Once you’ve found the wedding dress of your dreams, now comes the fun part – finding the perfect wedding veils to go with it! Finding a veil to wear on your wedding day probably seems like a pretty easy and straightforward process, but with so many options and factors to take into consideration, finding the perfect veil to accent your gown can make your head spin. Fortunately, though, you’ve got us as your fairy veil-mothers (see what we did there?) to guide you through the decision-making process.
To help you understand all the various options you’ll have available to you when you start shopping for a veil, we’ll explain the different lengths and edging styles, along with all the many factors that go into this decision.
Veils come in so many different lengths, not just short, medium, and long. And with so many terms for these different lengths, it can be confusing trying to differentiate them from one another.
Here’s a list of the most common lengths of veils, defined, along with their respective measurements.
Measuring longer than 100 inches, cathedral veils are stunning and dramatic, and are perfect for brides with gowns that have a long train.
By wearing a stunning cathedral veil, you are bound to make an entrance that will wow your guests and your future spouse!
Ideal for dresses with a train that isn’t too dramatic, this length of the veil is quite long and will cascade behind you beautifully, ending where your train does. The standard length for most chapel veils is around 90 inches.
This style is a longer veil that hits just above the floor, making it the perfect length for brides who want the look of a long veil without having it drag behind them on the ground. Measuring at around 60 to 70 inches, waltz veils are a great option for gowns that don’t have a train.
One of the most commonly worn veils, fingertip veils are incredibly popular as they provide a beautiful complement for many types of gowns – particularly mermaid silhouettes – without hiding or overshadowing the dress.
Hitting just below your fingertips and cascading down by your hips, fingertip veils typically measure between 38 and 42 inches.
Elbow-length veils are a great option for brides looking for a short veil that doesn’t make as much of a statement as a birdcage or shoulder-length veil.
These veils tend to measure around 33 inches and will hit right at your elbows.
After birdcage, shoulder-length is the second shortest length of veil, typically measuring around 20 to 22 inches long and hitting just below your shoulders.
This is a very traditional style that is short and sweet and won’t distract from your beautiful gown.
The birdcage is a classic vintage style that is the shortest veil available, covering just the top of your head and part of your face.
Unlike most other veils made from a thin piece of sheer fabric, birdcage veils have a larger mesh-like diamond pattern weave.
These types of veils are sure to make a statement and can be a beautiful complement to a vintage style gown, or a sassy short or tea-length dress.
Blushers are a traditional and ethereal veil style, which is a top layer added to the main veil that can be worn to cover the bride’s face as she walks down the aisle and can come in a variety of lengths.
While not nearly as common as they once were in years past, blushers are a great way to incorporate a bit of tradition into your wedding ceremony and build anticipation leading up to the I dos.
Besides lengths, veils also come with a variety of different edging styles.
Here are some of the most popular options:
One of the most popular edging styles, this type of veil can be chosen to match the lace on your gown, or custom made by specially ordering the same lace used on your dress.
Simple, yet stunning is the best way to describe this veil. The fabric is simply cut and left as is, leaving behind a sleek, raw edge. Rather than having a seam or other detail lining the edge of the veil.
A common edging for shorter veils is a satin cord edge. These veils have a thin strip of satin resembling a ribbon sewn along the edge for a classic, vintage look.
A very trendy option used for many styles of wedding dresses and veils of all lengths, horsehair edgings are not actually made from horsehair, but fine, synthetic nylon braiding. Horsehair edgings can come in a variety of widths but are typically between 1 to 2 inches thick.
To add more sparkle and glamour to your bridal look, many veils have fine, intricate beading along the edge.
This is common in nearly all lengths of veils.
Besides your own personal preference, how do you know which veil will best complement your wedding dress?
There are actually quite a few factors at play here.
One of the most important considerations for choosing a veil is your gown and what it looks like.
For instance, you want the colour of your veil to match your dress, so you wouldn’t choose a pure white veil for an ivory or champagne gown.
Or, if you have a lace gown with a long dramatic train, you may want to choose a cathedral length veil with lace edging that matches your dress.
Do you want a long, dramatic veil to make a showstopping entrance, prefer a low-key short and sassy style to showcase the beauty of your gown, or something in between? Knowing what length of wedding veils you are most comfortable with is important to help narrow down your search.
You may not realize it, but there are so many different ways to position a veil. From the top of your crown, all the way down to the nape of your neck!
Determining your hairstyle will also help in how you choose to position your veil.
For instance, if you are wearing your hair in a low updo, you may want to position your veil lower on your head, just above the updo, or underneath it at the nape of your neck. And for half-up hairstyles, veils look stunning positioned towards the middle of your head. If you are wearing your hair down, the crown of the head is a good position to allow the veil to frame your face.
The placement wedding veils can also affect the length, so it’s important to have a rough idea of how you will be wearing your hair on the big day when you go shopping, so you can choose the perfect positioning and length.
When shopping for a veil, although there are many factors to take into consideration, it’s important not to stress too much about this decision. At the end of the day, you’re bound to look beautiful in any veil – and gown! – that you choose. So, relax, think about what it is you want in a veil and how you want to look like on your wedding day, and most importantly, get yourself married!