Bridal Headpieces
The perfect accessory  to a gorgeous wedding gown is the right headpiece. Whether you love to play up the glamour or keep things simple and sweet, the proper one will complete your trousseau and add glamour to your wedding attire. The question is, which type would best suit you and your ensemble? Always keep in mind that you want the headpiece and veil to complement your gown, never overpower it or take away from how it flatters your figure. Also, the headpiece should be chosen so that it can be integrated into your hairstyle without weighing anything down or distracting from your look. With that said, before shopping for veils or headpieces you should have already picked out your gown and at least considered some of the possible hairstyles that you might like to do. Then, once you purchase the headpieces and veil, you can go to the salon and try out a few styles to see what you like best.
Remember that brides who want to wear a veil throughout the entire wedding, from ceremony to last dance, will want to look for something that is beautiful, functional, and durable. The hairstyle will become secondary in relationship to how the veil looks from the front AND behind. If your goal is not the veil, then focus more on your hair and how it will look when the veil comes off. Either way you choose, try and find something that will accentuate your favorite facial features and that will balance out your face shape.
With sunglasses, haircuts, hats, shirts, and jewelry, face shape always plays a part in which type you choose. The same goes with veils and hair pieces. The bottom line is that opposites flatter most. - Round face? Avoid full veils that make your head look rounder than it is; look for soft fabrics that drape instead. Updos are excellent choices as are sleek styles with the hair down.
- Oblong face? Give it a fuller look with a fluffier waterfall style veil and avoid updos that will make you look even longer.
- Square jaw? Soften it with tendrils of hair around your face. Avoid full veils that might make your face look wider than it is.
- Heart-shaped? Updos with a veil placed below the hair extend out from behind the neck, making it look wider.
- Short face? Lengthen it with a longer veil without too much fullness. Mantilla styles wil elongate your line.
Hairpieces
Hairpieces can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. Typically, pearls, rhinestones, sequins, and floral embellishments are things you'll find on hairpieces.
The Veil
Besides personal taste, choosing a veil has a lot to do with the formality and location of your wedding. Basically, the more formal your event and the longer the gown, the longer the veil. Usually, but not always, the veil is kept shorter than the dress. Keep in mind that the length of the veil will vary depending on your height and body proportions, so what may be fingertip length on one person may be down to the knees of someone smaller. Another important factor of length is that you want the veil to highlight the most stunning parts of the gown and frame your face and figure well. For example, if you have a very accentuated waist, it's best not to have the veil hit right at the waist because it will take away from the hourglass look. Better choose one that hits slightly above or below the waist. Likewise, if you have a lot of intricate embellishments on the back of the skirt, it would make sense to have either a shorter or longer veil that will showcase the detailing instead of covering it up.
Veil Length and Width
These are five of the most popular veil lengths, but you can also find veils in almost any length you want, from a barely-there birdcage veil attached to a hat to shoulder, waist, and floor-length veils. Each length has its own stylistic effect and conveys a little about the bride's personality, so look for the veil that suits you best!
Veils are also available in several standard widths, as illustrated below.
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The most popular width is 72", which may sound like a lot but actually is just enough to give a good shape to the veil without being too poufy. |
A 54" veil is the second most common, and gives a sleeker look without much "pouf". |
A 36" veil will hang straight down your back without a lot of volume; this is a good look for more casual weddings but may look strange with formal ball gowns. |
The 108" width is a bit poufy but has a very regal look, great for formal weddings or brides who want to feel like princesses. |
Veil Shapes and Styles
Veils come in several different shapes and styles. You should consider how many tiers you want; a single veil is simple and chic, while having a blusher and a longer veil are more traditional and a little more dramatic. Three tiers would probably be a bit much for all but the most formal weddings. Not all cuts or styles are available in multiple tiers; for example, a mantilla is usually the only veil and is not combined with a blusher.
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The standard cut is a rounded shape that can form one or two tiers. It's the standard because it's the most popular! |
The oval cut is another popular style for shorter veils. |
The circle cut , also known as a cascade cut , drapes beautifully in a fuller, waterfall-like shape. |
The square veil, also known as the handkerchief veil, has a very modern look. |
Veil Fabrics
The fabric used for the veil is the primary factor in the "poufiness" of the veil and will also affect the opacity, weight, stiffness and drape of the veil.
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Tulle is the most common veil fabric, with plenty of volume and average stiffness. It can be polyester, silk, or cotton ; cotton and silk are of higher quality and will be slightly lighter and more flowing than polyester (but are also more delicate). It can have unfinished edges.
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Chiffon is made of silk or rayon. It is more "fluid" than tulle and is somewhat heavier, giving is a more flowing drape. Not transparent, but sensuous to touch. Needs to have a finished edge. |
Organza is a stiffer fabric made of silk, polyester or nylon. It is translucent, not transparent, and feels very smoothe (like a lighter version of satin). Silk is the heaviest of the three. Needs a finished edge. |
Point d'esprit, also known as Swiss dot, is a stiff, tulle-like fabric that is especially popular for short or birdcage veils. Can have a raw or a finished edge. |
Color and Detailing
The color of the veil should match to the dress as closely as possible. There are usually three colors to choose from: white, off-white (often called "diamond white" which is best for white silk gowns), and ivory. It is recommended that you choose a veil a shade lighter (rather than darker) than your gown. You should also order several swatches of fabric from the retailer before you buy a veil online; computer monitors can distort shades of white, and you want to make sure your veil looks great with your dress. If a retailer refuses to send you a swatch, take your business somewhere else! Additionally, some brides choose to go with unusual shades; gold, silver, blush pink, and baby blue are all showing up at veil retailers. The choice is yours, it's your wedding day
Pay close attention to the detailing, if any, on the veil. There may be embroidered edges, contrasting edges (say in red to match a sash), pearled edges, sequins, Swiss dots, or all-over lace. Try one of two approaches: match up the edging or overall decoration type to your gown or do completely the opposite. For example, if your gown has touches of Alencon lace on it, try to get a veil that will mimic it. Small touches of lace on both pieces will really make the look come together. However, those with very "busy" dresses, perhaps covered in lace or with elaborate beaded designs, might want a simpler veil so as not to distract from the gown. The bottom line is, the more ornate the gown, the simpler you want the veil to be. The opposite is not always the case (a simpler gown calls for a more ornate headpiece) unless you want to draw attention to your face. However, if keeping an overall simple look is what you're after, keep both pieces as minimally ornamented as possible.
Major Manufacturers
Start with the links below to begin gathering ideas about the perfect veil for you.
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