Swoooooon!  I love long veils! (who am i kidding?! I love them all!) I think some brides can underestimate how this simple accessory can completely change the look of a gown, they think it may be to traditional or not right for them.  But there are so many different looks you can create with them that the list is endless!  This is why I love creating them. It is completely different for every bride and every gown. Long veils have magnificent way of creating mood and drama when you are making your way down the aisle as it cascades behind you.  And lets not forget those beautiful photos of veils floating softly in the breeze.  I’ll stop there because i could go on and on and on….. so this post could really be many pages long, but I’ve really tried hard to do a short version (HA!) and break it into two, easy parts.

Now, what is a long veil i hear you say? Well that’s a tricky question, how long is a piece of string? Exactly! Everyone is different so why would every Chapel veil be the same? Obviously floor length can be closer than we would like to think for us short folk! So it’s no wonder brides get confused about what they would like to wear. Veils are not something that you wear every day, or even on a formal occasion. So it can be difficult to choose a style when you have no idea what it will be like until you try it on, and usually then you have all the tribe with you offering differing opinions anyway! As a milliner with bridal industry experience, I have seen all the styles discussed here many times so ask as many questions as you like, nothing is too silly! This will help you narrow your options, after all you want something that compliments your style but leaves everyone speechless!

P.S I like to use the following terms as a loose guide. It will give you some idea of the styles of veil that are out there and what you’re looking at.

124a6735Ballet

Refers to a veil that falls in length somewhere between the brides knees and ankles. These types of veils are very popular with brides as a single tier, they are no fuss really and add a nice finished touch to so many different gown styles. Can also be referred to as a Waltz veil.

 

Chapel

chapelThis is my most popular style, as it falls to the floor with just a few centimetres on the ground trailing. Very practical if you are after an elegant, formal look of a long veil but don’t want the hassle of it being trampled or too long to dance in. Many brides will also have a blusher with this style. Blusher refers to the part that is lifted at the ceremony or can also be worn behind if being covered isn’t for you!

 

Cathedral

twc-127-of-191Very grand and the most formal of the veils chosen, it extends past the brides train and is usually at least 100 inches or 2.5 metres in length also more than likely will have a blusher too. These veils are a definite statement piece for your ceremony! I’m sure photographers LOVE these veils as they create amazing photos under the right conditions. Most brides choose to remove this type of veil for the reception as it can be easily damaged by guests and you will probably end up carrying it about for the night.

 

Royal or Regal Cathedral

This is out on its own! It’s rare to have but why not mention it here. We have all seen that shot of Princess Dianna. As the name suggests, this is the veil length Princess Di chose. Her gown could definitely handle this iconic piece! It should only be paired with a gown of this calibre, and using the same principal of finishing just past the train. You may also have seen Holly Valance in her J’Aton gown and veil, which i would also put in this category.

holly-valancePhoto source: mirror.co.uk

Next post – short veils!  Stay tuned…

Close
Go top