Dream Veil 101: How To Find Your Perfect Match

Whipping up aisle-worthy veils and bespoke accessories for offbeat brides since 2017, Jessica Bragança of the W Collective steals many a brides’ heart with her treasure box of whimsical wares. Whether you’ve fallen hard for one of her Champagne Constellation Veils, can’t wait to take to the aisle in the brand’s delicate Pearl Beaded Ruffle Collar or won’t stop wearing the Iridescent High-Low Maxi Cape (even the wedding is now WAY over), the allure of W Collective’s unique and eclectic style is something no bride can resist. 

And, luckily for you, Jessica has put together this month’s guest post to help you nail the dream veil journey… 

Ok, I’ll be honest with you. Before I started making veils I’d never really considered wearing one on my wedding day. I thought they were kinda traditional, kinda boring, kinda out-dated, not for me. But oh, how wrong I was! I got engaged in July 2016 and soon after, as every newly engaged millennial bride-to-be does, I set up my Pinterest board, ready for my quest to seek wedding inspiration. I noticed that the veil has had a real resurgence in recent bridal trends. The days of the veil having old-fashioned connotations symbolising purity and chastity have long gone, but did you know the ancient Greeks used the veil to ward off evil spirits and protect the bride? Pretty cool right, ‘cause who needs bad vibes on their big day? Not you. Veils are back with a bang, and the possibilities are endless. But with different lengths, colours, trimmings, tiers, embellishments and fabrics, how do you decipher which veil is for you?

Editorial Credits: 

Photography: @rocksaltphoto | Florals: @doomandbloomflorals | Luxury bridal wear: @roisinreuss 

I believe that accessories are the exclamation point of an outfit, a way for you to inject your personality and put your own stamp on your bridal style, so a veil is an ideal way to personalise your wedding look. Besides that, they look great in photos too! If you’re a quirky bride, a veil would be a fun and easy way to add a pop of colour that ties in with your colour scheme (or doesn’t, if you want to really stand out!). W Collective offers sugary sweet pastel coloured veils, or ombre veils custom dyed to any colour so you can have some fun with your look. 

But it’s not just colour you have to consider – do you want to up the glam factor with a subtle gold shimmer all over? Or how about some gorgeous rose gold leaf trim for a gorgeous, ethereal glimmer? And what about the length, long and dramatic or short and sweet? Ok, don’t panic! The best way to work out the finer details is to look at the bigger picture, mostly your dress and wedding theme, or general vibe. 

Your veil is there to complement but not overshadow your dress, so think about the detail on your dress and that should help you to decide on what length to go for. If your dress is busy at the bottom you might want to go for a shorter length to show off your dress details, or if you decide on a longer veil you could opt for a lighter shade of tulle to ensure your dress can be seen through the veil. Again, consider the detail in your dress when choosing a veil with a trim. If your dress has detail around the train, ensure you choose a trim that complements it, or make sure the veil length is longer than your dress train so it flows perfectly as you walk down the aisle – your bridesmaids will help you with this. Think of your wedding theme too. I think a short veil looks super chic for a city wedding (teamed with a white suit), whilst something long and flowing suits a rural, boho location.

Each decade has offered us a definitive wedding style, from the long bohemian veils in the 1920s to chic short polka dot veils in the 60s. Why not find a style icon who you feel is your spirit bride (mine is Priscilla Presley) and let her inspire you?

Much like your dress, when it comes to the veil you will just know when you find the right one. I always think, someone else might buy the same wedding dress as you, but they’ll never style it out the way you do, and the right accessories will help you to make your wedding look your own. There are no hard and fast rules for choosing the perfect veil, my best advice would be to choose something you adore, feel amazing in and will cherish forever… And if it helps to ward off evil spirits too, well that’s just fabulous.

Discover the W Collective’s incredible wedding veils over at www.wcollective.etsy.com 

For more guest post from industry creatives and your favourite brands, head to the Team Hen blog.