ROne of the most wonderful aspects about weddings is how they connect the personal with the traditional, and how each tradition you adopt and break has a lot of meaning attached to it.
A good example of a tradition like this is the wedding veil, which was one of many parts of bridal fashion popularised by Queen Victoria, alongside the very idea of a white wedding.
It became popular amongst the upper classes of Victorian society for the same reasons the white dress did. It was a symbol of elegance, wealth, and purity, although claims that the veil always meant this are largely seen to be apocryphal.
Whilst many different cultures wore veils to weddings, including Ancient Rome, it should also be noted that until the 1840s it was not only not a necessary part of a wedding dress, it was not even terribly popular.
It is not difficult to see why; the Roman ‘flammeum’ was designed to look like the bride was on fire from head to toe in order to ward off evil spirits, as well as symbolise the priestess Flaminica Dialis who often symbolised fidelity and lifelong devotion.
The modern tradition behind it is that the veil serves as a symbol of transition and purity. A bride walks down the aisle with the veil over their head, and it is removed or lifted (sometimes by the groom but can be by anyone) to allow each of them to look into each other’s eyes for the last time before they are married.
There are a lot of beautiful styles of veil out there that are suitable for every type of dress, from dramatic, full-length veils to smaller, more elaborate blushers.
As with almost every part of a wedding look, a veil is a very personal decision and you do not have to wear one. There are crowns of flowers, clips, tiaras without a veil adorning them, or even no headgear at all.
However, it is always worth having one available if you are uncertain. Here are a few reasons why.
An Ideal Photography Accessory
Wedding photographers have a lot of different shots they will have in mind, and a favourite accessory for many photographers is a sheer veil that captures the innocence and purity of a wedding.
In a lot of cases, brides who choose not to wear a veil during the ceremony may still have a veil for the purpose of photographs and capturing the spirit of the moment.
Just In Case
Ultimately, the only person whose opinion matters about a bridal veil is the blushing bride themselves, but in some cases, they can realise it matters more to them or their family than they initially realised.
Much like how a tiara can often be passed through generations of women in a family, bridal veils can sometimes have particular significance to mothers and grandmothers.
Whilst you are ultimately not married to your family’s ideas of what a wedding should be, in some cases your mind can change, and given that many bridal shops will help you to pick out a veil that perfectly suits your dress and other accessories, it is often useful to have one to hand in case you change your mind.