To Veil or Not to Veil?

Nothing completes the picture of the perfect wedding, the perfect bride like a lacy, fluffy, white veil. While a modern bride might choose to skip the veil, sometimes even the most beautiful of wedding dresses can look naked without one. The long-lived tradition of wearing a veil continues as bride after bride dons the elegant headdress to walk down the aisle.

As the veil is worn as an accessory to the wedding gown, keep in mind the style of the gown when choosing a veil. Coordinating the detailing of the dress to the veil is essential. Bridal veils range from simple lace netting to elaborate embroidery and pearl embellishments or ribbon edging.

The veil is meant to accentuate, not hide, so be sure that the veil does not obstruct any detailing on the dress. This also holds for any headpieces. The somewhat less formal elbow length veil is the choice length for most brides, drawing attention to the bodice and perfect for a full skirt. Also very versatile is the finger length veil. This style ranges from casual to formal, though it is best not to wear with a dress with a train. The most formal is the cathedral length, which should only be worn with a train.

Though society no longer deems it necessary, the veil will always add a charming elegance to the bride’s beauty on her big day.