Your Wedding Veil is an Important part of your Dress.

Wedding Veil - history

The origin of the Wedding Veil lies before Christianity or the advent of Islam since it is mentioned in Genesis when Jacob was tricked by his father-in-law Laban into marrying the older Leah in place of Rachel, his true love, due to him being unable to identify his bride until the veil was lifted after the wedding. This resulted in Jacob marrying both women, an outcome that would not be possible today.

The veil has been used in many cultures, even that of ancient Rome. In Jewish weddings to this day, the experience of Jacob can no longer be the fate of the unwary groom since he now lowers the Wedding Veil only just before the ceremony begins, and then lifts it before the kiss, traditionally to make sure that he does not suffer the fate of Jacob.

Wedding Veil - tradition

In some religions, wedding veils still have a significance in hiding the bride’s face until she is married, although in many others they are no longer worn with any purpose in mind other than for decorative effect. Your Wedding Veil should be simple, with no adornment other than perhaps a trim of pearls or beads. If your wedding dress is very plain and simple, you could offset that by using an ornate veil, though there is no specific need to.

Some veils are fairly short while others are long: Princess Diana’s Wedding Veil was longer than her train. Veils are tending to become expensive, even though they will only be worn the once. The dress itself is expensive enough with without paying an excessive price for the veil, and it is becoming increasingly more common for them to be borrowed rather than purchased. In the saying “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”, the blue is generally the garter and the ‘borrowed’ is increasingly becoming the veil.

Wedding Veil - enhancement

The borrowed item should be from a happily married woman, and so it is becoming common for that to be her veil. Your Wedding Veil will have a comb attached for attaching it to your hair, although the design of the veil may well depend upon any headpiece or tiara that you want to wear. A wide headpiece can be accompanied by a wide full veil that falls to the floor, whereas if you want the narrow look your veil can be narrower and of shoulder length.

It is important that you keep in mind that it is your wedding gown that is the most important part of your overall look, not your veil, and the veil should be used to enhance the gown. If you have chosen a simple dress, then your veil can be ornate in design, although not over-decorated with jewelry. Pearls and sequins are preferred to stones, though crystals are not uncommon. The trim and edging of your veil should coordinate with that of your dress, and the Wedding Veil and dress should be designed together rather than as two separate entities.

Wedding Veil - choices

If you prefer, your Wedding Veil can be tiered to enable it flow better and provide more body. The various tiers can be made removable for various stages of the ceremony or reception. The length of your veil can be whatever you want it to be, though there are some conventions. It should certainly be longer that your hair. Some standard lengths include the popular elbow length that is anything from 28 to 36 inches, and the fingertip length from 36 to 50 inches. As you will see, there is no agreed standard length for each description.

If you want a longer Wedding Veil, the walking or waltz length ranges from about 52 to 60 inches, the church length is up to 88 inches, and the very formal cathedral length can be 106 to 120 inches, though many royal veils are considerable longer. If your veil is trailing, it should be slightly longer than the train of your dress.

Wedding Veil - blusher

Many brides also wear a small veil over the face known as a blusher that is swept up after the ceremony. The various parts of a tiered veil can be removed for the reception. If you have a beautiful gown you don’t want it covered by the Wedding Veil all evening, do you?

Wedding Veil - fabric

Tulle is the best type of fabric for a Wedding Veil since it is the most transparent. Chiffon and organza can also be used, but they tend to hide the dress more. Polyester tulle is slightly stiffer than sheer cotton or silk tulle, and the dress designer or supplier should be able to advise on the best type and length of veil to suite you and your dress.

Your Wedding Veil is part of the whole effect, not a separate entity, and if you have chosen correctly, it will accentuate your personal beauty without overpowering the dress. Although a veil is not an essential part of your wedding dress, you will look much better with it, and it is easily removed for the dancing later in the evening.










Wedding Veil

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