Everything You Need to Know about Veils
To veil or not to veil, that is the question.
Yes it is the question that gets brought up in almost every appointment or on any bridal dress journey. While we could spend days debating whether you should wear a veil or not, it is really, totally, 150% your decision! We support your either way, babe!
Now, this blog is not about THE question; it is about the steps after you say YES to the “are you going to wear a veil” question. Wow - never realized there were so many questions and things to say yes to when you’re a bride!
To start, here is the 4-1-1 on the veil lingo and lengths!
Blusher - That piece of tulle on the veil that brides typically wear over their face during their walk down the aisle. The blusher can also be worn pushed back (not over your face) to create more drama and layering to the veil. Oh and no, not every veil has a blusher, so don’t worry if it isn’t your thing!
Tulle - Tulle is the light weight fabric MOST veils are made of. There are a lot of types of tulle but most often your veil will be Classic tulle or Ballet/English tulle. Classic tulle is sheer and has a little more stiffness that allows the veil to be lightweight and airy, perfect for those caught in the wind moments. Ballet also known as English tulle is more opaque and has a heavier drape that falls closer to your body, exactly what you are looking for to achieve that soft romantic look. You may also see a Signature tulle which falls somewhere in between the Classic and english tulle.
Lengths - Here are the 4 most popular veil lengths. Keep in mind that some designers actually let you choose whatever length you want!
Fingertip - Fingertip length veils are most commonly 45” in length. This length veil will fall by the bride’s hips, kind of where your fingertips would be if you were to stand with your arms at your side! Fingertip length is one of the most popular lengths.
Chapel - Chapel is typically 90” in length. A chapel length veil is often reserved for dresses with no train or a shorter train as it extends just slightly after the dress.
Extended Chapel - Extended Chapel length is really anything within the 95-110” range. This veil is a great in-between if you want something that is a bit longer, but not as dramatically long as a cathedral veil.
Cathedral Veil - A cathedral veil is the one bringing all the drama with all 120”! This veil extends well past the train.
How do I determine what veil length is correct with my dress?
We get asked this question a lot. Really, it is all about personal preference. There are a couple guidelines we like to remind brides of like, if you want to wear a long veil you will want to make sure it extends slightly past your train anywhere between 10-20 inches longer. You may want to avoid a “long veil” that is shorter than your train as it tends to alter the sightlines of your train, making it look shorter than it actually is. You may also want to avoid going too long (40 inches or more past your train) as it can distract from the natural flow of the veil. Keep in mind these are just recommendations, everyone has their preference so it is totally up to you and your personal bridal style and vision!
When do I wear the veil?
Most brides wear the veil for their ceremony and some epic photos and then that's it! Typically the veil is not worn during your wedding reception, but again it’s all personal preference! If you want to wear the veil during your reception - go for it babe! We just suggest taking it off before you start tearing up the dance floor to ensure it doesn’t get stepped on!
What colour should my veil be?
The colour of your veil depends on the colour of your dress. Typically veils are a shade of light ivory or off-white. At TMB the majority of our veils are light ivory because that matches best with 95% of the dresses we carry. Since veils are often different weights of tulle (opacity of the fabric is different) some veils that are labelled as “white” might make your dress look more creamy and vice versa some veils that are too ivory or cream might stand out more against your dress. If you have questions on what colour of veil would work best for your bridal look, email us at info@tmodernbride.com or book your Accessory Appointment today!
When should I purchase a veil?
If you are not ready to say YES to the veil when you say YES to your dream dress, don’t worry there is likely no rush to do so! We suggest purchasing a dress 9-12 months before your wedding and purchasing any accessories, veils included 3-4 months before your wedding. You can purchase your veil in-store or on the TMB Shop!
What should my veil budget be?
Veils at TMB range in price from $130 - $1600, with the majority being $250 - $500! Due to the delicate nature of the fabric and the details such as hand-placed embellishments or lace applique create a wide range of pricing when it comes to veils!
Can I purchase a veil at TMB even if I didn’t get my dream dress there?
Of course you can! We welcome anyone interested in looking at the accessories we offer to book an Accessory Appointment! You can even bring your dress to try on the accessories with it!
