Choosing Your Wedding Veil
Wedding Veils
The tradition of the wedding veil dates from a time when brides were to be especially modest before marriage. The lifting of the veil signaled that she was allowed to be kissed by her new husband. While a veil is not required during the modern wedding, (many brides use hair adornments such as tiaras or combs without the veil), modern brides generally will wear a veil that does not cover the face.
The bridal veil you choose must naturally complement the wedding gown. But, even with your dress chosen, you still have many decisions to make. Should the bride show more hair and less tulle or keep much of her hair covered by a flowing veil adorned with lace and pearls? Should she remove her veil after the ceremony or wear her veil throughout the entire reception? The bride will make these choices based on her personal preference and be guided as well by the type of wedding ceremony and reception that the couple is having.
For example, a less formal wedding may dictate that you don't want a veil to get in the way or get caught on something, as you eat, dance or lean over to chat with a guest. On the other hand, a more formal, theme or church wedding may suggest a specific type of veil. For example, in a very traditional church wedding, the bride may wear a floor length veil and have her hair well covered. For a Spanish or Latin American look, she may choose a mantilla veil with exquisite lace edging held above the head by a peineta comb. For a medieval themed wedding, she may have a garland of flowers on her head and no veil at all.
If you have custom made veil, a second layer of veil can be created to be used as a blusher. The blusher is a short, single layer veil that covers the bride's face during the ceremony and is lifted back at the point in the ceremony when the groom "may kiss the bride".
Our articles on Mantilla Veils and Wedding Hair Styles, may also be of interest to you.