How To Choose The Right Veil For Your Dress | 7 Expert Tips
To veil or not to veil? That is the question for many brides, to which the answer is an affirmative yes! Veils make the bridal magic happen. Don’t skip the opportunity to wear a veil just because you think your gown is too detailed, or it's not your style, or it feels too dramatic... there's a veil to suit every bride and now is your is moment to wear one with pride.
A veil creates an absolutely unforgettable finished bridal look. It produces that gasp-inducing drama when the doors open and the bride begins her glide down the aisle enveloped in a romantic swathe of gossamer. However choosing a veil can seem confusing. What is cathedral length? Do you need a blusher? And what material should you pick? So we asked leading bridal accessory brand EDEN LUXE Bridal for their top tips to help you choose the right veil for your dress.
What length veil do I choose?
Cathedral or royal cathedral length are our top picks, which typically measure 300cm (118in) and 350cm (138in) respectively. There are often so many beautiful dreamy details on the back of a wedding gown and a shorter veil creates a visual line that cuts right through these details, and pulls the eye to the end of the veil rather than the entire silhouette of the gown.
The style of veil you choose matters in your wedding photos too, as you'll want your dress to be captured in all its glory and not obscured by a shorter veil. Planning your accessories and bridal look for your photos is just as important as creating a cohesive aesthetic with your gown.
Even if you choose a simple unadorned gown, we still recommend a cathedral or royal cathedral length veil. Shorter veils still draw the eye to the end of the veil, which inevitably will hit at the widest part of the body or obstruct the beautiful curve of the waist and cut the shape of the silhouette.
What material should I choose for my veil?
The material of your veil is definitely a key decision. Your veil should be viewed as an heirloom piece that will be passed down for many generations to come, so it is important to choose one made with high quality materials like fine European and French laces; hand beading and stitching; English netting made on centuries old looms; silk tulle or thicker Italian tulle; or gossamer high quality bridal-illusion tulle that floats and pools around you just perfectly.
What type of veil did Kate Middleton wear?
A silk tulle drop veil is what the Duchess wore, which has the softest 'hand' of veiling material (how soft it is) due to the actual weave of the material and the nature of silk itself. It’s also extremely expensive material so another slightly less costly option is an English net veil, which has a similar flow as silk tulle and is just as beautiful. Two veils that create a similar look are the Katherine Royal Cathedral English Net Drop Veil and the Katherine Royal Cathedral Length One Layer English Net Veil (both shown above).
Should I choose a simple or embellished veil?
Your dress, venue, and the overall aesthetic of your wedding are all factors in this decision. If your gown is heavily detailed with a lot of ruffles, beading or lace, consider a simple veil that allows the details of your gown to shine, like the Aria Veil or the Grand Ambrell Royal Cathedral Drop Veil. If your dress is sleek, simple and unadorned, consider a veil that offers pretty details such as the Emma Pearled Drop Cathedral Veil or the Sarah Chantilly Lace Cathedral Veil.
What are the different types of veil?
Drop veils; one layer; two layer; blusher, or no blusher... the choices can be overwhelming. Two tier wedding veils include a 'blusher' - a second layer that can be pulled forward over the face and raised during the ceremony for the first kiss, then swept backwards to form a second tier at the back.
Drop veils like (Grand Ambrell and Lauryn Veil) allow for a super long dramatic blusher look that’s adjustable because the veil is just dropped over the head, and the front and back are pulled to the length desired and then pinned into the hair, or to a tulle wrapped comb with veil pins. A one layer veil gives a clean classic look with nothing covering the face, and a two layer veil has a blusher and is more gathered at the comb versus a drop veil, which doesn’t have a gather at the comb attachment.
What color veil should I choose?
A pale ivory veil is the most versatile choice because when a veil is open it is typically very sheer and this color blends with everything from off-white to pale ivory gowns through to deeper ivories and champagne dresses. Soft white veils work with diamond white and pure white gowns, or off-white depending on the tone. If you want to introduce a hint of color into your bridal ensemble, a pale blush veil like the Gabrielle Veil or pale blue like the Evermore Chantilly Lace Italian Tulle Veil are lovely choices.
Does the veil attach to my headpiece or tiara?
No, it doesn’t. It’s just an illusion. The crown or headpiece goes on first and then the veil is pinned into the hair or the veil comb is tucked into the hair after the headpiece is fixed in place.
