Wedding Dress Terms To Know Before You Shop
Your guide to the wedding dress words you’ll hear while finding the one at Lovely Bride
Wedding dress shopping comes with a language of its own. From silhouettes and necklines to trains, veils, fabrics, and alterations, there are plenty of wedding dress terms you may hear for the first time when you start looking for your dress.
The good news? You don’t need to become a bridal expert before your appointment. That’s what your Lovely stylist is here for! But understanding a few common wedding dress terms can make it easier to browse wedding dresses, build your Wishlist, and talk about what you’re loving once you start trying gowns on.
Consider this your guide to the bridal terms worth knowing before you shop.
Silhouette
The silhouette is the overall shape of a wedding dress and how it falls on the body.
You’ll hear terms like A-line, ball gown, fit-and-flare, sheath, drop waist, and more while you shop. Each creates a different shape, but you don’t need to know which one is “yours” before your appointment. Trying them on is part of discovering what you love.
Neckline
The neckline describes the shape and style of the top of your wedding dress.
Sweetheart, square, scoop, straight, V-neck, halter, and off-the-shoulder are just a few you might come across. If you notice yourself saving dresses with a similar neckline to your Wishlist, make a note of it! It can be a great starting point for your stylist.
Clipping
If your stylist clips a wedding dress during your appointment, that’s completely normal! Bridal shops carry sample gowns for brides to try on, which means the sample may not be your exact size. Your stylist can use clips to temporarily adjust the gown and help you better envision how it will look when ordered closer to your measurements.
Dress Length
Most wedding dresses are designed to be floor length, but you’ll also see minis, midis dresses, and other styles. Length can completely change the feel of a bridal look, whether you’re imagining a traditional aisle moment, a courthouse wedding, a reception look, or something entirely your own.
Train
The train is the part of your wedding dress that extends behind you. Some trains are short and subtle, while others are made for a dramatic walk down the aisle. You may hear words like sweep, chapel, and cathedral used to describe different train lengths.
Bustle
A beautiful train makes for an unforgettable aisle moment, but you probably don’t want to carry it around the dance floor all night.
That’s where a bustle comes in. A bustle is added during alterations and allows the train of your wedding dress to be lifted and secured after your ceremony, making it easier to move around throughout the rest of your wedding day.
Fabric
Fabric has a huge impact on how a wedding dress looks, feels, and moves. Lace, satin, crepe, tulle, organza, and silk are just a few of the fabrics you may come across while shopping. You might go into your appointment thinking mostly about silhouette and discover that it’s actually a certain fabric or texture you keep falling in love with.
Veil Length
Just like wedding dresses, veils come in different lengths.
You may hear terms like fingertip, chapel, and cathedral when trying them on. The right veil can add softness, drama, texture, or that little something that makes the entire look come together.
Made-to-Order
When you say yes to a made-to-order wedding dress, your gown is ordered from the designer for you rather than being the exact sample you tried on in the shop.
This is one reason your stylist may talk to you about your wedding date and shopping timeline during your appointment. Your gown needs time to be made, arrive at the shop, and go through alterations before the big day.
Alterations
Alterations are an essential part of the wedding dress process. While your gown is made-to-order in your bridal size, wedding dresses are designed to be altered so the final fit can be tailored beautifully to your body.
Hemming the length, adjusting the bodice or straps, and adding a bustle are just a few common examples. Think of your bridal appointment as finding the dress you love and alterations as the finishing touches that make your gown feel perfectly yours.
When it’s time for alterations, you can find our recommended tailors and alteration specialists near each Lovely Bride location on our website here.
You Don’t Need to Know It All
Knowing the bridal lingo can be helpful, but you don’t need to have it all memorized before your appointment. As you start trying on wedding dresses, you’ll discover the silhouettes, necklines, fabrics, and details that feel most like you. You might even fall in love with something you never expected, and that’s all part of finding the one.
The Lovely Bridal Glossary
Still coming across bridal words you don’t recognize? Save this little glossary for all the wedding dress terms worth knowing while you shop.
Silhouettes
A-Line: Fitted through the bodice before gradually flowing out from the waist in an “A” shape.
Ball Gown: A fitted bodice paired with a full, voluminous skirt.
Fit-and-Flare: Fitted through the bodice and hips before gradually flaring out through the skirt.
Sheath: A slim silhouette that follows the natural line of the body and falls relatively straight through the skirt.
Empire: A high-waisted silhouette where the waistline sits just below the bust before flowing into the skirt.
Necklines
Sweetheart: A neckline that curves over the bust and dips in the center to create a soft heart shape.
Square: A clean, angular neckline with straight edges.
Scoop: A soft, rounded U-shaped neckline.
V-Neck: A neckline that dips into a V shape at the front.
Halter: A neckline with straps or fabric that extends around the neck, leaving the shoulders exposed.
Off-the-Shoulder: A neckline that sits below the shoulders and frames the collarbone.
Waistlines & Details
Basque Waist: A waistline that dips below the natural waist into a V or U shape.
Drop Waist: A bodice or waistline that extends below the natural waist toward the hips.
Corset: A structured bodice designed to shape and support the gown.
Boning: Structure built into the bodice to provide shape and support.
Draping: Fabric that is intentionally folded or arranged to create shape, softness, and movement.
Ruching: Gathered fabric that creates soft folds and texture.
Trains
Sweep: A short train that lightly extends behind the gown.
Chapel: A medium-length train that creates a little extra drama behind the dress.
Cathedral: A long, dramatic train designed to make a statement down the aisle.
Veils
Fingertip: A veil that falls around fingertip length.
Chapel: A longer veil that extends beyond the gown.
Cathedral: A long, dramatic veil that trails behind the bride.
Fabrics
Crepe: A soft fabric known for its beautiful drape and clean finish.
Lace: A decorative fabric featuring openwork patterns, often floral or embroidered.
Organza: A lightweight, sheer fabric with more structure and crispness.
Satin: A smooth fabric known for its soft sheen.
Silk: A natural fiber known for its softness, movement, and subtle sheen.
Tulle: A lightweight, net-like fabric often used to create softness, layers, and volume.
Ready to Start Shopping?
Now that you know a few of the bridal terms, it’s time for the fun part. Explore our designer wedding dresses, create your Wishlist of favorites, and book a bridal appointment at your nearest Lovely Bride location.
Then, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and Substack for wedding dress inspiration, bridal styling advice, and the latest from Lovely Bride.
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