To Veil or Not to Veil? That is The Question…

You’re shopping for your perfect dress, and you FIND it! (Insert Hallelujah Chorus here!)

Then the bridal shop attendant asks you about a veil… do you want one? If so, how long of a veil?

If you were like me and my daughters, you had never even thought about the importance of a veil, let alone know that they came in different sizes!

However, as a former bride (my veil was attached to my HAT!) and former MOB, I was rather clueless…. but, now, as a professionally trained wedding photographer, I have some definite opinions on veils!

I think, sometimes, wedding veils get a bad rap!

We often think about a veil as just something that gets in the way when you hug people, at least that’s what all your girlfriends and aunts are telling you…

Oh, but a veil and the length of your veil can add so much movement and softness…. it can give you more variety and options for your wedding photographs, as well!

There are up to NINE different lengths but I’m only mentioning seven (haha): shoulder, elbow, waist, fingertip, waltz, floor, & cathedral. I’ll just talk about MY two favorites: fingertip, & cathedral.

I’m mentioning my favorite, first:

Cathedral Length Veils!

Sariah’s veil was an ingenious idea: cathedral length but attached to her dress like a cape!

She had ZERO issues of her veil getting in the way of hugs…and had the perfect length for oh, so very many different veil shots!

In order for your veil to “float,” you’ll want to make sure you don’t get a too-heavily beaded veil. You can even try it out at the shop by having your mom or sisters toss it up and see if it floats it’s way down or if it sinks! {You want one that floats, regardless of it’s length! You can still get so many different designs and beading (I saw a darling polka-dot veil!), just be sure to not have one that’s too heavy!}

Fingertip Length Veils

It moves beautifully, and you can still do “mini-floats,” a closer-up veil pull, & a kissing under the veil, too!

The fingertip (hip) length veil is a wonderful option that isn’t quite as expensive as a cathedral length…

But what if you have an elaborate back of the dress or simply don’t want a veil? That is perfectly fine!

Many brides opt to not have a veil or just a short, shoulder length one… or they have one but only wear their veil for half of their wedding day and photographs!

You will shine, regardless, as did these brides of mine!

DISCLAIMER: I know there are beautiful combs, headbands, & hair clips to wear in your hair. This blog is specifically about Veils with no ill-will towards any other hair ornamentation. 😉