Choosing a bridal veil to go with your wedding ensemble may seem terrifying! There are so many different styles to choose from. By asking yourself a few simple questions, you’ll quickly narrow down your choices and come up with a perfect look for your wedding day.
The first things I ask my clients are ‘What length is your gown?’, ‘What time of day is the ceremony?’ and ‘How formal is the ceremony?’. If you are wearing a cocktail dress, then a cathedral veil is most likely not what you are looking for! Another important thing to ask yourself is, do you want the dress to be the center of attention or the veil? I generally suggest choosing one to be the star of the show and the other to be its compliment.
Let’s first discuss the dress and how it relates to your veil. The more formal the dress, the more formal the veil should be. A short cocktail sheath pairs well with a cocktail hat with a French net blusher. A floor length dress looks wonderful with an elbow or fingertip veil. Gowns with a train can handle a floor length to a cathedral length veil.
The detail on your dress can help you determine an edging for the veil. Take a close look and see what you’ve got. I love to pair coordinating lace on the edge of a veil with the lace on the dress. This gives a beautiful classic look similar to Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy. If you’ve got silver embroidery on the dress, you’ll find many veils that feature silver embroidery with simple beading. An elegant look with a bit of sparkle.
Now let’s think about the ceremony and perhaps the reception afterward. Outdoor ceremonies can wreak havoc on a cathedral length veil. Generally, opt for a veil that doesn’t hit the ground if you are planning the ceremony outside. Holes and grass stains just don’t seem romantic to me. You can still have a long veil, but have it stop at your ankles. Perhaps you’re getting married in a formal church setting. You can go all out with a Cathedral veil in this case. Channel your inner Princess Diana! If you’re getting married in a small country church, a shorter veil is entirely appropriate.
Religious affiliation is another thing to think about. Some churches would like you to keep your shoulders covered. The best way to wear a veil in this situation is to wear it high on the crown of your head. This makes the veil fall forward, over your shoulders. A heavy edging such as lace also helps to keep the veil in place.
Blushers. Everyone has an opinion! Some love ’em, some hate ’em. They are totally a personal and religious preference. There are two way to wear them if you decide a blusher is right for you. If you are going for a very full look in the veil itself, then opt for the fully gathered blusher. This blusher will give you height at the crown of your head, and can be made detachable for after the ceremony is over. If you are going for a flatter look, and if you are doing a lace edging, a circle veil is the way to go. The veil is lightly gathered in the center and sewn to a comb. Then the comb is centered in your hair with the blusher half going forward and the rest of the veil in back. The lace edging is down around your waist and elbows, not up the side of your face. When the blusher is flipped you create a two tier circle veil. I find this is the most romantic way to wear a blusher.
Keep in mind that this is your day! You get to wear this veil only once, so go for the look you’ve always wanted.
Happy Planning!
