Wedding Traditions
By Tina
Trains, Bustles, Skirts & Hemlines.
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Hem Length Floor Handkerchief Hem Intermission Midi Mini Street Tea |
Back Bustle Butterfly |
Skirt Ballerina Bouffant Circular Flared Full Mermaid Slim Tiered Trumpet |
Trains Brush Cathedral Chapel Court Detached/Detachable Royal Sweep Watteau |
| Bouffant |
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| The fullest skirt available. It makes your waist look very small. The bouffant is especially effective in Tulle or Duchesse. | |
| Brush or Sweep Train |
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| Shortest train. It just sweeps or brushes the floor. Very effective on a slim fitting gown. | |
| Bustle |
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| Very common in Victorian and Edwardian times, bustles are a pulling up and fastening of fabric at the back of a dress where the bodice meets the skirt. Many wedding gowns' trains may be bustled, pulled up, so they are out of the way at the reception. See also, French Bustle. | |
| Butterfly |
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| At the back, large bow (hence, "butt bow") or fabric flowers where the bodice meets the skirt. Often the bustle is formed just below. | |
| Very similar to a Bell Sleeve, but the ends of the sleeves are actually connected behind the back. | |
| A very short sleeve that barely covers the top of the shoulder. | |
| Cathedral Train |
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| Most typical train, it extends about 2 and half yards (about 7.5 feet) from the waistline. | |
| Chapel Train |
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| Train which extends about one and a third yards (about 4 feet) from the waistline. | |
| Circular Skirt | |
| The hem on this skirt forms a circle and is not gathered at the waist. | |
| Detached/Detachable Train | |
| Train of any length, which, instead of needing to be bustled, is removed by a series or snaps or buttons. | |
| Flared Skirt | |
| A skirt which gradually gets larger from the waist to the floor. | |
| Floor Length |
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| A Floor length gowns allows the tips of your shoes to show. It may or may not have a train. | |
| French Bustle |
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| Very common in Victorian and Edwardian times, bustles are a pulling up and fastening of fabric at the back of a dress where the bodice meets the skirt. Many wedding gowns' trains may be bustled, pulled up, so they are out of the way at the reception. A French Bustle is hooked from underneath, so that the bustled fabric lays on the outside. See also, Bustle. | |
| Full Skirt | |
| As the name implies, this is a full skirt gathered at the waist. It is fuller than a Circular Skirt but less full than a Bouffant. | |
| Handkerchief Hem | |
| A tea length skirt made of panels which end in points at the hem. | |
| Intermission Length or Midi Length |
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| Also known as Midi Length, this skirt falls between the knee and mid-calf. | |
| Mermaid or Trumpet Skirt |
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| Also known as a Trumpet Skirt, this skirt is fitted at the hips and thighs then flares out from the knees. It may or may not have a train. It can be tricky to kneel or sit in this style. | |
| Mini |
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| This skirt ends above the knee. Some designs include detachable overskirts which may be removed for the reception. | |
| Monarch or Royal Train |
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| Train that falls 3 yards (9 feet) or more from the waistline. Think Princess Diana. Also called a Royal Train. | |
| Ruffles |
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| Tiers of ruffles, usually of organza or chiffon, applied to the skirt, train or back of dress. | |
| Sheath |
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| A close fitting gown. It can be difficult to kneel or sit in this style. | |
| Slim Skirt |
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| A skirt style which fits closely to the body without hugging. It should gently slide against the body, unlike the sheath which actually fits the figure closely. | |
| Street Length | |
| Skirt length falls just below the knee. | |
| Tea Length | |
| A skirt ending mid-calf. | |
| Tiered Skirt |
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| A skirt with layers of different length skirt fabrics layered upon each other. | |
| Train | |
| A length of fabric usually attached at the waistline in back or part of the skirt which extends from the back of the gown. Train lengths include: Brush or Sweep, Chapel, Cathedral, Court, Cathedral or Watteau. Trains may be of the same fabric as the skirt or contrast. They may be Detachable. | |
| Watteau |
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| A train which extends from the shoulders. They are typically only attached and may be tricky to bustle. | |
Click on Bridesave.com/glossary to check out their glossary of terms. Excellent source of information.