Hello, mice! I have a treat for you today: a thorough explanation of veils from Anna of anna-bé, the fantastic Denver boutique where I tried on all of those gorgeous wedding dresses. I know nothing about veils, so I called on her for help. Enjoy!

Classic cut veil with scattered pearls
Audrey Veil by Sara Gabriel Veiling and Headpieces

When Mouse asked us to write a guest blog, it was a great chance to really stop and think about veils. We were reminded that when we started anna bé, at first we hadn’t even considered carrying veils. The veil seemed secondary and frankly a little bit expensive! However, it was only because Sara Gabriel (a fabulous local veil designer) was so convincing that we gave veils a shot. Sara’s enthusiasm and creativity helped us to understand that the veil is not secondary to the dress, but that combined with the dress the veil creates a look--and a different veil can evoke a completely different feel.

I know that a veil is often wrapped in symbolic meanings--virginity, ownership, trust--all pieces of a wedding that when it comes down to it, we can question from a feminist perspective. But I’ve come to distance myself from any symbolic meaning and just get lost in the beauty of the veil. They truly do something to a white dress that I find romantic and utterly gorgeous!

It’s when we put the veil on that a girl sees herself change from being a girl in a white dress to being a bride. It’s when moms cry and the reality of the wedding often hits.

I love that like most of the wedding process, the rules seem to have dropped away. There are no hard and fast rules about a long veil only being appropriate for a cathedral or a blusher being mandatory. Fun, poufy, traditional--it’s all good!

First and foremost, find what’s comfortable for you and rock it. We think of veils as either a “traditional” veil or as an “alternative” veil. The best way to select the veil is to play around with different options and see what best complements your dress.

Long mantilla veil with scattered rhinestones
Bridget Veil by Sara Gabriel Veiling and Headpieces

Petal veil with scattered crystals
Karen Veil by Sara Gabriel Veiling and Headpieces

A traditional veil is what you would immediately picture if someone asked you draw a veil. It’s a piece of tulle that sits on comb and is placed somewhere near the crown of the head. The veil can just brush the tops of the shoulders or it can extend all the way to the ground and beyond. The veil can be single layer or multi-layer. It can have trim made of ribbon or lace or no trim at all. The veil can be adorned with crystals, pearls, or even a monogram. Most girls are surprised that a long veil can often feel more simple than short veil. A good strategy is that if your dress has a lot of detail, pick a veil that is more simple. But if you’re dress is really simple, you can go all out with the adornment on a veil!

French net face blusher with organza flower
Betty Veil by Sara Gabriel Veiling and Headpieces

Tulle bow with silk velvet and organza flower
Cammy Veil by Sara Gabriel Veiling and Headpieces

The second major category of veils is the “alternative” veil. These veils use traditional veil elements (tulle/net) but may be fashioned to frame the face, gather on the side, or just accent the hairstyle. An alternative veil is great if you’re on the fence about a veil but want some type of special accent. It can also be used as a secondary piece for the reception if a traditional veil is worn for the ceremony--a great way to get two totally different looks out of the same dress!

(Photos by Sara Gabriel. Mouse wholeheartedly recommends anna-bé bridal in Denver.)
(Note: since the publication of this post, Sara Gabriel has become a Souris Mariage sponsor.)