How to Pick Up the Bridal Veil?

No matter how wedding fashion changes, a bridal veil remains timeless. Due to the growing number of casual and informal weddings, today only 65% of brides wear this accessory for their special day. If you are the one who likes the idea of adding a bit of mystery and classic vibes to your bridal look, choose this accessory with much care.

Though the choice of the veil isn’t so complicated as the one of the perfect wedding dress, you need to keep some things in mind to make it an integral part of your look and allow it to enhance your beauty. So, let’s dig a little deeper and discover how to choose the best veil for your wedding.

5 Basic Rules of Choosing the Proper Bridal Veil

If you have made up your mind to be at your wedding with veil, have a look at these 5 rules as they will make your bridal veil shopping easier and more efficient.

1. Veil is just a finishing touch to your bridal look and so, wedding dress and veil should always be in harmony with each other. If your dress is heavily embellished, we recommend choosing a veil with no or minimal décor to make an accent on your gown. At the same time, if you have a minimalist dress, you may go with lace or embellished veil to make your look brighter and more interesting. Moreover, your veil can match your wedding dress. It’s amazing if you have an opportunity to wear a veil which features the same details like your bridal gown. Thus, if your dress is adorned with crystals, the veil may feature them as well. Or, if you have a dress with unique 3D appliques, they can also be applied for the veil décor nicely.

2. Think about your wedding style and place where you will have the ceremony. Cathedral veils are great for church ceremonies but they can be very inconvenient for outdoor weddings. Sometimes, for instance in the case of beach weddings, it’s even better to replace a veil with a beautiful headpiece as wind can spoil your special moment by tossing it.

3. The veil must be suitable for your hairstyle. First choose the hairstyle and only then, start the search of the veil. If you opt for a hairstyle with much volume on top, a wedding veil must be lightweight and feature no heavy embellishments as it may spoil your hairstyle by the end of the wedding. If you have an intricate well-fixed updo, you can opt for veils with embellishments. If you prefer a loose hairstyle, any veil can work with it but it’s important that it’s longer than your hair. If you have short hair, a birdcage or Juliet cap veils are a great way to enhance your look.

Unique bridal veil

4. Decide if you want to have some hair accessories or not. Veils with no embellishments can be combined with various headpieces: from flower combs to intricate vines. At the same time, such veils as Mantilla are pretty luxurious and you can overload the look by adding many accessories. Moreover, if you have always dreamt about a flower crown or another statement hair piece, think about if you need a wedding veil at all.

5. Consider the length. Surprisingly enough but a veil length really matters especially if you are short or tall bride. While chapel veils are pretty universal, fingertip ones aren’t suitable for petite brides as they accentuate the small height. Moreover, the veil length must look harmonious with the dress. The general rule is the shorter the dress the shorter the veil. That’s why, short gowns are often complemented with blusher or shoulder-length veils while long cathedral veils are the best option for dresses with trains.

Types of Bridal Veils

Now, let’s have a look at the basic types of veils which you can find at almost every bridal veil shop.

Blusher Veil

It’s a very short veil, usually about 30 inches, consisting of one layer. It covers the bride’s face and stops at the chin level or ends near the top of the dress. It usually covers the face prior to the ceremony and is pushed back to sit on top of the head after the first kiss. Blusher veil is also called an angle or wedge veil.

Blusher veil

Shoulder-Length Veil

It’s a short veil of 20-22 inches with several layers of tulle which stops at the shoulders. Usually, it features no embellishments. It’s great for vintage-inspired bridal looks as well as for short wedding dresses. Also, shoulder-length veils are loved by brides who don’t want their veil to compete with the details of their dress.

Elbow Veil

This 32-inch veil can be one- as well as two-layered and is located between shoulders and elbows. It looks pretty traditional and can be both formal and informal. Also, it may contain a blusher. An elbow veil can be embroidered, feature lace or contrast edging.

Fingertip Veil

A fingertip bridal veil falls beyond the bride’s hips. It can contain either one or two layers and extends to the bride’s fingertips. As a rule, this veil is about 38-40 inches long. It looks very elegant and pertains to formal styles.

Fingertip veil

Waltz Veil

It’s also called ballet veil. It contains only one layer and can be of several lengths: from the length at the level of the bride’s knees to the floor-length one. It’s usually about 48-60 inches. Though, it’s never longer than your bridal gown allowing you to dance without the fear of being trapped in your own veil.

Chapel Veil

It’s a formal type of veil which consists of two layers: one longer and one shorter. It drapes all the way to the floor and spreads out a little behind the wedding gown. It may be adorned with embroidery. The length of this type ranges between 70 and 90 inches.

Cathedral Veil

Cathedral veil is the most dramatic type and is preferred by girls who seek for royal-like bridal look. Its length is usually around 108-120 inches. This veil is great for wedding gowns with trains as it’s the longest veil type. It’s similar to chapel veil and also contains two layers but its upper layer is longer.

Mantilla veil

Mantilla Veil

It’s a circular veil which is located on the top of the head and drapes over the shoulders. It consists of one layer the edges of which are adorned with lace. This veil is often referred as Spanish type. It can be of different lengths: from fingertip to cathedral. It looks astonishing with a low bun or a loose down hairstyle.

Birdcage Veil

It’s a very short veil, traditionally from 4 to 9 inches, which covers either the bride’s forehead only or may cover the bride’s face to the chin. This veil is often combined with vintage wedding dresses. Also, it can look great with a short bridal dress or a wedding pantsuit.

Bridal Cap Veil

It may also be referred as Juliet cap veil. It’s usually made of two layers (sometimes it can be one layer) and gathered at each side to make a cap covering the head. It can be adorned with lace, crochet or jewels. It’s ideal for an art deco wedding inspired by the 1920s.

Do You Actually Need a Veil or Not?

Though you may think that all wedding dresses with a veil look gorgeous, you may be a little mistaken. Though the things were like that several decades ago, today’s wedding fashion is much more versatile and not every dress can be beautifully combined with a veil.

For example, a veil may compete with the wedding gown and it’s not very good. Or, if you are having an alternative wedding dress, the veil may be absolutely inappropriate for it. The other case is when you have a wedding gown with a beautiful back design. A veil may just hide this accent and no one will see the main zest of your wedding dress.

Elbow veil

Basically, wedding veils have both pros and cons. Among the advantages of wearing a bridal veil are:

- It really completes a bridal look and makes a bride look traditional. Your mom and grandmother will definitely like that.

- A veil can help you to create great wedding photos. On the net, you may find some fantastic weddings pictures in which a veil is a great assistant in creating really unique shots.

- It’s a great idea to wear a veil which is an heirloom. Such a veil is full of energy of your family members and can really contribute to your living happily ever after.

The main minuses of wedding veils are:

- A veil involves additional expenses. Sometimes, it may cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Though usually the price is lower than $100.

- Veils can be pretty inconvenient in some cases. For instance, if you have an outdoor wedding and the weather is windy, you will need to hold it in order not to spoil your hairstyle. Moreover, jewelry pieces may get caught in the fabric of your veil.

- Veils aren’t universal for any dress design. As a rule, traditional wedding dresses go well with various veils. However, if you are eager to have a more unique bridal look, be ready to sacrifice a veil or replace it with some other accessories.

Actually, both short and long bridal veils may have some alternatives. And if you don’t want to wear a veil or think that it may fail to go well with your bridal gown, consider adding some other head accessories to complete your bridal look.

For example, there are many cool bridal hair jewelry pieces which will adorn your hairstyle and, at the same time, will be convenient and suitable for your dress type. Thus, bridal headbands, vines, combs and hair clips may be a really fantastic alternative to a veil. The good news is that they can be combined with the majority of hairstyles.

Moreover, if you want to make your look more dramatic, you can acquire a big tiara made of rhinestones, which will make you look like a real princess. Or, if you plan an outdoor or country-styled wedding, consider wearing a cute flower crown. It looks very fresh and romantic.

Now, you know almost everything about veils and how to choose the one for your wedding. Though it seems to be a trifle at first sight, treat the veil shopping seriously in order to make your bridal look complete and harmonious.