Wedding Dress Trains and Bustles: How long you dare to wear?

What transforms a wedding dress is the train and how long you dare to wear it. The length of the train will force you to walk and waltz a little differently, but wearing it will have you feeling like the princess bride as the train gloriously swishes behind you.

You need to consider whether the train will be a separate piece of fabric that is detachable or will it be the same piece of fabric just an extension of your wedding dress. When discussing the length of your train with your wedding dress designer, arm yourself with the necessary language,

Brush or sweep train: The shortest train, just brushing the floor or the tops of your shoes. This works well with a slim fitting wedding dress however this length train won't bustle well so it may become a tripping hazard when you move. Practice walking and moving at home before you walk down the aisle.

Chapel train: This train extends 100cm to 150cm from the waist.

Cathedral train: A longer formal train that is often removed after the wedding ceremony. This train extends approximately two metres from the hemline or three metres from the waist.

Detachable train: Attaches the train to your wedding dress either around the waist or just to one point at the back of the dress. The train can be removed instead of needing to be bustled.

Monarch or royal train: This is the train of princesses and extends three to nine metres in length from the waist

Court or Watteau train: This train attaches at the shoulders, falling loosely into box pleats to the floor and into a sweeping train. Tricky to bustle but very Maid Marian

The Bustle

If you choose a train of heavy fabric, the first thing a bride and her bridesmaids must do is to learn how to bustle the train efficiently and gracefully. If you don't want to bustle your train, then have a detachable train fixed to your wedding dress with buttons, hooks, loops or snaps.

Traditional bustle: The hem is brought up and attached to loops at the back of the dress, creating symmetric layers.

French bustle: Popular during Edwardian and Victorian times, the wedding dress is pulled up and attached by a series of ties at the back of the wedding dress creating a scalloped effect where the bodice meets the skirt.

Wristband bustle: The train is held by a loop at the bottom that attaches like a bracelet around the wrist or index finger. A glamorous bridal look particularly for the bridal waltz.

Floor length bustle: The dress is bustled underneath to create an even hem and the train essentially disappears under the dress.