by Anna Kelly
Let’s talk about veils and the variety of ways a bride may accessorize her hair and face, and add the “crowning touch” to her wedding ensemble. Most traditional would be the veil, of course. While bridal veils date back to the Roman empire, they’ve gone through lots of changes and fads. The basic elements remain, though – a (usually) sheer piece of fabric, (usually) tulle or lace, that attaches to the hair in some way and sometimes covers the face. That brings us to the most basic of veils, the traditional cut:
Traditional cut veils can be long or short, and can have one layer or more. Each layer is basically a rectangle of tulle that’s been rounded on the bottom edges and gathered onto a comb at the top. You can have a raw (or cut) edge, meaning that there is no hemming or extra edging added. You can have finished edge veils in a variety of materials, the most common being ribbon (from ⅛†wide up to an inch or more), pencil or marrow edging (a very petite round edge similar to a serged edge), or a bias cut fabric edge in a material matching your gown (taffeta, satin, etc. Learn more about bridal fabrics in this post).
You certainly might choose to have a lace-edged veil. It has become custom to call all lace-edged veils mantillas, but that’s not technically correct. A true mantilla (like the center picture, below) is a circle cut veil – this means that instead of the tulle being cut into a rounded rectangle shape, it’s just a big circle. Sometimes the center is gathered before being secured to a comb, other times a comb is added or pins are used to secure the veil to the hair. Sometimes called a “drop†veil, since the effect is that the veil has just been dropped onto the head. If you don’t want to have something over your face (called a blusher, we’ll get into those in just a few), the front of the circle-cut veil can just be pulled back, making the veil two layers (as shown in the left and right pictures, below).
You can also have a traditional cut veil with lace at the edge. There’s a huge variety from which to choose! Laces range from soft and delicate Chantilly to traditional corded Alencon to heavy, luxurious Guipure. You can have a heavy border or something dainty and little, but here’s my advice: Remember that people will see your profile for a large part of the ceremony. Sometimes a heavy lace border can obscure your face or make you look too weighted down – ask your consultant if the veil can be made with the lace starting around your shoulders, keeping the upper part with a raw edge (similar to the picture on the left, below).
Remember that adding any kind of edging to a veil is going to take the price up. Lace is particularly expensive, so definitely keep your accessories in mind when planning your gown budget. If you’re set on lace (and you’re shopping at a couture bridal shop), be prepared to spend at least $300 for something around elbow length. Prices definitely vary, but the longer it is, and the more lace you have, the more it will cost.
If you’re looking for big drama with a lower price tag, consider a long veil. Even a cathedral length veil with a raw edge should be less than a shorter veil with lace. And look how photogentic!!!
Any veil can usually have a blusher layer added if you like. This is the extra layer that is pulled forward, over the face. Most traditionally, the bride would wear the blusher down throughout the entire ceremony, only lifting it just before the kiss. Most modern brides who choose blushers now have whoever gives them away lift it when they approach the altar.
Sweet and mysterious, a blusher is a fun tradition that has fallen out of favor somewhat. If you’re claustrophobic, it’s probably not for you, but it can make for a very dramatic look for your ceremony.
A twist on the traditional veil is the cap veil. A soft veil with no comb is wrapped and / or twisted on the head and secured with a knot or pin. Kate Moss sported this look (far left picture, below) in her 2011 wedding to Jamie Hince.
And of course, the birdcage veil. Used in millinery endeavors for centuries, French veiling (sometimes, inexplicably, also called Russian veiling) is a fresh yet retro way to rock a veil. They can be simple or ornate and can be made to match almost any kind of gown. I am super in love with both the bow veil (center, below), and the fascinator veil (left, below). So charming!
More and more brides are choosing to go completely veil-free. Here are some of our favorite veil alternatives, starting with flowers (both fabric and natural):
I love the orange orchids of the center photo, above. What a great way to bring in an accent color!
If flowers aren’t your thing and you need something shiny, you’ve got plenty of choices in that arena as well.
The photo on the left, above? I die.
This is but a teensy, tiny sampling of the veils and hair accessories available these days. Trunk shows aren’t just for gowns – check with local boutiques like Nitsa’s in Phillips Place about veil and accessory shows or specials. Etsy is a great resource for handmade and vintage goods, but remember before you buy that there are usually no returns. If you’re crafty, try your hand at something yourself…. and then have the bridal shop on speed-dial if it’s a crafty fail. Veils are harder than they look to make!
