Long train, outdoor wedding?

Whats the point in having a train if you're not going to leave it down? It will only be for a few minutes anyway. And you're going to be standing in one spot for most of those few minutes. Besides, trains always get dirty whether the wedding is indoors or out. Thats just the nature of the train. Any dirt it may accumulate likely wont be noticable in pictures (it will probably be behind you for a majority of them anyway) so go ahead and enjoy it!

Trains are supposed to be down during the ceremony so everyone can see how beautiful your dress is. If you knew were having an outside wedding when you bought the dress (I am guessing you have) with the long train why are you worrying about it now? I am sure it will be fine. My dress has a chapel length train and I am getting married outside. Do what you want to. It's YOUR day, not your guests. Judging by your question, when you say, "please keep in mind that the ceremony will only be fifteen minutes, followed by pictures...', you were wanting to steer the answers more toward saying leave it down...which is how I think you want to wear it. So, wear it that way...it will be beautiful, I'm sure. Especially since you are having pics done after the ceremony, leave it down. With the bustle, you won't be able to see the beauty of your gown in the pics. Then, during the reception, use your bustle, that way you can easily move around and talk to guests (they won't be stepping on your dress, you won't be catching it on tables & chairs when walking by, etc.) and it will be much easier to dance.

Leave the train down but make a cover for the underside.. Get some butcher paper or tape together typing paper to make a large single sheet of paper big enough to lay the train onto without any going over the edges... Carefully draw and outline of the train making a pattern.... put train and dress away...

Get some lightweight sheer fabric (the stuff used to make sheer curtains usually nylon very thin and nearly see through) lay pattern on sheer fabric cut to size ... Using clear safety pins (check at specialty fabric store) tack sheer panel under the train it will keep the train clean while it drags on the grass and is easily removed before bustling the train for the reception..

Also have some "tide to go" detergent pens handy so you can easily clean any stain immediately should they occur...

What I have seen done is to leave the train bustled except during the ceremony, when it is taken down and unfurled.

Personally I would not want to do this as I think it would be a distraction; but again I have seen it done.

Of course you should have the train down. Only bustle it for the reception. Don't worry about it getting dirty - you are only wearing it one day, anyway!!!

What do you want to do? How do you think it will look best? It's up to you, the gown is the one thing the bride doesn't have to consult anyone else on, it's hers. I will say this, if you aren't going to have it down at all, I wouldn't bustle it, I would have it removed from the gown entirely. good luck

Trains are supposed to be down for the ceremony. Poor taste if you don't leave it down.

i think you should do it however you want to do it because it's your day with your husband!!

i think that leaving it down during the ceremony is how it SHOULD be anyway, but you might want to bustle it up for the reception because it might get stuck under your feet!!

If you want to be proper and sensible you don't have a train for an outdoor wedding at all.

However.. wedding dresses themselves are not proper or sensible.. no one in their right mind would spend so much on such an impractical garment that's only going to be worn once!

But.. brides are not in their right minds to begin with... 'sensible bride' is an oxymoron :)

So.. go for the gusto... have the train.. let it get dirty.. it really doesn't matter at all.. :)

I don't think it is in poor taste and I think if you want the train down, you should let it stay down. This is your day, you should do what you want and what makes you the happiest. Don't let other person's opinions ruin your special day. And especially, don't look back with regrets years later and say "I wish I had done what I wanted to do!"