Bulky zip/waistband joint

[Nacreous]

TLDR: Can I cut off the top empty bits of zip, or do they matter? Is there another way of making g their crossing a seam with a waistband less bulky, please?

I've made a skirt, which has come out pretty well in general. It's raw silk, so won't appreciate unpicking, unfortunately.

I've fitted an invisible zipper, where the zip goes right to the top of the main part of the skirt, but not through the waistband. This means the empty bits of zip point up above the top of the main skirt part.

The pattern for the skirt had a very simple waistband which was just interfaced, and folded in half, then sewn right sides together with the main skirt. (This gave a thick seam as it's then 5 layers of fabric.) The seam is okay as I've just pressed it downwards so the thickness doesn't impact the skirt's lie.

However, the top "empty" bit of zip is making the point where the waistband crosses over quite bulky. Essentially I've seen across the top empty bit of zip when fitting the waistband, but obviously that bit of zip wants to point up, while the waistband seam wants to point down, so it's not sitting nicely.

Can I get away with just cutting off the top empty bit of zip? Does it have some function I don't know about?

I'm a reasonably competent seamstress, and have made dresses, bags, cushions etc, but my mum can't sew and I only had 3x 6weeks of school sewing so I've mainly taught myself - so I'm often missing the correct terminology etc!

Thanks in advance, and sorry for the essay!