Cathedral train

Also called: Long train

Length: Six to eight feet from the waist

Highlights and balances

Highlights

Makes a grand, formal entrance
Fills a long aisle

Wear it when

Events it suits

What to wear to a black tie wedding

Pairs with

Silhouettes: Ball gown, A-line, Mermaid
Lengths: Floor length
Fabrics: Satin, Mikado, Tulle

Avoid if

The aisle or venue is small
The ceremony is outdoors on grass, sand or gravel
You do not want help carrying the train

Check the aisle width, and plan who will help with the train and how it will bustle.

A cathedral train is a long stretch of skirt that sweeps six to eight feet behind a gown, counted from the waist rather than the hem. You will see it most often on formal wedding dresses. Among wedding dress train types, it sits second from the top in length, with only one longer.

How to spot a cathedral train

On a hanger, the back of the skirt keeps going long after the front has reached the floor. The fabric often comes folded or looped so it does not drag. In a listing, look for “cathedral” or “long train,” with the length given from the waist.

The two lengths on either side of it are the ones people mix up:

Chapel train: a chapel train runs three to four feet from the waist, roughly half the reach of a cathedral.
Monarch train: a monarch train flows ten to twelve feet or more, and it is often detachable or worn only for the ceremony while attendants carry it.

Wearing a cathedral train well

A full skirt gives this much fabric a wide base to spread from. That is why a ball gown or an A-line shape suits it. Satin and mikado have enough weight to lie smooth along an aisle. Tulle keeps the train light if you want it to float.

Settle the bustle before your final fitting, and choose one person who will lift and fasten it. Measure the aisle before you commit, and favor a smooth indoor floor.

One example for a black tie wedding: a mikado ball gown with a floor-length front and a cathedral train. Wear it down for the processional, then have it bustled before dinner so you can sit and dance through the evening.

FAQ

Is a cathedral train formal?

Yes. It belongs with black tie and white tie, the two most formal evening codes. For a less formal wedding, a shorter train from the trains glossary will feel more in step with the day.

Can I wear a cathedral train at an outdoor ceremony?

It is a poor fit for grass, sand or gravel, because the hem catches and soils over that much length. If your heart is set on it, plan to hold the ceremony indoors and keep the outdoor parts for after the train is bustled.

Does a cathedral train work with a mermaid dress?

It can. The sharp flare below the knee hands the fabric off into the train, so the line runs from the fitted top into the sweep behind you. Ask your fitter how the bustle will sit over the flare, since that is where the weight gathers.