A Guide To Choosing Your Veil - Wedding Planner | Georgina Alexander Weddings & Events | Surrey | London

As many brides will tell you, the moment they felt like a bride was when they tried on a veil. There’s something magical about that wispy piece of fabric that makes the transformation from your normal ‘you’ to A Bride.

Wearing a veil is a custom that goes back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who believed a wedding veil protected the bride from evil spirits, and it also helped with the superstition of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding day. Today the wedding veil has become more of a symbol of the brides’ style.

With so many options of lengths, it is a little overwhelming which style to choose, and if, in fact, you should abandon the tradition altogether.

Many modern brides have opted for wearing flower crowns or jewelled hair accessories instead of a veil, however if your wedding day just won’t feel complete without a veil there are many options to suit your style.

The ideal veil depends mostly on the style of the wedding gown you choose as well as the shape of your face and your personality.

Here is my guide to choosing your perfect wedding veil:

Birdcage Veils – short veils that are typically made out of netting. They only cover a portion of a bride’s face and fall above the chin. Perfect for brides with a vintage or retro feel, and they pair especially well with short dresses

Juliet Cap Veils – these come in a variety of lengths and have a vintage look of the 1920’s and 30s

Fly-Away Veils – these fall at or below the shoulders, and are another great option for vintage brides or for short wedding dresses. Fly-away veils make a bigger statement and offer more volume than bird cage veils.

Elbow-Length Veils – these fall around a bride’s elbows or waistline. Flattering with most wedding dress styles, it is perfect for those looking for an easy, hassle free veil.

Fingertip Veils – the most popularly chosen veil, a fingertip veil falls at or right below a bride’s fingertips. Flattering on any body type, this is a versatile choice that works with most styles of wedding dress, from a simple column gown through to something more ornate.

Ballet Veil – also known as a ballerina or waltz veil, the ballet veil falls below the fingertips and above the ground, typically hitting at knee or ankle length. Perfect for brides that love the look of a long veil but don’t want one that touches the ground.

Chapel Veils – creating a dreamy and romantic feel, chapel veils fall at the ground or just past the bridal gown. These veils are often removed after the wedding ceremony, before the reception, so the bride can move around and dance with ease.

Cathedral Veils – the longest veil style, trails on the ground, well past the bridal gown, giving the dramatic effect of a train. Perfect for creating drama and incredible wedding pictures.

Which is your favourite veil style?