How to Choose Veils

As a bride, you want to look your most stunning on your wedding day. For most people, this means picking the right dress and having the perfect hairstyle. Just as important, however, is choosing the perfect veil. This is often more difficult than one might imagine, as there are many details that must be taken into consideration in order to select the right veil.

1. Take a friend with you when choosing your veil. This should be someone who you trust to give you an honest opinion on what does or does not look best on you.


2. Bring a picture of your wedding gown with you to help determine what veil to choose. In addition, this will give the salesperson an idea of what your dress looks like so that she can be of better assistance. If possible, bring a swatch of your dress fabric along while you shop.


3. Select the right color veil. Your best option is to choose a veil that matches the color of your dress. If you are unable to find an exact match, consider a veil that is slightly lighter in color. Do not go darker than your dress. Popular veil colors are white, ivory, champagne and diamond white.


4. Decide on the length of your veil. There are many different lengths to choose from, however, the three most common lengths are the cathedral, fingertip and elbow length veils. Cathedral length veils are long, approximately 108 inches, extending approximately six inches beyond the train of your gown. These are formal veils that are best worn with cathedral length gowns. Fingertip length veils are roughly 36 inches long and are meant to fall to the bride's fingertips. These are suitable for formal and semi-formal weddings and can be worn with any length gown, provided that it does not have a train. Elbow length is the third type of veil and it is approximately 30 inches long. Like the fingertip veil, it is worn with dresses that do not have a train and is suitable for formal as well as semi-formal weddings. Another popular length is the chapel length veil, which is 90 inches long and best worn with a gown that has a train.
   


5. Determine how many tiers you want. This can be determined by the type of gown that you are wearing and how you are going to wear your hair. A one tier veil, for example, is suitable for hair that's worn in an up hair style and does not have a blusher. This type of veil works well for less formal gowns. A two tier veil flatters almost any hairstyle, has a blusher and is suitable for gowns that are more formal in nature.


6. Avoid choosing a veil that takes away from the detail of your gown. The best one will complement and not compete with your wedding gown. It should not end directly at any of your focal points or cover them entirely unless it is made of a sheer fabric. This is to prevent it from either blocking the beauty of your dress or cutting your body in half.