BRIDAL VEIL - Newport Manners

BRIDAL VEIL

Hi Didi,
My niece is getting married at the end of May in Los Angeles at a beautiful old Hollywood style boutique hotel. She is wondering if she should wear a single or two layer veil? Is there a significance to either? She is a beautiful, romantic and stylish woman.

–Lynda, Boston, MA

Dear Lynda,

Apologies for the delay in answering your interesting question, but – as you can imagine – we are inundated with questions this spring.

The single layer veil (made from one layer of tulle) is the most popular choice. You mention that your niece is a romantic. In that case, the mystery of the two layer veil is a gesture of romance, because in olden days her father lifted the veil that covered the bride’s face as if to say: Here, she is you lucky man!

The two-layer veil, the longer back tier and the top tier called the blusher, are a bit old-fashion, but also quite fashionable. And of course, you know, the blusher (the shorter veil) is the top layer covering the face during the ceremony. So when there are two veils: the longer stabilizes the shorter veil that acts as the mysterious blusher.

The length of the veil varies from location to location, from culture to culture, and there are about four to six different lengths:

The most popular veil drops to the waist: the waist length is 54 inches long.
The second most popular is the fingertip length that’s 72 inches to mid-calf.
The chapel length is 126 inches long.
The Cathedral length is 144 inches long.

When choosing the length of the veil there are three points to consider: Your niece’s veil length should be in proportion to the length of her dress and the veil should not be so busily decorated that it overpowers the lovely design of the dress.

If your niece’s dress has lots of intricate details and is highly decorated, it would be chicer if she wore a simple veil with a clean raw edge.
On the other hand, if her dress is simple as in a sleek sheath, the veil can be ornate with detailed embellishments or floral accents.

Mistake not to make: If the length of the veil falls where a focal point begins, for instance, at the waist, it will look as though the bride is being cut in half. So the veil should fall below any horizontal lines.

Most importantly, the style of the veil depends upon the silhouette of your niece’s dress:

For instance, with a sheath: the veil is slightly longer than the hem of the train of the chapel length or floor length dress.

If you would, please, kindly let me know the style of your niece’s dress–sheath, mermaid/trumpet, a-line, or full skirt–it would help me to give you a more detailed answer. A more personalized answer.