Veil or No Veil? | Weighing the Pros & Cons
While wearing a veil on your wedding day isn’t required, it’s definitely something to give some thought to. Deciding whether or not to wear one? We’ve compiled pros and cons for each side—veil or no veil.
Pros
Completing your Look
If you’re choosing to see your partner for the first time down the aisle (or at the end of whatever gorgeous ceremony setup you choose), the big veil reveal is such a romantic and dramatic moment that you’ll never forget. Plus, if you’re getting a little teary-eyed as you walk towards your partner, you’ll have plenty of time to pull yourself together under the veil.
If you want to tie in some lace or beading to a more classic gown, a veil can help, or you can complement lace and beading with a veil!
A Veil Can Transform Your Look
If you’re not sold on the idea of wearing a second reception dress but you do want to switch up your style, a veil will transform your dress from the ceremony to the after-party. Wear it during your vows for a more traditional look, then take it off and consider switching your hairstyle or adding a fun accessory, like a bridal headband to give your outfit a quick and easy transformation.
Once In A Lifetime
Veils are special because they’re an once-in-a-lifetime kind of accessory. Headbands, hair pins and fascinators are all fancy dress options you can wear to galas, cocktail parties or even New Year’s Eve, but there is something inherently romantic about an accessory specifically meant for your wedding day, and all the symbolism and tradition. You will truly feel like a bride when you try it on with your dress.
Incorporating an Heirloom
A veil is an excellent opportunity to incorporate a family heirloom into your wedding! If properly preserved, a veil can act as your “something old” at your wedding. This accessory is something that you can easily pass on from generations, depending on the quality and care taken to preserve it.
Wedding Photos
We’ve all seen those picture-perfect photos of a bride with a veil flowing effortlessly behind them to create a dreamy display or wrapping around a couple as they embrace. SO ROMANTIC. What’s even better: you can take it off to get another look! Adding a veil to the mix can help you switch things up in your wedding photos instead of everything looking the same! Let your photographer get creative with all the possibilities of veil pictures, and you will be pleasantly surprised.
Cons
Additional Expense
There is an additional cost whenever you add a veil to your wedding look, as with any accessory. The price can vary depending on the price, designer, quality, and design. If you’ve always dreamed of wearing a veil, incorporate it into your budget from the start. Planning keeps you from spending too much in other areas and ensures you can get a veil you’ve always envisioned.
Competing with a Detailed Gown
One of the biggest things we hear when talking about veils, especially with a detailed gown, is that it competes with the dress. A veil can sometimes block the way of the amazing details you may have on the back of your dress. If you’re someone who values those details and wants them seen as you’re walking down the aisle, you may opt for a show stopping hairpiece instead.
Getting in the Way
Even if you are the most minimalistic bride ever, there are just a lot of parts when it comes to your wedding day attire—dress, shoes, undergarments, jewelry, etc. Not to mention, all of those parts need to look picture perfect. A wedding veil is just one more thing to remember to steam and prep and not tear or step on. If you’re having an outdoor ceremony you’ve got to remember that windy weather is a very real threat to your perfectly placed veil.
Tips
Choose Your Dress First
Choosing your dress first is essential to finding a veil that will complement your wedding look perfectly. By choosing your dress first, you can try multiple veils on with it to make sure you find the perfect fit. Don’t be afraid to try on something entirely different than what you were initially thinking! Chances are you’ve never seen a wedding dress with a veil on yourself, so you never really know how it’s going to look. Trying on multiple veils with the gown you say yes to helps create the vision you’ve always imagined for your wedding day.
Consider your Hairstyle
Your hairstyle can affect the way a veil looks on, so it’s essential to find a veil that complements your hairstyle for the day of your wedding. Bring your veil to your hair trial to ensure it fits flawlessly into the look. Where your veil is placed into your hair can affect the length, so it’s important to get the two in sync before the wedding.
Make Sure it is Pinned by a Professional
On your wedding day, be sure to have your professional hairstylist pins your veil! You want it to be extra secure for your walk down the aisle, so you don’t have to worry about messing with it or even worse, it falling off.
Pinpoint Your Budget
Pinpointing your budget from the beginning will help you decide what you want to spend on other aspects of your wedding look. Maybe you opt for more affordable jewelry so you can have the veil you always dreamed of, or perhaps you go with the cheaper wedding shoe to accommodate the price of your veil. A budget is always a must in the wedding world!
Types of Veils
While the word “veil” may bring about images of face coverings and long pieces of tulle, the fact is that veils come in many different shapes and styles. So, if you’re wondering how to choose a wedding veil, know that there is a variety of styles available to you. What you may be used to seeing throughout media and history is a blusher, cathedral length veil, chapel length veil, or dupatta (traditionally worn by Indian women). Whether you prefer a long veil or a short one, there’s one out there for you and the bridal look you’re going for.
Birdcage 12-18″
Birdcage styles are all about the drama! They add a vintage vibe to any look and are perfect for outdoor weddings because they are short! Some prefer the birdcage style because they are low-maintenance. You can wear it by covering the face down to the chin or swept to the side for a more dramatic look.
Blusher 30″
A blusher is a traditional look that comes to mind when a bride hears the word “veil”. It is a short, single layer worn over a bride’s face as she walks down the aisle, later pulled back by the groom or father.
Shoulder-Length 20″
Shoulder-length veils are perfect for gowns that have a lot of detailing on the back. This length can rest on or slightly cover your shoulders. If you are worried about covering up the detailing on your gown but still want to wear one, this could be an option.
Elbow-Length 32″
An elbow-length veil can pair perfectly with many different dress styles. It falls at your elbows, as you probably guessed. This style can especially complement a ball gown because of where the veil ends and where the skirt begins.
Fingertip 38-40″
The fingertip length veil is a common style worn among brides because of its flattering length. This style is good for bringing some details past the bodice of a dress. It’s long enough that it doesn’t cover the details on the top or bottom of the dress but complements them seamlessly.
Knee-Length 48″
Knee-length veils are perfect for those who want to wear a long veil, and keep it on through their reception. It’s long enough, falling between the knee and mid-calf, but not too long that you’ll be dragging it around all night.
Floor-Length 72″
This style is perfect for a gown that doesn’t have a train. It should be just dusting the floor, as the hem of the wedding dress does. It adds a little bit of volume to your bridal look and doesn’t compete with the details. It’s sheer to see the details of your dress, short enough for comfortability and flowy to create an elegant and effortless feel.
Chapel 90″
Chapel veils are perfect for formal settings and extravagant gowns. It adds length and drama to your bridal look that makes for amazing pictures.
Cathedral 108-120″
Cathedral veils are the longest and most extravagant of them all. They extend past the train, allowing you to see the entire gown and all the details.
