How To Choose The Right Veil For Your Wedding Dress

Picking the perfect wedding dress is one of the most important choices when it comes to planning nuptials, but brides can’t just leave their decision-making there. They have to find the right accessories to complete the outfit, from their jewellery to their veil. 

Of course, not all brides have veils, but if you are planning to, here are some tips on how to pick the right wedding veil for your gown. 

Birdcage veils

These are the shortest type of veil, typically measuring nine inches in length, made of lace, and designed to only cover the face. This is a great choice for brides who have gone for a retro look and best suit knee-length wedding dresses. 

Juliet cap veil

This is another vintage type of veil, dating back to the 16th Century. It features a ‘cap’ of lacey material that keeps the veil in place, and it is thought actors starring in original performances of Romeo & Juliet wore one when playing the teenage Capulet. 

Kate Moss famously chose a Juliet cap veil for her wedding to Jamie Hince, teaming it with a 1920s-inspired dress. 

Mantilla veils

Mantilla veils derive from Spain, and its lace trim makes the accessory look very Spanish indeed. It consists of a single layer that is worn flat on the head, hanging over the shoulders. The veil attaches to the hair with a hidden comb, but it has no gather, making it look like it is simply draped on top of the head. 

Team this with a floor-length lace dress to really embrace the romantic look. 

Double-tier veil

Double-tier veils remain one of the most popular, comprising of a blusher veil attached to another that drapes down the back. Lots of brides love this type of veil as they cover their face up when walking down the aisle before unveiling themselves to their future spouse. 

All types of gowns go well with double-tier veils, whether you want a retro ‘50s swing dress and a short waist-length double-tier veil or a more traditional princess dress with a longer train. 

Drop veils

Drop veils are similar to double-tier ones, as they have a shorter veil that is pulled over the face, while the other longer material flows down the back. However, the difference between the two is that drop veils have no gather and are held in place with pins or an invisible comb. 

In the case of Meghan Markle, who wore a drop veil during her wedding to Prince Harry, she teamed the accessory with Queen Mary’s bandeau tiara. The Duchess of Sussex wore a floor-length white dress with a bateau neckline for her nuptials, but drop veils look great with A-line, column, ball gown, fishtail and trumpet gowns too. 

Cape veil

Brides who want a unique veil for their wedding day could opt for a cape veil. As the name suggests this is a piece of light material that doesn’t go over the head, but drapes over the shoulders like a cape instead. 

This is a modern twist to veils and is a good option for brides who prefer to leave their hair untouched but want to cover up their shoulders for the ceremony. 

Longer capes look beautiful with romantic lace dresses, while short capelets suit elegant silk column dresses and knee-length gowns. 

If this has sparked your interest in looking at different bridal headpieces in the UK, our catalogue of bridal accessories could help you choose which veil would go great with your wedding dress.