A Brides Veil

Happy Thursday! While researching wedding traditions and the history of wedding cakes I found out a little about wedding veils. I found all the different lengths and names can be quite confusing so that's what I'm going to write about to today. How to find the right length of wedding veil for you.

The wedding veil was orinanlly used to keep evil sprits away from the bride although some believe it was introduced for arranged marriages; the groom could only see the bride after the ceremony to stop him backing out if he didn't like the look of the bride! Others believe that it represented the brides willingness to obey her new husband.

There are a selection of lengths which can be chosen for the veil. The most popular styles include;

Blusher
This is short and is used to cover the face of the bride as she enters the ceremony.

 

Birdcage
This small veil just covers the face.

 

Flyaway/shoulder
This is short and ends at the shoulder (1960s).

 

Elbow
Tasks ends at the elbow (1950s).

 

Waist
Ends at the waist.

 

Fingertip
Tasks veil ends just below the waist and gets its name from brushing against the brides fingertips (1940s).

Waltz
It's usually ends between the calf and the ankle

Sweep
This runs all the way to the floor.

Chapel
This veil is 9 feet long and will trial behind the bride on the floor (1930s).

 

Cathedral
This is 12 feel long and because of the length this style has a large train (1980s, worn famously by Princess Diana).

 

 

It is suggested that the bride chooses her dress first and then will be able to pick a veil which accompanies it well. A head piece can be worn with the veil; this can be anything from a tiara to a wreath of flowers.

I hope you've found this useful! Happy veil hunting!