Has the Train left the station?

I looove a train. I think the extra drama a train gives a dress is spectacular, and when else are you going to get the opportunity? But wedding dress hemlines are receding as newly-weds are more frequently choosing comfort over style.

Not all trains are built the same, much like veils, they come in different lengths.

• Sweep (the smallest, sometimes known as a ‘puddle’)

• Court

• Chapel

• Cathedral

• Monarch (the kind of train that needs assistance to carry)

Chapel length train, dress by beyond the veil, picture by eternal show, embroidery by holly winter couture

Now, I’m not going to try and convince you to go for a monarch length train that requires you to employ the smallest members of your family to follow you around all day carrying it. BUT I do think you should give the train another chance and here’s why; bustles.

A bustle is such an easy addition to your dress that makes having a train a second thought when you’re dancing the night away, and there are a few different ways to do it!

In the photo to the right is an over bustle, probably the most common type of bustle you’ve seen. A tie or hook and eye are attached on the outside of the dress, bringing the train up so it hangs from just below your bottom and can either land above the floor so its completely out of the way or to just shorten it to a court or sweep length. It is best used on ballgowns and cathedral length trains.

OVer bustle. dress by beyond the veil, picture by eternal show, embroidery by holly winter couture

A similar result can be achieved using an under bustle however the train will fall from under a fold of the dress. It’s great for slimmer skirt styles such as A-line, sheath and mermaid skirts. An under bustle is usually a ribbon tie inside the dress.

under bustle, picture from pinterest

ballroom bustle, picture from pinterest

A ballroom bustle (right) attaches to the waist in a way that lets the fabric fall so that it looks like it was never there to begin with.

If you’re really into drama, and you’ve got this far and are now thinking maybe you could consider a train, let me pitch you the royal bustle. Using either an over or under bustle, instead of affixing to one point, you use several. The result is this gorgeous draping of fabric.

A bustle makes having a train so easy, you can have the drama and the moment of it following you down the aisle and swooped around your feet in photos without compromising on your ability to bust a move later on or have an outdoor wedding without worrying too much about collecting all the local flora.

If I haven’t quite convinced you, another easy way to add the length a train gives is by using a long veil or cape that can be easily removed when it becomes incumbent.

dress and cape by beyond the veil, picture by Tim Easton