You’ve selected the wedding dress, booked the dream venue, and found your perfect heels (even though they are not visible under your wedding gown). But the most important thing is still confusion, i.e. the wedding veil styles. 

This article is for all those beautiful brides-to-be who:

• Doesn’t know the kinds of bridal veils available.

• No clue about personalizing it.

• Some practical magic (Read till the end).

Wedding Veil Styles 101: From Simple to Dramatic: 

Choosing any bridal veil isn’t just wedding veil lengths, cuts, or fabrics. It’s about how you want to feel while walking down the aisle. Some of you might want to keep it minimal and subtle, while others may want to add a bit of bridal drama to their dress. There are enough types of wedding veils for everyone. They can have their own kind of veil styles. 

Let’s get to know them, girl!

1- BirdCage Veil (4-9”):

Source: Image by this m17316_7 (ebay)

This gives Audrey Hepburn’s vibe. It gives a hint of mystery, covering just a little part of the face, and is worn slightly angled. This kind of wedding veil is perfect for civil ceremonies, city weddings, or brides who want to be minimal. It shifts the focus towards your jewelry and makeup and will never trip you up on the wedding dance floor.

Bonus Tip: You can also wear it for post-wedding anniversary dinners.

2- Shoulder Length Veil (20-22”):

Source: Image by this Kileman (istockphoto)

This simple bridal veil looks very soft and sweet. This bridal veil sits right around the shoulders and balances perfectly between classic and contemporary. If your bridal dress has a lot of sparkle, lace, or bold sleeves, this bridal veil is not going to steal the spotlight. It’s easy to wear and works indoors and outdoors. It goes with almost every bridal hairstyle. 

Bonus: It won’t stop you from making any poses or dancing. It’s very easily manageable, and you can twirl, hug, or pose without any veil drama. It’s a very low-fuss and high-style pick. This is your go-to wedding veil for all the brides who want to keep it practical and pretty.

3- Elbow- length Veil (~25”):

Source: Image by this prostooleh (freepik)

This mid-length bridal veil adds drama to your wedding dresses. It’s traditional and doesn’t feel out of fashion. It goes perfectly with fuller skirts or tight waists and balances them very well. This veil length is long enough to show up in photos without needing any bridesmaids to hold it for you. It flutters amazingly in the breeze. You can style it with multiple hairstyles, like romantic waves or beautiful updos.

Bonus Tip: If you are a bride who wants a little veil flair, this is for you. It looks fab at outdoor weddings when the environment is windy.

4- Fingertip Veil (~36”):

Source: Image by this freepic.diller (freepik)

This length of the veil is enough to say, “I’m a bride!” and also short enough to let you dance, walk, and eat tacos without dragging tulle. It flatters your wedding dress and is ideal for wearing at a place where maneuverability is highly required. It makes you look elegant, soft, and yet stylish. It can go mostly with sleek and modern gowns.

Bonus: You wanna level up? Add a layer to the fingertip of the veil to add a little more volume and drama.

5 - Chapel- Length Veil (~90”):

Source: Image by this prostooleh (freepik)

The chapel veil wedding dress is very elegant and gives a fairy-tale vibe. It gives you that perfect cinematic aisle moment without slowing you down post-ceremony. It has enough length to trail behind you and doesn't need a team to manage it for you. It is most suitable for semi-formal and formal ceremonies and complements classic wedding gowns. It looks so beautiful in aerial photos and during your “turn around and smile” moment.

6- Cathedral- Length Veil (108”):

Source: Image by this Jonatas Domingos (Unsplash)

This cathedral long cathedral veil is the ROYAL treatment for a bride. This cathedral veil is the drama queen of veils (in the best possible manner). It is grand, long, and grabs the eyeballs out there. It’s perfect for grand weddings and big venues that have large entrances and halls. It trails behind you so smoothly, making it just a major wow moment and giving you that cinematic walk that we all girls have dreamed of and watched in Barbie films. Though it does need help, you certainly won’t regret it once you see your wedding photos or videos.

Bonus: Ask your wedding photographer to take wide-angle aisle shots to make it look like a bridal magazine cover.

Dress + Veil = The Perfect Love Story:

Let’s come to the part where the main confusion arises, i.e. “What types of veils to wear for wedding dresses?” 

Finding the perfect combination of a wedding dress and veil is no less than a hustle. But here we are to help you with that, too!

Heavy Dress? Go Minimal:

Source: Image by this fxquadro (freepik)

When your dress is already doing the talking, make sure your bridal veil gives a soft look rather than adding a lot of drama. If your dress is loaded with heavy work like sequins, beads, mirror work, or sculptural detailing, a heavy and long veil would divert the attention from the dress. Go for a single-layer veil. It will keep the focus on your wedding gown while still providing a bridal flair. 

Simple Dress? Add The Drama:

Source: Image by this Liudmila Chernetska (istockphoto)

So, your bridal dress is minimal, has clean lines, and has less embellishment. Now, you can go for those dramatic veils to get the attention. You can opt for lengthy veils like cathedrals or chapels with lace appliques and shimmers or sparkles to balance your simple wedding dress. A bold, long veil can instantly glam up your look. If you have less on the dress, you’ve more room to play with accessories.

Pair it with the Silhouette:

Source: Image by this Viespire (unsplash)

Here, the key is harmony. If you’re wearing a flare wedding gown ( like A-lines or ball gowns), go for a fuller or longer bridal veil. They complement the volume of your bridal dress and balance the silhouette. Whereas, if your bridal dress is sleek (sheath or mermaid), drapey veils would go perfectly with them rather than the puffy ones. Going with these combinations would make your dress picture-perfect and easy to carry. Your bridal veil should match your dress’s rhythm, not clash with it.

Mind the Back Design:

Source: Image by this Neustockimages (istockphoto)

Your dress’s back is the most photographed part of the wedding ceremony. Many poses require you to show your back. Never try to cover it up, as it has different styles like delicate buttons, dramatic open V-neck, or dreamy illusion panels. Go for the super-sheer bridal veils, having minimal embellishment, or cape-style veils that get fixed at the shoulders. This will let your beautiful back peek through your wedding veil, adding a beautiful angle to your wedding pictures.

Here Comes The Practical Magic (You Might Not Know This):

Wedding dresses and styling aren’t the only things to ponder when it comes to choosing the best types of wedding veils. Many other factors can make or break your whole wedding day. Here are some SHOCKERS:

Wedding Venues:

Source: Image by this freepic.diller (freepik)

The wedding venue plays a key role in your whole wedding look. How? Your venue gives you the space and vibe that will either complement or destroy your whole wedding attire. You can’t neglect that. Grand venues that have spacious halls and entrances are preferred if you're wearing long dramatic veils. Lengthy veils like cathedrals look best on dramatic staircases, large entrance gates, etc.

If you’re having an outdoor wedding in a garden or at a beach, shorter veils like chapel lengths would go perfectly with it, as they are easy to manage and don’t need a bridesmaids team to handle it behind your back.  You can easily walk and pose in them.

Weather:

Source: Image by this deandyy (freepik)

You’ve got to stay updated with the weather as well, not only with wedding dresses or bridal veil styles. Otherwise, your whole bridal look and experience will shatter. If you’re getting married outdoors, go with heavily embellished veils that stop it from slapping your face during the gusty breeze. Secure it with bobby pins and hidden clips sewn into your hair for extra lock. On the other hand, if your environment is too hot, go for a very light and soft veil that doesn’t stick to one place. It should keep flowing so that air passes through it, making it breathable for you. Always keep in mind the temperature and surroundings of your wedding venue before deciding on the wedding veils.

Hairstyles:

Source: Image by this Artem Sokolov (shutterstock)

To keep your wedding veil fixed, you need a sturdy base. The ideal wedding hairstyles are updos, braids, soft curls, braids, etc. All these hairstyles offer anchor points that keep your bridal veil stuck in one place. If you wanna go for loose curls or a down-do, ask your hairstylist to do hidden braids or a sturdy comb to make it look smooth. Don’t forget to give hair trials with your stylist before the big day!

Transportation:

Source: Image by this (freepik)

Veils get wrinkled before you even have a “first look”. Don’t just put it into a bag roughly. Hang it in a garment bag or roll it carefully in acid-free tissues to avoid it from creasing. If your plan is to change outfits for the reception, always go for a two-piece veil; remove the train, and you can keep the shorter part of the veil for a chic after-party.

Flourish Your Final Look Fantastically!

Source: Image by this prostooleh (freepik)

For a bride, every little thing matters. Be it her wedding dress, shoes, jewelry, accessories, wedding veils, makeup, etc. We all consider the bigger things but often don’t pay much heed to other very important factors like venues, hairstyles, transportation, weather, etc. 

This article is an overall guide for all the bride-to-be looking for some practical advice to look flawless on their Big day. Your wedding veil is a finishing touch to your overall attire. It’s a thread that connects your own style, personality,  and ceremony. 

You can go from simplicity to boldness with different types of amazing bridal veils available in the market. You should know your vibe, and the rest will fall into place automatically.

Go bold, go big, or go minimal, but whatever you choose, wear it with full confidence and joy. You should be comfortable with your choice, and it should complement your body type and personality.

At the end, don’t forget to wear your beautiful smile. The veil? That’s just a bonus.