"Un-VEILING" Your Options: Your guide to everything Veils
if I want to). How long should it be? How long do I wear it? Do I get a plain one? Do I want details? Do I want to walk down the aisle in a 75ft veil like Priyanka Chopra??
I know we've all been witness to it on Say Yes to the Dress where they "jack" the bride up with a veil and everyone bawls their eyes out as the girl becomes the bride. But honestly, this happens all the time! The moment that veil goes on it's like everything is all brought together, the feeling of being a BRIDE! And yes, it is usually the moment when the tears start. Sometimes brides will buy both the dress and the veil at the same time but a lot of brides tend to buy the veil after they get their dress. But where do you even start? I have put together a little guide to help you along based on what we get asked at the boutique.
How long should my veil be?
Quick answer - it's however long you want and I truly mean that. It's your day and you do whatever you want to. However, if you really do want the technicalities of it then in most occasions a veil should exceed your train by about 5-10cm. There are so many different lengths of veils some of which are listed below:
- Shoulder Length 30"
- Fingertip Length 45"
- Waltz/Ballet Length 60"
- Floor Length 75"
- Chapel Length 90"
- Cathedral Length 120"
- Royal/Regal over 157"
These are the most common types of lengths but a lot of them have different names and varying measurements.
The most popular length that I sell at the boutique will hands down be Chapel and Cathedral length veils. However, I feel that in the coming season we will see a lot more shorter veils being worn thanks to the beautiful wedding of Joey King. Now, she is a short girly so her stylists have put her in a Waltz length veil. The shorter length of this actually elongates her body to give the illusion that she is taller than what she is. This is something to definitely take into account when choosing the length of your veil.
What is a blusher?
9 times out of 10 when choosing a veil for a bride and I ask if she is wanting the blusher - she will reply with "ahh what's that?". The blusher, is the part of the veil that goes over your face during the ceremony. Do you need one? No and a lot of people are dead against it. I think the blusher creates either a very traditional look, or a modern one - depending on the detail. The blusher has been worn in recent times by the like of Sofia Ritchie, Kim Kardashian and Hailey Bieber. Not a fan of it over the face? Just have it all to the back and then you get a two-tired veil which looks just as beautiful.
Do I do a plain veil or do I do a detailed one?
Again, this is completely up to you and you do whatever you want! However, I will give you some pros and cons of each to help.
Plain Veils - Look GREAT with a heavily detailed dress. It will just soften the details on the back without taking anything away from the dress. Plain veils will also be a lot lighter and flow better in the wind (this could also be a bad thing if the wind is going the wrong way).
Detailed Veils - Look AMAZING with plain and simple dresses but done right can bring out details of a more busy dress. Details on a veil can also "complete" the look and tie everything in. These are also a little heavier so can be a little more uncomfortable but have added weight so they wont fly all over the place.
Details on a veil can include pearls, beading, ribbon/satin edges, ruffles, lace and sparkles.
Can I bring my dress in to shop for a veil?
YES! At least in my boutique we are more than happy to assist you no matter where you brought your dress from. I would absolutely double check with whatever boutique you go to prior just to make sure. Having your dress on makes shopping for veils so much easier! We can match colours better, details and you can try a range of veils to see what works best. If you don't have your dress, make sure to take close ups of the material in natural light, the details and how long the train is.
When do I take my veil off?
Honestly, I'm going to sound like a broken record...but whenever you want to. I would suggest leaving it on for your photos after the ceremony. If you are anything like me (cathedral length girly over here) my veil was getting HEAVVYYY during my photos and could not wait until the moment I could take it off. From memory I took mine off as soon as I made my entrance into the reception but in hindsight I should have taken it off as I was waiting to go in. Whenever you do decide to take your veil off make sure to put it in a safe pace - I would maybe put it with the gifts etc so that you don't forget it.
How much do veils cost?
Price of veils varies a lot especially when you take details, lengths and materials into account. A very simple tulle, floor length veil can cost between $100-$300 or so. A silk tulle of the same length can add an extra $100-$150 on top of that. Details usually add to the cost as well. For example, pearl veils can range from $300-$600 depending on the designer. Definitely do your research and if you are looking for a better price, check out second hand veils because there are so many around in really good condition.
Or, if you know anyone handy with a needle and thread - pop into Spotlight and get some tulle and have a little DIY crafternoon.
Will the colour of the veil match my dress?
Meadow Sweet - Daisy Veil
There will be a veil to match any dress, any colour. Generally a lot of veils in boutiques will be a shade of ivory, but there are absolutely different shades and different colours. They may be a little less common but they are around. In some cases you may not even need to colour match and can do an ivory veil - your gown may have some beading or lace appliques that are ivory which will tie in nicely. I absolutely love the idea of different coloured veils - especially for brides with vibrant and unique personalities. In fact, some of my favourite designers of veils have some absolutely out there veils that I am obsessed with! Check out Madison Chamberlain and Meadow Sweet Bridal for some truly unique and different veils.
I hope this information has helped you out and given you some ideas to find your perfect veil. A lot of people get caught up in picking something that they think will just look nice or it just goes with their gown - and I'm going to say it again - your wedding is YOUR DAY and you get to look like however you want to! I always remember a bride that came into the boutique who had already brought her dress from us and was looking for a veil. Her dress was covered in dainty, 3D flowers so I automatically pulled out a plain veil. While she liked the look of it, she said that she really just had her eye on the pearl veil. Normally I would never have put these two together - they don't really go. She asked me whether it looked "too much" and I replied with "It definitely is a lot but this is your one day that you get to be too much". She looked so happy and beautiful in her photos - it didn't matter if I felt like they didn't go together.
Look at the veil like an extension of your personality and create the look that you want to.
