Maid-of-Honor duties are vast. Don't let adjusting the bride's train add to your stress. Learn how to handle the wedding dress train in this guide.

Thinking about wedding dresses always gives us butterflies, but what really sets us spinning are the fabulous trains. A wedding dress train is an extra length of fabric that extends behind the wedding dress. Unless you’re attending the Met Gala, there aren’t too many opportunities other than your wedding day to wear a dress with a train.

Traditionally, the train was a symbol of elegance and class. Though some modern dresses forgo the addition, there are many contemporary takes on the train.

No matter the style, wedding dress trains can easily rumple or bunch up. On the wedding day, one of the Maid-of-Honor (MOH) duties is to adjust the train so it stays gracefully spread out behind the gown. It’s an easy enough task, but can be nerve-racking.

If you’re the bride’s go-to gal, get ready to take care of the train with this guide.

Take Charge During the Big Day

The maid of honor is in charge of keeping the bride’s veil and train arranged both to and from the altar. You tend to the dress so the bride can fully immerse herself in the day. Keeping the wedding dress train artfully arranged from the dressing room to the reception requires some attentiveness.

First, you must help keep the wedding dress train off the ground on the way to the ceremony. As the Maid-of-Honor (MOH), this is one of your responsibilities, but don’t be afraid to ask the other bridesmaids for help. Especially in the transition moments, you’ll want some extra hands to keep the dress off the ground.

There are a few other specific moments when the wedding dress train needs to be picture-perfect. Before the bride walks down the aisle, you’ll have one final chance to make sure she looks breathtaking. As you line up for the processional, make sure her train will flow out behind her when she steps toward the altar.

The next part of your job starts when she makes it down the aisle. Use subtle and refined adjustments to keep the train beautifully spread.

Afarose Insider Tip: Check out our style guide for some dress inspiration for both brides and bridesmaids. No matter the body shape, you’ll find the perfect dress.

Be Discreet and Don’t Overdo It!

When adjusting the bride’s train and wedding veil, don’t do anything that might draw attention away from the beautiful couple. Make your move when all eyes are on the altar, like during the officiant’s greeting or a selected reading.

Your adjustments should be discreet. Give subtle fixes to the wedding dress train so it appears to have naturally fallen in a refined spread. But as the old saying goes, don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. If you make micro-adjustments every time the bride shifts position, you’ll be too distracting.

In addition, when the moment comes, don’t pull on the dress or lift the skirt too high off the floor. Instead, use two hands to lightly lift the train and fluff it out. If you’re holding a bouquet, pass it to another bridesmaid so your full attention can be on the wedding dress.

To see this in full action, check out our TikTok tutorial: How to Properly Fix the Bride’s Wedding Dress Train (Dos & Don’ts)

Be Prepared to Bustle

A wedding dress train adds drama and flair to any gown. But after the ceremony, all that extra fabric can be cumbersome and get dirty or damaged. This is where a bustle comes in.

A bustle uses a system of stitches, pins, and ties to gracefully secure the train to the back of the dress. It not only keeps the train out of the way, but it also makes the dress easier to move in. During the reception, the bride should feel at ease as she greets guests and dances. An effective bustle makes this possible while looking stylish.

What does this have to do with you? As the maid of honor, you must help the bride prepare her bustle between the wedding and the reception.

Different Types of Bustles

The bustle will depend on the style and the fabric of the specific dress—different bustles work best with different styles of wedding gowns. For example, an American bustle works best with a ball gown or longer wedding dress train, while a French bustle complements a mermaid or trumpet shape.

As MOH, you won’t have to worry about designing the bustle. The professionals will decide on the bustle technique during one of the fittings. However, the seamstress or tailor won’t be there on the big day, so the responsibility of pinning the bustle falls to you. Don’t be intimidated. With the right preparation, even the least crafty person can easily tie up an efficient bustle.

3 Tips for the Perfect Bustle

Get ready to bustle with our three-step prep:

1. Attend a fitting. The best way to prepare yourself is to get professional training. Go with the bride to at least one dress fitting so you can talk with the seamstress about the bustle. They can explain the technique and give you a brief training.
2. Take a video. Weeks may go by between the fitting and the wedding day. With your other duties, you might forget the techniques you learned at the fitting. Take a video of the seamstress walking you through it. That way, you’ll have a clear reminder of the process when you need it.
3. Have a Plan B. Wedding dresses are delicate, and there’s always a possibility that the bustle stitching will tear or fall apart. Have a few extra safety pins to secure the dress if something goes awry.

Afarose Insider Tip: Adjust the bustle before the newlyweds are introduced at the reception. If you’ve practiced, you should only need a few minutes to get the wedding dress train pinned up properly.

Make Afarose Part of Your Wedding Team of Pros

As the maid of honor, the wedding day will fly by. It’s a roller coaster of emotions, tender moments, and logistics. You’re an integral part of the bride’s team, and she is so lucky to have your support. Practicing responsibilities like arranging the wedding dress train ahead of time will keep the day from feeling stressful.

That’s what we’re all about at Afarose. From curated wedding tips to versatile wedding dress styles, we’re here to take the stress out of weddings and put the focus back on the beautiful love story you’re celebrating.

Check out some of our made-to-order styles to find the wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses of your dreams. You can even sort the dresses by train length. For any questions about measurements, styles, or wedding dress trains, give us a shout.