The sweep train is the shortest traditional wedding-dress train, extending only slightly behind the gown.
A sweep train, sometimes called a brush train, generally trails just a short distance from the hem. It gives a dress movement and a formal finish without the length and handling demands of cathedral or royal trains. This makes it especially practical for outdoor ceremonies, dancing, and less formal venues.
Train names are not perfectly standardized across every bridal retailer, so measurements can vary. However, sweep consistently refers to the briefest conventional train category. Chapel trains extend farther, while cathedral trains are longer still. A royal train is associated with particularly grand ceremonial dress.
The term is sometimes confused with a court train. Court trains are also relatively short, but they usually extend farther than a sweep train and can be defined differently by individual designers. The key identifying feature of a sweep train is its minimal extension beyond the skirt.