Weddings often carry so much tradition and symbolism, so when planning your wedding, deciding if you want to incorporate any of the endless traditions or options for symbolism is essential.

The wedding veil is one of the more confusing options that merge symbolism and tradition because, over the past 30 years, the reasons behind them have changed and even become vague. With that in mind, I will answer all your veil-related questions, clear up any concerns, and take you through everything you need to know about wedding veils.

Why do brides wear wedding veils?

Wedding veils can be traced back centuries to traditions in ancient Greece. Historically, bridal veils were used to convey purity and were considered to ward off evil spirits. 
Veils were also used in arranged marriages so that when brides walked down the aisle, they’d be hidden until they were at the altar, married, and it was time to ‘kiss the bride.’ While wedding veils are firmly rooted in the history of weddings and their traditions, they can be an aesthetic choice; the answer to ‘to wear or not to wear’ will be based on whether it works with your overall ensemble. 

Three tips for choosing a wedding veil

When choosing a veil, the first thing you’ll want to do is start with the length. Once you’ve chosen your dress, you’ll have a more straightforward path toward choosing a veil because you’ll want the veil to compliment your wedding gown.

It’s crucial that your veil works with your chosen dress silhouette and does not sit in contrast with your gown. Try on different veil lengths; maybe you’ll want something that brings drama and flair, so lean toward a full-length cathedral-style veil. Or if you want something cute and informal, you could wear a shorter blusher-style veil.

When it comes to colours, you’ll always want your veil to compliment your gown. They don’t need to be EXACT colour matches, but they need to be relatively close so that your overall look is cohesive. With this in mind, creating a cohesive look isn’t just about matching the veil to the gown, it’s also about fitting all accessories for one complete look on your wedding day.

Frequently Asked Questions: Bridal Veils

Q: Do I need to wear a veil over my face at my wedding?

A: While many years ago, brides wore a veil over their face to hide from evil spirits or to hide their face up until the moment they wed in an arranged marriage, you don’t NEED to do anything. It will always come down to personal preference, whether you want to include traditions like your husband-to-be lifting the veil at the altar or if you feel comfortable doing it and it matches your ensemble.

You can wear veils that don’t cover the face but trail or hang behind you if you want a veil but don’t want your face covered.

Q: How long should my wedding veil be?

A: The beautiful thing about veils is that the only limitations are the ones you set upon your preferences. Veils can be cut or made to be any length you’ll want them to be, so there are no specific lengths that you’ll have to go with.

If you’re looking for help deciding on a veil length, Pinterest Is the perfect place to go. You can use the search function to look up wedding/bridal veils, and millions of photos of inspiration ideas will be there for you.

Regarding what veil to wear or what length it should be, our best advice will always be, “The best veil is the one you feel most comfortable wearing”—you only get married once, and you should feel amazing in your veil.

Your guide to the bridal veil.

Q: Does my veil need to match my wedding dress?

A: The styling of your wedding ensemble will always be subjective to personal style. However, generally speaking, most brides that wear veils will match them with the dress or the wedding theme.

There are no rules; you can style your veil however you see fit, but if you want it to match the gown, remember this when choosing a wedding dress. If you can’t find veils that match a gown you like, you can ask the store for your options on veils; they might be able to have one custom-made for you in the fabric that matches your wedding gown.

Q: How do I store my veil?

A: You can keep your veil in a garment bag with your wedding gown, and you’ll want to hang it on a hanger or lay it out flat to avoid crinkles or damage to both the dress and veil. It’s also best to keep your wedding ensemble in a cool, dark room to be safe. If you do have to fold your wedding gown due to space limitations, we’d suggest wrapping it with tissue paper to minimise creases forming.

Q: How do I get the creases out of my veil?

A: There are two options here. The first is to have the maker of your veil or wedding gown steam it professionally. Steaming a veil is relatively easy and shouldn’t cost you anything if you’re already there getting your dress from a brand.

The second option for getting creases out of your veil is to buy your hand-held steamer and steam the veil yourself.

The Pros vs. Cons of Wearing a Veil To Your Wedding

The pros of wearing a veil:

• Veils can be utilised in many ways to create visually striking images for your wedding album in several ways including photographers draping the veil over their lens before taking photos, having someone hold the veil outstretched, and then dropping it and running out of frame to create the image of a falling veil behind you, and much more.
• Veils can transform your look and add drama, beauty, and mystery to your wedding ensemble.

The cons of wearing a wedding veil:

• If you have an outdoor wedding, and you’ve got a floor-length veil, it will get damaged and may look dirty very fast.
• It’s another accessory you must decide on and pay for.
• It can be overshadowed if it’s windy where you’ll get married.

How much should you spend on a wedding veil?

 

 There's no easy answer to the question of what a veil *should* cost, but the average wedding veil costs between $200-$400. However, the amount you pay will depend on you, your aesthetic choices, and how much you've allocated from your budget to a wedding veil.

"There is certainly no rule when it comes to wearing a veil on your special day." - Megan Ziems, Founder of Grace Loves Lace.

Who lifts the bride's veil?

Generally, the bride's father or the person who walks the bride down the aisle will lift the veil. If you're walking the aisle alone, you'll want your partner to raise your veil while standing with them on the altar.

Should I wear a veil at my wedding?

As with everything, this is a decision you'll need to consider based on your thoughts and feelings. While some brides want to wear their veil because it's been a popular tradition throughout history, many brides will only wear one if the original meaning and intention of a wedding veil resonates well with them.

With that in mind, the good news is there are no rules; you are free to do whatever you want at your wedding, so if you want to wear a veil because it aesthetically compliments your look, then you should definitely do it. If you'd prefer to skip the fuss of buying and styling a veil, do that instead. The only rule we suggest you follow is the 'do what makes your soul happy' rule, something we all love to follow at Euphorie.