Wedding veils have traditionally had roots in the religious aspect of a wedding ceremony. When a brides experience with the intimacy of the flesh *ahem* was expected to be non-existent, the wedding veil was a symbol of her purity and modesty. At the end of the bridal ceremony, the groom would lift his bride’s veil to symbolically consummate their marriage by getting a quick kiss in.

While the typical relationship between the bride and groom before the ceremony has changed quite a bit, the wedding veil has remained a constant through bridal fashion.

We spoke to Lorraine Hollis from Veil World who told us that bridal veils are still hugely popular with modern brides. “These days most brides choose a veil that will compliment the style and formality of their wedding gown, and the overall theme of the wedding.”

Types of wedding veil styles include:

Blusher Veils

A short, light veil that covers the bride’s face and falls just below the chin. This type of wedding veil suits almost any wedding dress design and usually has a second tier to flow down the back of the gown.

Balloon or Bubble Veil

A modern style one piece double layer to the shoulder, worn low at the back of an up style hair do.

Chapel Veils

A more formal type of veil with two layers (approx 240cm). The first layer covers the bride’s face during the ceremony while the second layer falls from the head all the way to the floor. This type of wedding veil suits a more formal wedding dress design.

Cathedral Length

This veil is the same as the chapel length but slightly longer (275 cm approx). Both veils often have multiple layers, with the longer layers detachable for the reception.

Elbow or Fingertip Veils

A single or dual layer veil that extends to the bride’s elbow (80cm approx) or fingertips (100cm approx). These wedding veils suit a wedding dress that is longer than knee-length (elbow veil) or floor length (fingertip veil). This was a very fashionable veil from the 1940’s and 1950’s era.

Mantilla Veil

A circular shaped veil that rests upon the brides head, usually edged with lace or embroidery. This type of wedding veil suits a longer wedding dress design. The mantilla veil was very fashionable in the 90’s.

Fishnet Veil

This short veil is usually attached to a bridal hairpiece and is a lot more see-through than traditional veil material. This type of wedding veil suits short dress but is very versatile. Also known as a Madonna or birdcage veil, it popularity has risen again due to the mad Men series and today there are a lot of modern versions available.

Veil fullness also varies; beaded veils are usually made at ½ fullness, a standard veil is approx. 230 cm wide and a fuller version is abround 275 cm wide.

Lorraine from Veil World told us that when deciding on wedding veil, brides should consider different colors, fabrics and styles to find something that really portrays their own personal style. “It’s also important to try it on with your dress, if possible, as this will give you the best impression of the final look. Some tulle colours may only be a shade or two out but could end out making your gown look dirty.”

When we asked Lorraine what her biggest tip to brides-to-be would be she replied, “Choose your dream gown and wedding style first; and then pick a veil that compliments your gown and wedding style. Make sure your wedding veil is well made because much like a wedding dress, your bridal veil is a lovely keepsake of your wedding day and can be passed down through the generation of a family. Brides spend thousands on their gown and sadly opt for a cheap veil which is usually covering their gown and can cheapen the overall look. ”

What type of veil will you be wearing?

Veil World creates handcrafted designer bridal veils, headpieces and accessories. Using the highest quality English & American tulles, feathers, venise lace, and intricate vintage findings to ensure that each handcrafted piece is a unique, beautiful piece of art. No two pieces are exactly the same and are created by a hopeless romantic, with lots of love and passion.


From The Newcastle Bride Team