If you have been a part of frantic and crazy shopping expeditions to get that bridal look just right for your big day, am sure you know that it cannot be complete without that classic topper – the final touch of a wedding veil. From statement making cathedral length pieces to demure bandeaus and sometimes even a tiara, experimentation with bridal head gears have taken a whole lot of new meaning. Most brides do not even know of the variety of options available. And not only is matching the veil with the rest of your ensemble a big decision that needs as much of your attention as any other detail you have taken hours to finalize, but understanding how it suits your facial structure, which hairstyles work best with it, how it complements your wedding dress, and which accessories will work is important too. Also, you’d have no idea how much that wedding veil style reflects upon your personality too.

So, to help make that decision easier, we have brought you a complete guide on wedding veils. Go all in, coz we bet you’d be surprised.

The tiers

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Veils can have 1, 2 or 3 tiers and can even have their bottom tiers detachable to turn a long veil for the ceremony into a shorter veil for the reception. The top tier of a 2 or 3 tier veil is known as the blusher and is the layer that can be worn over the face if desired.

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Single tier veils by definition can only be fully gathered, although your veil consultant can have the designer make it narrow and slim cut so that it suits your requirements. This is because a narrower veil will lay flatter and offer more transparency than a wider, gathering veil.

The length

45” – shoulder length wedding veil

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Less commonly used, the shoulder length wedding veil is the choice of a fashion-forward bride. A fun version of the veil is the flyaway veil which just grazes the shoulders and looks perfect for a modern city chic wedding. However, this works equally well with 50s/60s style dresses, especially in a bouffant style and is ideal for gowns that have detailing on the front that need not be eclipsed.

54” – waist/elbow length wedding veil

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This length of wedding veil style works with most dresses and are elegant and easy to handle. They can be teamed up with a blusher for that dash of romanticism and are perfect for pairing with a full-length gown as they end just above the skirt of the gown, thereby lending a particularly flattering look to the bridal ensemble.

72” – hip/fingertip length wedding veil

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This wedding veil length is a very versatile length and looks particularly good with fishtail or mermaid dresses. This one was Kate Middleton’s choice and is the most popular veil length ever. Its versatility lends it credence over other lengths and despite being a safe bet always, it does not discount on the sheer beauty it adds to the bridal look.

90” – floor/waltz length wedding veil

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This one isn’t quite optimal for tall brides and suits more petite brides looking for a floor length veil without a train. It is an ideal pick for those looking for some wedding day fun after the ceremony is done but cannot discount upon the ethereal element that the floor length veil adds. Moreover, making it two-tiered can be a bonus, so that after the ceremony, the bottom tier can be detached and the bride can have a gala whilst clinking glasses of champagne!

108” – ballet/floor/puddle train length wedding veil

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Depending on your height this length can either just brush the floor or cover a small ‘puddle’ train. This one retains all the prettiness of the longer veil varieties without having the bride worry too much about tripping over her own veil.

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126” – chapel length wedding veil

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This wedding veil style is another favorite and works nearly with all dresses and styles and is incredibly romantic and elegant. It lends an aura of fairy tale magic to the wedding and is often combined with a blusher and/or an elbow-length veil for two-or three-tiered loveliness.

144” – cathedral length wedding veil

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This is one of the ultimate statement wedding veil styles! Great for creating the ‘wow’ factor, this one is perfect for tasting the royal pleasure. But one needs to ensure that it is in sync with the wedding venue, for it isn’t called ‘cathedral’ for nothing!

The Styles

The drop/halo wedding veil

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Distinctly bohemian, the halo or drop style wedding veil is in trend and is the perfect complement to a simple, elegant gown. Draping over your head and torso, this wedding veil needs to be weighed down and therefore, has an infinite gamut of choices to pick from. From a golden floral headpiece for a regal look with a dash of bohemian touch to a pearly headgear or flower tiara, this one can be teamed up with so many choices that the mind boggles. And yet whether one picks a jeweled cap for a glam-princess vibe or a floral ringlet with stones for a pint of natural beauty, this one speaks tremendously about the balance you bring to every realm of life.

The edged and edgeless wedding veils

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Veils come with different edges from those thin stenciled ones to simple satin edges or even elaborate lace edges. It is important to pick the edge that works best with your dress. For example, a lace edged wedding veil shall not complement a lace bridal gown but shall look absolutely stunning with a simple gown with subtle detailing. Edgeless wedding veils or cut edge veils work well with short bridal dresses and can be particularly useful for shorter veils where any increased length or line edge would cover the detailing or the back cut of your dress. The edged wedding veil is the choice of a perfectionist bride who takes care of even the tiniest detail and shall never let any loose strings be. The edgeless veil, on the other hand, is the choice of a free spirited lassie who lives life on her own terms and shall never conform.

The lace wedding veil

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This delicate wedding veil style is the perfect complement for simple understated elegance that may reflect in a graceful bride’s choice of her bridal ensemble. When teamed with a simple bridal gown, this lace wedding veil adds the right dash of romantic effect needed to have all eyes riveted upon the bride. Pair it with your curly, long tresses and you are all set to look every bit the stunner bride of the season. The choice of this wedding veil only serves to reiterate your womanly grace, your alluring aura, and ohh-that-quintessential-romantic in you!

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The juliet cap wedding veil

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If drama is your thing, then this is the perfect wedding veil pick for you. Add a dramatic effect to your bridal look with a bundle of silk flowers and a netted juliet cap. This elaborate topper shall add that final touch to a simple gown with a hint of romance or sprinkle a flower-child vibe upon a lacy boho number. Either way, this wedding veil is the right choice for the bride who wishes to exude contagious confidence in every step she takes down the aisle!

The mantilla wedding veil

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Usually a circular piece of lace or tulle with heavy lace edging, a mantilla is pure gorgeousness. This one is held in place with a comb or head gear to frame the lace and usually is full-length, thereby, forming a soft halo around the body. However, the mantilla has been varied of late with several combinations of lengths and shapes, albeit with a retention of the lace look. Best teamed with a streamlined silhouette, the experimentation on the traditional veil has ranged from lending it a modish vibe to infusing a playful twist too. This wedding veil is the choice of a woman who lets her fashion echo her individual spark. And therefore, do not be surprised if you see some theatrical accents with this traditional look.

The blusher

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Especially modern and chic, this artful arrangement of tulle and net lends a demure element of sophistication to your bridal look. Teamed with a lacy feminine number, this exquisite and stunning topper of a short wedding veil becomes cutting edge glamorous and stylish. A pick for the dazzler diva who is not only fashion forward in her choices but likes every single accessory of hers to be avant garde and one-of-a-kind, this one is a sure shot stunner.

The birdcage wedding veil

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A signatory accessory for a vintage-glam wedding, the birdcage wedding veil is the perfect way to seal your bridal look with your signature style. Floral adorned or otherwise, the birdcage veil is a net number that frames the delicate, feminine, and flirtatious vibe – birdies that wish to take wings. And you know what, they sure do – coz everybody in the chapel is only talking about your sophisticated elegance and grace.

The bandeau wedding veil

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A sexy take on the birdcage style, this one adds an element of mystery and intrigue to the bridal look. Teamed up with an equally seductive sheer neckline or slinky silhouette, this one shall nail it! This one is most definitely the choice of the ultimate fashionista, in every sense. A wedding veil that is worn across the eyes from the tip of the nose, this one can be secured with pins or alligator clips and is for a woman who is unconventional, strong, independent, and refuses to conform. In choosing to drop those layers, she asserts her own individuality and tells the world that she has a mind of her own. Not that this streak shall be dangerous when she is about to be a Mrs., coz she knows to strike a balance, just right. You go girl!

The bubble/pouf wedding veil

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The bold and beautiful bubble blusher wedding veil is a style that is exclusively couture-inspired. A statement piece when teamed up with a billowing tulle princess gown, this one is stylish and sexy. A potent token of your happy dreams and your charm, this one is a look that one cannot help but love! Also, it adds some height on for shorter brides, just make sure you get that updo right!

The boho wedding veil

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If you have seen Kate Moss don this, you know exactly what I am talking of. Simple and sweet, this boho wedding veil style has an undeniable romantic element that seems to strangely blend with a flirty, festival-chic vibe. Perfect for a stunning sheath or A-line bridal gown.

The sideswept wedding veil

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When dazzling accessories such as a bead embellished lace band or a pearl adorned floral ringlet is used to sidesweep that wedding veil, the outcome can be nothing save pure gorgeousness. The look is best paired with a lacy sheath or an A-line and elevates gorgeous on to an unexpected height altogether. Definitely an on-trend style for the dazzler brides-to-be.

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The fabric

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1. Synthetic tulle – This is the most common and budget friendly of the fabrics. It can come in a variety of weights and qualities from a very stiff tulle (suitable for those wanting to create a very bouffant style) to a much softer tulle.
2. 100% Silk tulle – This is the ultimate in luxury veil fabric, often chosen by royalty and comes in 2 different types:
3. Soft silk – A very fluid and drapey fabric, has no ‘body’ of its own but is so delicate it is barely perceptible to touch. Works great with vintage style or flowing dresses. This was the fabric used in Kate Middleton’s veil for her wedding to Prince William.
4. Crisp silk – An extremely transparent fabric, the lightest of all the tulles meaning it almost hangs in the air, especially in the longer lengths, creating a very ethereal silhouette. This was chosen by the now Princess Charlene of Monaco.
5. Silk Tulle Mix – This is a crisp tulle, part silk part synthetic, combining the transparency of the silk with the robustness of the synthetic. It comes in a wider range of colors than the 100% silk.

The gather

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An often overlooked feature, the gather can dramatically alter the look of the veil.  2 tier veils are cut in an oval or circle and are gathered across the width of the veil. There are 3 main types of gather for a 2 tier veil:

1. Standard gather or center gather – A central section of the width is gathered up onto the comb leaving some length at the sides.
2. Full gather – The full width of the fabric is gathered onto the comb creating a more bouffant veil with maximum volume.
3. No gather or flat veil – The veil is not gathered at all and just drapes over the head. It can be attached to a comb, worn under a flower crown or halo or (as in the case of Kate Middleton) sewn to the rear of a tiara or headdress.

And that’s all that you need to know about picking a perfect wedding veil. Now you know that classic topper that shall illuminate your face isn’t just about those two or three options, right??

Good luck choosing your wedding veil!!

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