Are you amongst those modern sweethearts who dream of that dramatic moment when the groom lifts their blush veil for that thrilling newlywed kiss or are you one of those traditional brides who want to walk down the aisle in Meghan Markle style wearing that five meter-long white silk veil or Priyanka Chopra Jonas famed 75-foot long veil? While a blusher may convey a retro-chic vibe, a cathedral-length veil feels traditional and oh-so dramatic. Whatever style you want to pick for your grand entrance to your ceremony, you can never go wrong with an avant-garde rustic veil, short or long, to add a pinch of drama to your bridal look. Therefore, whether it’s a cute little Miranda Lambert or Katherine Heigl-inspired birdcage veil for a vintage bridal look or an Elizabeth Banks-inspired chic elbow-length veil, undeniably, a thoughtfully chosen veil completes your jaw-dropping wedding look while adding a statement to your wedding attire. Whether your style skews ball gown or tea-length, even a simple yet elegant veil made of tulle adds the perfect finishing touch.
Whether you are a modern bride or a traditional bride, we are sure, you could ditch the flower crown and the boho look, but you would not give a second thought to wearing a veil for your big walk down the aisle. The oldest part of the bridal ensemble, the veil brings modesty, sophistication, and charm to your look while warding off the evil eye (ask your mother or grandma, if you can’t get with that evil spirit business). It’s still cool if you’re just more sensible. But, this extra piece of cloth offers something for everyone. You could hide your emotions behind this sheer fabric (just kidding!). Time has changed, the wedding veil is used as more of a simple accessory than a means of repelling evil spirits. Some brides opt for one over their face, but more often than not it's draped over the back of their hair and dress.
There’s nothing quite like the beauty of a classic veil! No wonder, veils are timeless and will remain in the list of brides’ favorite wedding accessories forever and a day. Should you choose to add a wedding veil to your attire, it will quickly become one of your most important bridal accessories. And instead of considering questions: “How much does it cost?”; “Where should I buy it from?”; “How should it be worn?”, you would love to find the answers to the question: “What veil style will suit me the best as per my face, body shape, and wedding dress?” Stop reading if we are wrong! Today, there are plenty of veil styles that might appeal to you, and picking out your kind from the sea of veils could be tricky. But it could be easy if you are familiar with different styles of wedding veils that are in trend and will not be dated any time soon in your wedding photographs too. You can go minimal and stick with simple tulle or you can opt for lace, floral appliques, or even beaded detailing. Let’s have a look at the seven most popular wedding veil styles below:
• Birdcage Wedding Veil: The shortest yet most vintage, birdcage veil is a 4-9" long piece of cloth, made with lace or netting, that typically covers just the eyes or as far as the jawline. If you want more coverage, a 12-inch birdcage veil can be placed further back at the crown of your head and will fall to the tip of your nose. Exuding sophistication with a playful edge and a little bit of vintage quirk, this retro-chic wedding veil is usually worn by the brides who want to inject their sophisticated personal style into their bridal outfit. Originated in the ‘40s (during a fabric shortage), the birdcage veil is an amazing option for a breezy or warm-weather outdoor wedding. Not only it pairs beautifully with tea-length dresses but also goes well with a full-length gown. Birdcage veils are often adorned with hair embellishments like flowers, feathers, combs, and fascinators, or sparkly hair brooches and hair clips…You may find a birdcage veil made out of a Russian net or translucent tulle, allowing the bride to see from underneath it. Fathoming out how to select the right birdcage veil can be overwhelming at times as the options in the market are endless (you can make one at home as well!). There is a style for almost every dress, from short angled veils that are ideal for mid-length vintage dresses to more modern cage veils for sleek silhouettes. You might have come across other names such as a blusher veil, cage veil, bandeau veil, angel veil, wedge veil, or a Venetian veil, that fall into the same category. Russian, French, or English Merry Widow birdcage veils are a few other names that might catch your attention. Choose or make one as per your personality and wedding gown and look timelessly gorgeous on your big day!
• Shoulder Length Veil (AKA Blusher Veil): With a length somewhere between 28-22", shoulder-length veils are designed to fall just about at your shoulder. If the back of your bridal gown (bodice) is particularly low or generously embellished, a shoulder-length veil would let you flaunt the details you desire. Therefore, if your back boasts intricate beading, appliqués, or an interesting design, we recommend a thick shoulder veil, you could also consider a thin elbow veil (24 to 30 inches) though. A shoulder-length veil hits just at the shoulder and is most brides’ preferred choice; this wedding veil style is simple to figure out based on its name. A more traditional style, this veil type is slightly more modern and chic while being less likely to compete with your spotlight-worthy wedding dress. Despite being less dramatic than a birdcage veil, it would still look wonderful with either a tea-length or full-length wedding gowns. It is simple in design, and a perfect pick if you want to follow the “veil tradition” without going overboard. You could embellish this veil also with hair accessories like a headband. Remember Tori Spelling’s gorgeous shoulder-length veil that she donned at her wedding to Charlie Shanian in 2004. Neither we could get over that white flapper-inspired, full-length, Badgley Mischka gown adorned with intricate beadwork nor that diamond-encrusted flower patterned headband attached to her shoulder-length veil. Besides white, shoulder-length veils are available in specialty colors such as blush, butterscotch, champagne, oyster, pink, light pink, and rum pink. Tip: Choose a shoulder-length (in fact, any veil style) that includes a comb for easy placement in your hairstyle.
• Elbow Length Veil: An elbow-length veil, which could be as short as 24” and as long as 32”, falls gracefully over the shoulders to the bride’s (you guessed it!) elbow, when her arms are at rest. If you are looking to cover your shoulders or frame your face, the elbow-length veil (1 tier with beaded edges) could be the best pick. Yes, it’s one of the most elegant veils for brides who want a more conservative look for their ceremony and want to cover up without wearing a bulky bolero or shrug. And the best part is- not only this veil style enhances details around your waist but also complements your gorgeous bridal hairdo. This 72cm long veil (from the comb to the end of the tulle or lace edge) is shorter than a fingertip veil, it’s the shortest bridal veil length after the bandeau veil or birdcage veil in the veil family. An elbow-length veil is usually popular amongst modern and alternative veils. Giving you the freedom to wear your veil for as long as you like on your wedding day, the elbow veil offers a versatility that suits both the clean elegant lines of a contemporary gown and the fun retro vibes of a vintage-style wedding dress. When you’re not the average bride-to-be and you’re seeking something unusual to wear for your ‘I do’ moment with just a nod to tradition, you’ll want to tuck into hair a short and sweet elbow-length veil. The elbow-length teams great particularly with wedding gowns with back detail, tea-length wedding dresses, ball gown wedding dresses. Consider adorning it with a range of chic and intricate accessories like hairpins, bridal hair combs, and bridal hair vines for extra glamor on your wedding day.
• Fingertip Length Veil: An extremely versatile wedding veil, a fingertip-length veil is a mid-length (38-40") veil that touches your fingertips, as you stand with your arms resting at your side (as the name suggests). A fingertip length veil usually is 122cm long starting from the comb till the end of the tulle or lace edge. This can change however as per the height of the bride. It comes in a shape that lends itself to a variety of wedding dress designs and bridal body shapes, brides-to-be are more than likely to find a fingertip-length wedding veil to suit them and their personal style. This veil style goes perfectly with both a formal bridal look or a more casual one, with a range of modern, alternative, and traditional veil designs available just a click away. If you're wearing a wedding dress that has detail on the back, the short length and the tulle fabric of the fingertip veil will allow you to show off any beadwork, lacing, bows, or the cut of the dress underneath. Lightweight and lovely, with just enough length, fingertip veils have always been a favorite of brides, petite or tall. From classic ribbon edge veils to intricately beaded lace and twinkling teardrop crystals, a fingertip veil looks especially fab when teamed with a mermaid and fishtail gowns as the veil ends just before the dress kicks out! Shorter in length than a floor-length, church length, or cathedral length veil, a fingertip veil won’t drag along the floor so it will stay looking perfectly immaculate from the ceremony to carriages. A mid-length veil also lets you move freely, meaning you can wear it throughout your reception and during your first dance without worrying about tripping or standing on your veil. If you want to enjoy a flatteringly flawless feel of a long veil without the difficulties associated with a long wedding veil, then this veil style could be the answer. Fingertip veils make spectacular heirlooms as well!
• Knee Length Veil: Approx 42-50" long, knee-length wedding veils are usually designed to fall just about at your knee when worn. Like many other veil styles, this wedding veil is also available in specialty colors such as blush, butterscotch, champagne, pink, light pink, and rum pink. If you want a veil that can add a bit of drama to your wedding look without being too heavy, a knee-length veil is right for you. Falling at the knee, this veil is chic and classic at the same time, but not over the top. Knee-length veils are typically 48” long (rest depends on your height). You can have your store-bought veil altered by a local seamstress to make sure it falls at the right length to be at “your” knee, based on your height. This type of veil provides a romantic and elegant look without a lot of fuss. It also complements a wedding gown that has a detailed bust or waist area. A knee-length veil is a wonderful option for brides who love long veils, yet want to wear their veil from the ceremony to the reception. It indeed won’t be as much of a handful as floor-length or longer veils. Knee-length veils look good with mid-calf length wedding dresses. If you are getting married in an outdoor wedding venue where you might have to contend with sand, wind, or dirt, we recommend you to choose a knee-length veil or shorter, so you and your veil can stay in pristine condition until you enter your happily-ever-after under the canopy of stars. But trust us, it’s all your decision. There are brides who are happy to live it up for the day and aren’t worried about trailing their veil behind them in the sand at the beach, or along a dirt path in a garden setting. Just like Unilever brand, Surf Excel in India says- “Daag achhey hai! (means: some stains are beautiful)”
• Ballet Length Veil (AKA Waltz Length Veil): If you are one of those brides who wish for a dreamy veil that you can keep on during the reception, a ballet-length veil is a perfect choice. Designed to fall mid-calf (60” or 150cm), a ballet-length veil is a less formal wedding veil compared to a church-length veil or a cathedral-length veil, measuring at a shorter length to these traditional bridal veil options. This veil length is also known as a waltz length veil (or sometimes knee-length veil) and should finish somewhere between knee length and calf length. The ballet veil or waltz veil name came from the times when couples would waltz together for their first dance. The shorter veil length means you can continue wearing it from the ceremony to the celebrations without the anxiety of tripping. This type of veil is as long as a veil can get without actually touching the floor making you dance the night away in the circumference of your sweetheart’s arms without the worry of it getting in the way of your dancing. It crafts the most romantic and graceful look for your ceremony and reception photography. It looks spectacular with a dress that features a small train, or with a tea-length dress where it falls exactly at the length of the hem. Perfect for exhibiting the shape and detail of a bodice, a mid-length veil like a ballet veil works best with simple and defined wedding gown silhouettes. Although this veil style complements most wedding looks, there are some dress styles you might want to avoid. If you’ve chosen a wedding dress with a ball gown design, a ballet length veil can break up the flow of the dress, giving the illusion that you’re shorter than you are. If you’ve opted for a ball gown wedding dress, you may wish to consider a church-length or cathedral-length veil instead. Giving you the freedom to move throughout your wedding day without the need to carry it, reposition it, or ask for help from bridesmaids, this veil style will make you look undeniably flattering at the altar if you are planning to wear a column-style wedding dress or A-line gown or ankle-length dress at your wedding.
• Floor Length Veil: Lying between a waltz length veil and a church length veil, a floor-length wedding veil is 200cm from the comb through to the end of the tulle. This length can be adapted as per your height and the volume of your skirt. Floor-length veils achieve the perfect compromise between the drama of a long veil and a traditional bridal look. This 72” - 78” long veil is a lovely piece of tulle that is shaped and designed to gracefully touch the floor as the name suggests. Make sure before purchasing it that your bridal gown doesn’t have a train. That said, it does go especially well with more slimming styles, like a sheath or a fitted column. A floor-length veil is a wedding veil that usually matches the length of the wedding dress. Just skimming the floor, the veil leaves a small trailing edge as you walk around on your big day. The length and lightness of the fabric of floor-length veils open the doors to myriad great photo opportunities for wedding photographers. Catching just the slightest of breezes, this veil length almost floats and dances around the bride as it's lifted by even the most gentle wind. Floor-length veils suit a variety of wedding looks, from the traditional bridal look to a chic contemporary look. This is a veil that offers both long lines or a princess bride effect, without the fuss of having a train. Ideal for fashion-forward brides, the long and lovely, floor-length wedding veils work perfectly with long bridal gown styles. The cut, shape, and dimensions of floor-length veils can add volume to your bridal look in an extraordinary way, complementing everything from ball gown style dresses to contemporary silhouettes.
Dear brides-to-be, you have been envisioning this day ever since you were knee-high. Back then, you might not be thinking of the delightful menu, the magnificent limousine or airplane to transport you to the venue or the centerpieces to be kept on the guest tables or movie-like wedding photography. You might not even be thinking of the groom, we are sure. The only thing that was on your mind then was- THE DRESS!!! And when we say dress we mean everything that completes it from head to toe, from wedding veil to wedding shoes (Cinderella would have never let you stop thinking about your wedding shoes!). Once you have selected your dreamy designer wedding dress no matter from a second-hand bridal wear retailer or from a first-hand bridal salon, finding the perfect wedding veil matching your wedding dress and personality is fun. The right veil for you will depend on a number of factors though. Yes, it’s important to consider your bridal hairstyle, face shape, dress style and embellishments, wedding theme, and wedding venue too while choosing one out of the tons of wedding veil lengths and styles. After reading our article we know you are confident enough to buy your fairytale wedding veil. Pick your favorite wedding veil, pair it with even a second-hand wedding dress or minimalist bridal gown and your killer smile, we bet, your groom won’t be able to take his eyes off of you.
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