Trains -- wonderful or too much trouble?

I had a chapel train which I absolutely loved. It's one of those special things that's unique for the bride, not just on the day, but it's probably the only time you'll wear a train in your entire life! Yes, it was a lot of fabric, so I had to carry it over my arm or have someone straighten it out for me a few times. But it was totally worth it! I love going to weddings and seeing an epic train.

LOVE trains! Also love long cathedral veils! As far as I’m concerned, the bigger the better!

I feel like I prefer a shorter train because you still get the look of having a train, but it's more practical than a longer one. I don't want people to trip over my dress!

This is my dress and the train.. I love it..

The choice gets tough. Jasmine's train works really well with the overall style of her dress. Also, it sounds like she did not have to bustle it either. But Teresa's train stands out wonderfully. For hers, it seems helpful to have a large space for the ceremony and reception. Of course the picture moments are important too.

View Quoted Comment I did bustle it, I just figured those photos wouldn't be as interesting since you can't really see the length 😅 I love Teresa's though, you're right that a big altar and wide aisle would help show its full majesty.

There’s nothing like the grandeur of a train! But they can definitely be a pain to deal with. I ended up with a floor-length dress but a long cape to give me the dramatic sweep in the ceremony and photos. I thought it was the perfect compromise.

I wish designers offered more non-train options, and boutique sellers suggest the option to cut your dress. The only style I found that ended at the floor was a ballgown. I feel that when you bustle, the look and spirit of the dress are totally changed. I had dramatic overskirts for both of my dresses (sheath, mermaid) and they were pretty for pictures, but then removed for any functional partying. I wish I chose different. No one would not know I was the bride in whatever I was wearing.

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Sure. I agree. It might help if either the dresses can be ordered without a train for no extra charge or have more dress styles without the train. But maybe too few are going without the train. Don't the boutiques mention all the time that the dress is made especially for you?

I don't see the bustle as an interruption of the dress-style though. The bustle is more just a pragmatic option for the reception. Some brides have been fine just adding a loop to the end of the train just for getting around some hikes for pictures while enjoying showing off their train during the reception.

Although I do love a dramatic train, for me it was short and sweet. 😆 It was a beach wedding, so ick on sand in the dress. Added to that, this was my third wedding and being "over the hill" LOL having that long train just seemed ridiculous.

View Quoted Comment I totally understand not wanting a train for a beach wedding! I had my ceremony outside on the grass, so my train did get some dirt stains on it, which the dry cleaners had to deal with after.

If I would have bought a dress new, I think I would have tried to find one without a train! I just really didn't want to deal with a bustle. But I ended up finding a dress secondhand instead that does have a small train. The train is all a tulle material, so I don't think it adds a ton of weight and there's already a bustle so I'm rolling with it. I will admit, my little train has grown on me and I think it'll look pretty in pictures!

I’ve seen one dress picture of a train that I liked. Wearing and walking in one is awkward and they rarely look good bustled. It’s truly a shame that dresses don’t come with the option of no train, unless you buy tea or knee length dresses.


Unless you get a dress custom made from scratch by a local seamstress, you don’t have the option to order a dress through a shop without a train unfortunately. Because designers are fixated on certain looks and are not willing to think outside the box, and the dress shop employees have the same mindset.

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Right. The bridal boutiques cannot know very well if there is interest in gowns with no trains are desired if they have few of those gowns available to try on. If you don't want a train often, you might just find a dress not particularly made for weddings.

A lengthy train can indeed add a sense of grandeur and elegance to your wedding day; however, it can also pose challenges in terms of mobility and maintenance. Personally, I prefer a minimalist and fuss-free look, so a shorter train or even a train-free gown might be the perfect choice for me.

View Quoted Comment I just had my trimmed off when I had the dress hemmed. It wasn’t very difficult. Depends on the style of dress and train.

Maggie Sottero shows some gowns with detachable trains. A more common option is with an overskirt. With either one, it should be sans the train if desired.

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Thank you. We are getting married at our local Shrine Club and it is pretty big on the inside so I shouldn't have a problem with my train being bunched up. Although I have considered getting a reception dress cause I am really not sure if I want to wear the wrist loop all night to hold up my train cause that could get very heavy. I didn't want to have a bustle put in. I wanted little to none alterations to my dress but yea that didn't happen. I had to take it to my Future Brother in law's ex wife (she's a seamstress) and have a corset back put in cause of a little weight that I have gained. I was really bummed about it. But Its going to be fine and it fits again now. So I am happy. I got to pick it up next week. Thank goodness she only lives right around the corner from me.

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One bride went only with the loop. She said you really only need the bustle if going up and down stairs a lot. She just used the loop to get around for photos maybe sometimes if walking a distance. That way you can enjoy your dress as it was made to be worn. If you want to dance much, it may help to have a bustle. It all depends how you figure could be an issue during the reception.

I went with a sweep train. It was the right amount for me to walk down aisle. I did have busked during the reception. It is also a preference when it come to finding a dress with the type of train you want. I do agree trains have a special effect on weddings as to how they look.