A train can completely transform your look, no matter what shape your dress is. It allows you to change the feel of your outfit from ceremony to reception. The train is simply the elongated back portion of the gown that lies on the floor and trails behind the bride.

Trains date from the Middle Ages, when the length worn at court indicated a person’s social rank. The premise being the wealthier you were, the more fabric you could afford.

Today, gowns with long chapel and cathedral trains are considered the most formal, lending themselves to bustling following the ceremony. Court and panel trains are much less formal. The court gently puddles about a foot behind the wearer, and the detachable train, which can be any length and either a flat panel or gathers of fabric, is generally attached to the gown at the waist with buttons or hooks, and can be removed to be a bit less informal and not as imposing.

Panel
Sweep
Court
Chapel
Cathedral
Monarch / Royal