Wedding Gowns with Trains

For me, the most iconic wedding gown with a train has to be the Royal Wedding gown, designed by David and Elizabeth Emmanuel, for Lady Diana Spencer’s wedding to Prince Charles on 29th July 1981 at Westminster Abbey. The gown, valued at around £9,000 had a 25foot (8 meter) train.

As a young girl myself, the wedding gown with its draping silk taffeta and lace fabric had to be the envy of all girls who hoped for their own fairytale wedding.

I recently contacted the other half of the Emmanuel’s, Elizabeth, asking a question regarding the petticoats of The Royal Wedding gown. Were they built in or separate? “Separate”, came the reply from Elizabeth herself. I was delighted with the response.

Watching a documentary recently David Emmanuel spoke and relived the events leading up to the wedding, and the horror of the now famous and crumpled image of the gown as Princess Diana stepped out of her carriage full of creases. He explained how he joked with the then Lady Diana Spencer of adding more length to the train, and then how the couturiers had to squash it in to the small carriage. I guess for him, it seemed like a good idea at the time, yet now appears to have been a misjudgement.

You simply must consider the venue before deciding on a wedding gown with a train, and unless you are marrying in such a place as Westminster Abbey, an eight foot train on your wedding gown simply will not work!

I recently undertook alterations to my client Sammy’s wedding gown, complete with a train of approximately 8 feet. To see it in all its splendour as it glides up the aisle is a vision itself. The bride in question certainly wasn’t afraid of the length of the train, knowing it could be easily bustled away, or in her instance removed, to enable her to dance the night away.

A train can add a certain something to your wedding gown, that ultra romantic finish to the fairytale you’ve always dreamed of. However, it’s not for everyone.

A Cathedral length train lends itself well for something more traditional and formal, and can extend anything from six to nearly eight feet in length. It gives a very dramatic effect.

Lady Diana Spencer chose something a little more than the Cathedral length for Westminster Abbey. The Monarch or Royal train can span nearly twelve feet in length, and due to this you should invest in attendants to help manage it as you walk, but that all adds to the drama!

Of course, trains can be easily removed if attached at the waist. You acquire the elegance as you walk up the aisle, the photographic element once you are married, and then the train is removed, transforming one gown into another for the wedding breakfast.

I certainly know that not all brides want a wedding gown with a train, and not all venues will accommodate one; sometimes less is more. However, I’m glad the splendour of a train is making a comeback. A train is so much more than that bit of fabric that drapes behind the bride!

Article by Wedding Dress Designer Linda Davey

Images Courtesy of:

Wedding Gown with Long Train: Image from Flickr by Mararie

Bride on Stairs: Provided by Bride

Bride Looking in Mirror: Image from Flickr by 723smt

Read more Bridal Wear and Accessories Advice articles

Read other Wedding Advice articles