Selecting Your Wedding Veil

Throughout history, the role of the bridal veil was to completely hide the bride's face from the groom, who had never seen her before until the "unveiling" at the wedding ceremony. Thankfully, those days are long gone. Today, brides don wedding veils simply for their elegant and romantic look. They are just plain pretty and, after all, nothing says "bride" more than a sheer, billowing veil. Here are some useful guidelines for selecting a wedding veil perfect for you.

Choose the Dress First

With all the different styles and adornments that veils come with these days, it's easier to select a one after you have chosen your wedding dress. The style of your dress should be the main consideration when searching for a veil. A long, ornate wedding veil with an embellished headpiece would look out of place with an informal wedding dress. An elegant designer dress would seem that much less so with just a short, plain blusher veil. One of the best ways to decide on what style is right for you is to try wedding veils on at the same time you try dresses on. This way you can see the whole picture.

The Length

Wedding veils are made in various lengths, so to know which length complements your dress best, try on every size.

Veil lengths are classified as follows:

• Cathedral Length - The longest of veils, they are considered formal, look best with wedding dresses with long trains, and usually exceed the train by a minimum of 6".
• Fingertip or Waist Length - This veil ends somewhere between the bride's waist and her fingertips. This length of veil can be worn with just about any style of dress, except those hemmed above the ankle.
• Elbow Length - Ending at the bride's elbow, this length of veil can be worn with virtually any style of dress.
• Shoulder - The shortest of veils, ending at the shoulders of the bride and often accompanied by a second layer known as a blusher, which may be worn over the bride's face. This veil works well with most wedding dresses, except the most ornate.

The Headpiece

Headpieces can be one of the most striking elements of the bride's attire. It, too, should be chosen in consideration of dress style. The more formal the wedding dress, the more ornate a headpiece. For informal wedding dresses, a simpler, less decorated headpiece is in order. Another factor to consider is the position of your veil. If it will rest on the back of your head, a lightweight headpiece will be more comfortable with be no danger of it slipping from your hair. A fully adorned tiara is more suitable for a veil placed higher on the head, despite its weight.

Other Useful Tips

The color, embellishments if any, and manner of affixing the veil to your head are all other considerations take into account when choosing a wedding veil.

The color of your wedding veil should match the color of you dress. Though the difference between white and ivory is faint, the contrast will show.

If a plain wedding veil is too simple for you, then choose one that is adorned with the same type of embellishments as your dress. Pearls with pearls, beads with beads, etc…
Be sure you are comfortable with the weight of the headpiece and veil together on your head. Tiaras and other headpieces are secured with combs, and if the combination is heavy, those combs can wreck havoc with your hairstyle.

You always have the option of wearing a detachable veil and headpiece set. Once the ceremony is over and the pictures have been taken, you can remove the veil and wear the headpiece alone, free to dance the night away unhampered by a long veil that may twist and tangle.

With your veil chosen, the only detail left to decide on is your hairstyle for the day. If you plan to have your hair done by a professional, be sure to bring your veil and headpiece for the "test run." Your idea for a hairstyle may not be suitable with your veil and headpiece, and your stylist can make recommendations on the spot.

If you plan to do your own hair, then experiment and practice well in advance of your wedding day to ensure you have everything down pat. You don't want to become stressed the morning of your wedding because your hair is not co-operating with your headpiece.

Storage

Prior to the wedding, keep your veil stored in a protective garment bag away from sunlight. Hang it in a closet so that it does not become wrinkled. After the wedding, you can take your veil along with your wedding dress to a place that will preserve it properly.