Never bought a Wedding dress before? You’re not alone. Finding your wedding

gown can easily become overwhelming since many of the terms you will hear are

foreign to most. Below we have broken down all the gown terminology you

might hear while shopping for your wedding dress.

Gown Silhouette

A-line - This silhouette gets its name from its resemblance to the letter A. This gown is

narrow thru the bodice, with vertical seams allowing the skirt to gradually flare out

from the waistline.

Ball Gown - This silhouette features a defined/ fitted bodice, a cinched waistline, and

a very full skirt.

Column - The column dress is fitted at the bodice but straight and narrow to the hem.

Empire - The empire waist flares close to the bust line instead of the of at the actual

waistline- from there, typically it flows freely/loosely from the rest of the body.

Mermaid - Commonly confused with the trumpet style. A mermaid gown will be

tightly fitted against the leg to the knees and the skirt will expand from there.

Sheath - The sheath dress will be a sculpted, body-hugging shape that is fitted from

bodice to floor.

Trumpet - Fitted through the body, especially at the thighs, and has a straight lined

skirt that subtly flares from the knee toward the hem to form the ‘trumpet’ shape.

Necklines

Off-the-shoulder - This neckline sits below the shoulders. It could be done with or

without sleeves.

Sweetheart - Sweetheart neckline gets its name from its resemblance to the top half

of a heart. It has an open and curved shape.

Straight - Commonly seen in strapless dresses, it is as it sounds, straight across. It

offers a little more coverage than the sweetheart.

Sabrina/Bateau - This neckline showcases a single unbroken curve or swoop that runs

from one shoulder to the other. It can be found with or without sleeves.

Halter - This neckline has two straps that wrap around the neck, with wide openings

for the arms and shoulders.

Scoop - The classic “u” shape (dips in the front). You can find it with or without

sleeves.

V Neckline - As can be presumed from its name this neckline features a deep often

dramatic “v” shaped plunge in the bust line. The plunge is often repeated on the back.

This neckline can be found with or without sleeves.

Veils

Blusher - A short, single layer of veil, the blusher is worn over the face before the

ceremony, then either flipped over the head or removed thereafter.

Cathedral - Sometimes referred to as the “royal veil”, this style falls 3.5 yards from the

headpiece or hair. The cathedral veil is the most formal.

Fingertip - This style of veil extends from the head to the fingertips - typically 35 to 45

inches in length.

Elbow - This style of veil extends 25 inches from the head to the elbows.

Mantilla - A long veil, this Spanish- style fabric features a circular piece of lace that

frames the face. Made either of lace or lace-edged tulle, the mantilla is usually secured

with a comb.

Trains

Brush - Commonly confused with a sweep train. The brush train is a short train that

slightly “brushes” the floor.

Chapel - The chapel-length train is the most popular among brides. Typically between

a yard to four-yard long starting at the waist of the wedding dress.

Sweep - The shortest of the trains, as it barely touches the floor. Normally, the back

hem of the train is an inch or two lower than the front hem.

Cathedral - A cathedral train is very dramatic and very long. From the waistline of the

dress, a cathedral train can measure up to 7.5 yards long.

Semi-Cathedral - A compromise between a chapel train and cathedral length train.

Monarch/Royal - A monarch-length train is the longest of all trains, measuring up to 8

feet long.

Sleeves

Bell - A full sleeve that opens at the cuff and is very wide and flowing.

Cap - Cap sleeves get their name because they literally “cap” your arm, concealing the

shoulder while revealing the arms.

Illusion - Made with sheer fabrics, and often adorned with intricate lace or

embellishments, creating a delicate veiling effect while providing coverage.

Tulip - A cap sleeve with overlapping seams that resemble the look and shape of a

tulip.

Fitted - A sleeve without fullness. When it’s long, it often extends to a point at your

hand.

Flutter Sleeves - A loose, usually short sleeve that flares out from gathered fabric at

the top and falls in folds over the shoulder and upper arm.

Fabric

Organza - A thin, stiff, transparent fabric made of silk or synthetic yarn.

Brocade - A thicker woven fabric with raised applique design.

Crepe - A lightly thin fabric with a crinkly effect.

Charmeuse - A lightweight, semi-shiny fabric, similar to satin.

Chiffon - Made from silk or rayon, sheer and transparent.

Dutchess Satin - A silk/rayon combo made to look like satin.

Dupioni - A coarse fiber that does that keeps its shape well.

Georgette - A type of crȇpe fabric that is typically made from pure silk.

Illusion - A sheer, net-like fabric used primarily for necklines and sleeves. Gives the

look of nude, sheer fabric.

Silk - The most expensive and sought after fabric. Silk is a natural fiber and comes in

many weights and weaves.

Satin - A heavy, smooth fabric with a high sheen on one side-can be polyester or silk.

Taffeta - Consisting mainly of a netted fabric used in wedding skirts and veils: silk,

nylon, rayon polyester. Comes in many weights and textures (soft to stiff).

Tulle - A netted fabric used in wedding skirts and veils; silk, nylon, rayon polyester.

Comes in many weights and textures (soft to stiff).

Velvet - Thick, soft, and felted. A heavy weighted fabric used mainly for winter

weddings.

Skirt Styles

Ball Gown - This skirt comes out into a bell/fill shape from the waist.

Flared - Fitted at the waist, and then flares out into a trumpet type shape at the hem.

Front Slit - A slit on a front side seam, usually along the leg and not in the middle, that

allows for movement.

Pencil - a straight down skirt that hangs close to the legs, with no flare at the hem or

accent at the waist-usually does not reach the floor.

Peplum - A short, single ruffle that hangs over a pencil skirt style. The ruffled layer

may be horizontal in shape or extend down in a back V-shape.

Straight - This skirt extends straight down, with no flare at the hem. A longer version

of the pencil skirt, this skirt might reach to the floor.

Tea Length - Shorter than a full-length skirt, it ends several inches above your ankles.

Usually hitting about mid shin.

Tier - A series of layers or panels that fall in graduated lengths to the floor.

Wrap - An overlapping skirt that wraps at the waist.

Embellishment Terms

Applique - As it sounds an applique is a decorative application of something on top of

the fabric of a wedding dress- includes designs like fabric flowers, lace, tulle, and

beading of all types. An applique can be simple or intricate.

Beading - Refers to the embellishment created by gluing or sewing crystals, bugle

beads, pearls, gemstones or other accents onto the bodice, hems or other elements of

the ensemble.

Bustle - A bustle is helpful if you have a long train. It helps transition from ceremony

to reception. It is a sewn-in, ribbon or hook that lifts your train to the back of your

dress, making it shorter so that you may move and dance easier.

Crinoline (petticoat) - Refers to added extra fabric underneath the gown’s top layer or

layers-usually a stiffer netting or tulle. Adds volume without adding much weight.

Embroidery - Done by hand or machine-stitched decorative designs created on the

gown, bodice, train, or veil. Patterns vary from straight lines to intricate designs.

Ruching - A sewing technique in which the fabric or ribbon is gathered in a repeating

pattern to form pleats, ruffles, or scallops.