While being given the new
responsibility of looking for up and coming wedding trends or finding the
answers to all different types of wedding questions or inquiries, I knew as the
new Junior Consultant at Paisley Events, I had to start off with something that
not everyone thinks about. While many and most girls dream about their perfect
wedding dress, not many consider the perfect veil. What many people don’t know
is that not only does the veil have to be coordinated with the dress, but the
veil needs to be appropriate for the location of the wedding. Veils also can
emphasize or hide specific parts of the bride’s body thus the length, widths,
and tiers are important components of the veil.
Lengths:
Very short -
very short veils such as visor veils do not extend past the chin. Visor veils
resemble fascinators worn to horse racing events. If your bridal gown has a
high neck detail, this type of veil can work well. They are a good style to
pair with sophisticated or eclectic style wedding gowns.
Shoulder length-
shoulder length veils are around 20 inches in length. They are perfectly suited
to dresses that have bust, waist, or lower back details. However, they are
often too informal for classic, formal dresses.
Elbow Length-
approximately 25 inches long, this veil falls to around the elbow. They can
work well with romantic ball gown style dresses, because they end where the
fullness in the skirt begins.
Waist Length-
this veil is just slightly longer then an elbow length veil at approximately 30
inches. They suit most dress styles that do not feature a train.
Fingertip Length-
one of the most popular lengths, when you stretch your arm out it reaches
around your fingertips. They are approximately 36 inches long and also
suit the majority of dress styles.
Knee Length- a
knee length veil is approximately 45 inches and reaches to around your knees.
It looks good with mid calf length wedding dresses.
Floor length-
often referred to as a ballet length veil, they just brush the floor at around
72 inches. They are well suited to full length gowns that do not have a train.
Chapel Length-
slightly shorter then cathedral length; these veils still drape onto the floor.
They are typically around 90 inches long. They are best partnered with dresses
that feature a train.
Cathedral Length-
the longest and therefore most formal, these veils are usually around 120
inches long and some extend up to nine feet along the ground. They work best
with full length, classic wedding gowns.
Widths:
Veils typically come in three different widths that
create varying degrees of fullness at the sides and top.
54 inches -this
is the sleekest version, with limited fullness at the top and sides. If you
want to show off a dress detail that is covered by your veil, this type is
sheer enough to accommodate. This style hangs behind your shoulders, which
means it is ideally paired with dresses that feature decorative straps or
sleeves.
72 inches -this
veil is moderate in height and width. It offers some coverage around the arms,
so it is a good match for simple shoestring strap dresses. It tends to have a
more romantic feel then the 54 inch.
108 inches -this
veil is the widest and has the most fullness on top. It comes around to cover
the arms. This style is great if you are wearing a strapless dress and would
like some coverage around your arms and shoulders. However, it is likely to
look too overdone with a sophisticated wedding dress.
Tiers:
The options for tiers for
a veil range from one to three tiers. The choice is largely dependent on the
style of your dress. A one-tier veil is suited to a sophisticated look, but a
romantic dress often benefits from a two or three tier veil. Classic dresses
also tend to require at least two tiers. One of the tiers is typically a
blusher, which is the part of the veil that is used to cover the brides face
during the start of the ceremony. Today’s bride is free to choose whether she
wants a veil that covers her face or not. If using a blusher, it’s best to
select a veil that reaches at least shoulder length, because a blusher measures
around 30 inches in length.
While considering your
personal attributes, it is most important to consider your body shape and face
shape.
Wedding Location:
A cathedral style veil is the ultimate show stopper
if you are having a formal wedding in a large church, with several attendants.
If you are getting married in a small chapel, then it
is best to stick to chapel length or shorter.
If you are getting married
in an outdoor ceremony, there are extra considerations to be mindful of. You
may have sand, wind or dirt to contend with. It’s advisable to choose a knee
length veil or shorter. Also bear in mind that in windy settings a long veil
can be difficult to control. Visor veils can work well in these conditions. You
might also like to consider the climate. For example; in hot, humid weather it
is not going to be pleasant to be swathed in full layers that could stick to
your skin.
Face
Shape:
A veil frames your face,
so your face shape is an important denominator in choosing a veil. Consider the
following advice for your face shape:
Round face –In order to
help your face look slimmer and longer, it’s preferable for your veil to reach
at least shoulder length and for it to have some volume on the top of the head.
Avoid veils with too much fullness at the sides of the face.
Square face –In order to
help your face look softer and add length, it’s preferable for your veil to
reach at least shoulder length and for it to have some volume on the top of the
head. Circular and cascading styles can help soften the angular nature of your
jaw line.
Oval Face - As this face
shape is well balanced, it’s easier to experiment with different styles.
However, it is a good idea to avoid going extreme in either volume or width, to
help maintain your proportions.
Rectangle face - When
choosing a veil look for a style that has width around the face, but no height
at the top of the head.
Body shape:
Your veil has the ability
to help correct the proportions of your body shape. If you have a large bust or
stomach, you will benefit from wearing a long veil that extends to fingertip
length or below. This is because it will help elongate your upper body. Pears
shaped women tend to suit veils that end at shoulder, elbow, or waist level.
These lengths draw attention to your smaller points, rather then the width of
your hips. Full figured women should ideally stick to one tier, narrow width
veils, because you don’t want to add an extra volume to your body. Tall women
can typically carry off longer veils, but shorter women tend to suit veils that
are waist height or above.
Hope this was informative!
Good luck with all of your planning! More to come soon!
Stay classy and fabulous!
Emily
