Choosing a train

Eva Longoria’s boasted an abundance of ruffles, Katie Holmes’ was adorned in Valenciennes lace and Princess Diana’s was an unforgettable eight metres long – trains are big business!

Alongside the material, silhouette and price range, the kind of train you want will be a major factor when deciding on the style of wedding dress for your big day.

If you’ve always dreamed of making a dramatic entrance, then you’ll probably want a long train. A cathedral train extends to two metres while a monarch (or royal) train can reach a gasp-inducing eight metres long and will involve hiring a couple of pageboys to follow you down the aisle!

Girls who would like some length but don’t fancy hoiking it around all day might want to opt for a chapel train which extends a manageable one metre from the back of the skirt. A sweep (also called a duster or brush) is the shortest of all the trains and just touches the floor.

A Watteau attaches to the gown at the shoulders and falls to the hem while a court train is the same length as a sweep but extends from the waist to the floor. 


Historically, the length of the train indicated how wealthy you were. These days, it’s more likely to be determined by the kind of wedding you’re having. Think about location: if you’re planning a destination wedding, a cathedral train could get messy; equally, copious amounts of material snaking around the guests at your small, civil-service ceremony might prove a hindrance.

If you’re having a large church ceremony, a dramatic train could work perfectly. Bear in mind that it is the duty of your chief bridesmaid to hold your train and you will need to factor this into their list of tasks for the day.

While a train will look stunning in the church, it may feel out of place at the wedding breakfast and become a downright nuisance at the party. Designers cater for brides who want to spend the night on the dance floor and trains can be either detached or ‘hooked’ up to create a bustle shape.

Remember, your wedding dress is for one day only and it could be the train that  makes it really unforgettable!