Veils 101 with David’s Bridal

A few weeks ago, I got to play bridal dress up with David’s Bridal! David’s Bridal offers appointments where bride-to-be’s can have meet with an experienced bridal consultant to find a wedding dress (or accessories!) of their dreams. If you follow along on Instagram, you know that I actually already said ‘Yes to the Dress’ back in October! With that, I met with a consultant for an accessories appointment. Who doesn’t love an entire hour dedicated to accessories!? At an accessories appointment, you are able to discuss every little detail from veil length, gown belts, glitzy headpieces, clutches and even heels. It’s seriously a one-stop shop.

No matter how you found your dress, at David’s Bridal, a little boutique or your momma’s closet – you can schedule an accessories appointment with the girls at David’s Bridal to nail down your accessories. There was one piece in particular that my stylist, Sarah, and I discussed heavily – veils!

As a bride, we have so many options when it comes to veils. You may be thinking, “It’s a veil, Mindy – how hard can choosing one be?”. While it may seem like checking the veil off your bridal to do list is an easy decision, there are so many options out there! Honestly before my appointment with Sarah, I didn’t know if I was even going to wear a veil! But one quote really resonated with me, “You’ll wear other white dresses in your lifetime, but this is the one day in your life you’ll ever step outside in a veil.”. While it is of course up to what makes you feel comfortable and fits your style, I felt like that quote solidified that I’d most definitely be walking down the aisle with a veil! But which one? Well ladies, we have a lot of options so let Sarah and I break it down for you.

To start off, let’s discuss four things to consider:

1.THE COLOR: Veils typically come in two hues: white and ivory. When deciding on a veil color, the biggest thing to take into consideration is the color of your dress of course!

2. THE MATERIAL: The most prominent veil material I’ve come across is tulle. The reasoning is that it’s somewhat see through and also very light. All the veils I tried on were tulle and each were very light, from fingertip length to cathedral. Veils can also come in materials such as silk tulle, english net, polyester chiffon and silk chiffon. Since this is the one time you’ll be wearing a veil in life, I’d just make sure whatever material you go for is comfortable and not to heavy. You’ll be wearing it from walking down the aisle, all the way presumably to your first dance and you want to be comfortable.

3. LITTLE DETAILS: Lace, rhinestones, satin trim? There are so many options when it comes to the little details of your veil! One veil I saw had rhinestones along the hem of the veil and another had them places all throughout and caught light so beautifully. Then there were also so many lace details too! A lace trim can give such an elegant, timeless feel. If you think your dress speaks for itself there are also so many options that don’t have a touch of little detailing – for example a simple tulle veil. Also consider how these little details will not only compliment your dress, but also the other accessories you’ll be wearing day of.

4. THE LENGTH: I’d say the topic you’ll consider the most out of these four is length. The color, material and details were easy for me to personally decide on. It wasn’t until I tried on veils when I knew what length I’d be opting for!
*Tip: If you purchase your dress from David’s Bridal, they often have the same one in stock, so you can actually try on your exact dress during your accessory appointment! Since I purchased mine at a local Boston boutique, I tried on veils without my dress which Sarah said was also a totally common way to go about your appointment as well.

Now that we’ve considered the four foundational detail to finding a veil, let’s break down all the different types out there along with some pros and cons of each!

BLUSHER VEIL: A blusher veil is the veil that traditionally covers the brides face while walking down the aisle. Since this veil covers the brides face, it’s often worn in addition to another veil that drapes down the back of the bridal dress. While it can be worn in this traditional manner, Sarah and I discussed that a blusher could also work as an understated, simple veil all on it’s own.

BIRDS CAGE VEIL: A touch of 60’s and a whole lotta va-va-voom. This is most likely the least maintenance of any veil and you can guarantee your bridesmaids won’t need to fidget with it throughout the day.Ensure that the fit is great before committing because it may rub your eyelashes or fall in a way that irritates your skin.

FINGERTIP VEIL: The Fingertip Veil is the most popular veil. The length is ideal to make a subtle statement, but also be able to move through the day fuss-free. The bride can hug the groom after the ceremony without it becoming an annoyance. The fingertip veil may also be the most versatile because it can stand on it’s own for a classic look, or be layered with a cathedral veil for a show stopping look.

WALTZ VEIL: This hits below the knee, but above the floor. A great choice for any bride that wants a bit more ‘wow’ while still being able to move through festivities with no hassle. Due to this ideal length, you’ll get more fluidity and movement from the veil compared to shorter options.

TWO-TIED VEIL: Sarah and I had so much fun creating our own multi-layered veils, but also trying on ones that were made this way. To create one yourself, all you’ll do is add a blusher [mentioned earlier] on top of your other veil. You’ll get a lot of volume and dimension, which would greatly flatter a mermaid silhouette.

CHAPEL VEIL: If you’re looking for a touch of drama, but don’t want the maintenance of a coveted cathedral veil, this is your one! A chapel veil typically hits seven feet down from your headpiece, but after talking with the seamstress at David’s Bridal, she frequently shortens veils so that they can just barely touch the floor.

CATHEDRAL VEIL: The va-va-voom veil. Breathtaking. Honestly, this veil was my personal favorite – probably because I love to accessorize over the top, but it’s just jaw dropping gorgeous – especially if you’re getting married in a large cathedral church. Of course, consider the weight and high maintenance. When I tried on a tulle cathedral veil with Sarah, it wasn’t heavy at all until the blusher was added. It’s not exactly the piece you’ll be wearing all evening, but you could always get it bustled to last through your ceremony, pictures and first dance.

I hope this helps when making the decisions on a veil to compliment your wedding dress. Sarah and I had such a fun time gathering all this information to help you in your search. Remember that whether you already have your dress or you haven’t said ‘yes’ just yet, David’s Bridal appointments where you get the full attention of a knowledgeable bridal consultant. If you’re in Massachusetts, I cannot recommend the Natick location enough. Sarah was so sweet and friendly along with all the girls I met! You can find your closest David’s Bridal to book an appointment by using their store locator! Xoxo Mindy

Thank you to David’s Bridal for sponsoring this post. As always, all photos, experiences, and opinions are authentically my own.