn
- Trains: a long part of the skirt that drags behind the dress
- Veils: a layer of fabric worn over the face, then flipped back over the head
- Silhouettes: the shape of the dress, from fitted dresses to ballgowns
- Bodices: the top part of the dress, covering the torso from the neckline to the waistline
- Hems: the very bottom of the skirt, where it hits the floor
Trains: a long part of the skirt that drags behind the dress
A wedding dress train is a long part of the skirt that extends beyond the dress's hem, dragging behind the dress. Trains can add a luxurious and elegant touch to a wedding dress, and they come in various lengths to suit different wedding themes and venues.
There are several types of wedding dress trains, each with its unique features and considerations:
- The Court Train: This is a short and manoeuvrable train, typically extending 1-2 feet behind the gown. It is a good choice for brides who want the elegance of a train without the hassle of managing a long train.
- The Chapel Train: This train attaches at the waist and extends 3-4 feet behind the gown. It is suitable for formal to semi-formal weddings and offers a balance between elegance and comfort.
- The Cathedral Train: This type of train is often associated with sophistication and royalty. It is usually quite long, extending 3.5 yards or more from the headpiece, creating a dramatic and regal look. However, this style may not be comfortable for walking and is better suited to tall, slim brides.
- The Royal Train: The royal train is an ultra-formal style, extending ten feet or more from the waist. It is often seen in royal weddings, as the name suggests, and is perfect for those seeking a dramatic and luxurious look.
- The French-inspired Train: This is a very long train, typically over 10 feet in length. It attaches at the waist and extends 6-8 feet behind the gown, making it a dramatic choice for ultra-formal weddings.
Some trains can be detachable, allowing brides to have the best of both worlds—a gorgeous train for the ceremony and a more manageable dress for the reception. When choosing a wedding dress with a train, it is essential to consider comfort and practicality, especially regarding the length of the train and the venue of the wedding. Practising walking in a long train before the big day is also recommended to ensure graceful movements and ease of navigation.
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Veils: a layer of fabric worn over the face, then flipped back over the head
A blusher veil is a short, single layer of fabric worn over the face before a wedding ceremony. After the ceremony, it is then flipped back over the head or removed. This style of veil can be worn alone and then removed after the ceremony, or it can be paired as a layer underneath a longer veil.
Blusher veils are typically 35 to 41 inches long, extending from the headpiece to the fingertips. They can also be shorter, ending at the elbows. This style is popular for less formal weddings where the bride still wants a traditional bridal touch.
The Spanish-style mantilla veil is another type of blusher veil. It is made of lace or lace-edged tulle and is usually secured with a comb. This style of veil is circular and drapes over the head, cascading over the shoulders and down the back.
Blusher veils can also be paired with longer veils for a more formal look. The cathedral veil, for example, is the most formal style and is usually paired with a cathedral-length train. This style of veil extends 3.5 yards from the headpiece, with a significant amount of fabric trailing behind.
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Silhouettes: the shape of the dress, from fitted dresses to ballgowns
The silhouette of a wedding dress is the overall shape of the dress, specifically referring to the shape of the skirt. There are many different silhouettes, from fitted dresses to ballgowns.
A sheath wedding gown is fitted from bodice to floor, falling straight to create a classic, sexy look. A column dress is similar, but the bodice is not always fitted. An A-line dress is a natural silhouette that flares at the waist, resembling the shape of the letter A.
A mermaid or fit-and-flare dress hugs the body and flares out around mid-thigh or the knee. The trumpet gown is similar, with a straight-lined skirt that flares from the knee to form a 'trumpet' shape.
A ballgown features a defined, fitted bodice, a cinched waist, and a very full skirt. An empire waistline flares just below the bust, flowing freely from the rest of the body.
The neckline of a wedding dress is also an important feature. Some necklines, like bateau, jewel, one-shoulder, and halter, sit high on the neck and offer coverage for the chest and collarbone. A halter neckline can incorporate both high neck and illusion styles, leaving the upper back uncovered. A cat eye neckline dips lower in the centre, creating a structured, edgy look. A sweetheart neckline is scalloped to resemble the top of a heart. Strapless gowns have no shoulder straps and are supported by an internal corset and bodice.
The fabric of the dress can also affect its silhouette. Wedding dress fabric can range from lightweight cotton to heavy winter-appropriate weaves. It can be delicate, sheer, or netted, and can include lace, tulle, chiffon, silk, nylon, rayon, and polyester.
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Bodices: the top part of the dress, covering the torso from the neckline to the waistline
The bodice is the upper portion of a wedding dress, covering the torso from the neckline to the waistline. It can have sleeves or not, and there are four main types of bodices used in the construction of a wedding dress: the corset, the V-neck, the princess seam, and the illusion.
The corset bodice is characterised by its built-in boning and cups, providing structure, support, and shaping to the torso. Corset bodices can have a lace-up back or be hooked and eyed. The V-neck bodice has a V-shaped neckline with straps, elongating the torso and offering a streamlined silhouette. The princess seam bodice has long seams that run from the bust to the waist or hem, creating a fitted yet elongated silhouette. The illusion bodice is made of solid fabrics with added sheer fabric on top or in the back, usually adorned with lace or embellishments.
Other types of bodices include the crumbcatcher, which has a ruffled or scalloped fabric ridge at the top of the bust, and the insert bodice, which has a piece of material in a contrasting colour or texture inserted into the dress at the neckline. When choosing a bodice, it's important to consider the overall aesthetic and the neckline that best frames your face and upper body.
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Hems: the very bottom of the skirt, where it hits the floor
The end of a wedding dress is called a hem. The hem of a wedding dress is a very important part of the gown, and it is essential that a bride understands several aspects of formalwear hems before shopping for her bridal gown. The hem of a wedding dress can be altered by a seamstress or professional, and it is important to get it right as the slightest mistake can ruin the dress. Wedding dresses with a well-defined waistline and a gathered skirt are good candidates for being hemmed by opening up the waist seam, lifting the skirt, and resewing the skirt back in place at the new length. This method also works well if there is lace or other embellishments at the waist seam that can camouflage the raising of the skirt.
If a bride is looking to add length to a second-hand wedding dress, it may be possible to let out the hem, but this depends on whether the previous owner removed the excess fabric during their alterations. It is extremely difficult to make the hems of chiffon layers the exact same length, so most hems are done so that the chiffon is a little longer, sometimes up to 2" longer. If a bride wants to wear high heels with a dress that is too long, lace can be added seamlessly to the bottom of the dress to create a longer hem.
The hem of a wedding dress can also refer to the end of the train. Trains can range in length from several inches to up to 12 feet, and they are considered an extension of the hem of the wedding dress. The train of a wedding dress can be attached at the waist, shoulders, or the top of the back, and it may extend to the bottom hem of the dress or beyond. The length and style of the train depend on the formality of the wedding, with ultra-formal weddings often featuring longer trains.
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Frequently asked questions
The long part of a wedding dress that trails behind the wearer is called the train. Trains come in various lengths, from a short court train that extends 1-2 feet, to a French-inspired train that is often over 10 feet long.
Trains are a feature of formal wedding dresses. The longer the train, the more formal the dress.
A veil is a layer of fabric that is worn over the face during the ceremony, and then flipped back or removed. Veils come in different lengths, from short veils that cover the face only, to cathedral veils that extend 3.5 yards from the headpiece.
A bustle is a sewn-in ribbon or hook that lifts the train of a wedding dress so that it is shorter and easier to move and dance in.
