You found the wedding dress. Now, what are you putting on your head? Wedding veils are one of those bridal accessories that seem pretty straightforward until you start shopping and suddenly you’re trying to figure out the difference between a blusher, chapel veil, cathedral veil & everything in between.After more than 20 years in the wedding industry here at The Garter Girl hand making wedding garters, I’ve learned a thing or two about weddings and bridal fashion, and I share lots of practical wedding planning advice and tips about wedding garters here to help you along the way. From short blusher veils to dramatic cathedral veils, wedding veils come in many different lengths and styles. And if you’ve never shopped for a wedding veil before, you probably have no idea what terms like flyaway, chapel and cathedral actually mean. Totally normal. Wedding veil lengths are generally named for where the veil falls in relation to your body or wedding dress. Knowing the basic terminology can make it much easier to explain what you like, search for wedding veil inspiration and work with your bridal stylist to complete your wedding-day look. So, let’s talk veils! See more of this custom wedding garter made from a mother's bridal veil → What Are the Different Wedding Veil Lengths? You may come across lots of names and variations while shopping, but some common wedding veil lengths include: Blusher veil Flyaway veil Shoulder-length veil Waist-length veil Hip-length veil Knee-length veil Floor-length veil Chapel-length veil Cathedral-length veil The exact measurements can vary between bridal designers, so think of these names as a general guide rather than an exact sizing system. Related: Where to Shop Online for Bridal Veils? → What Is a Blusher Veil? A blusher is the shorter portion of a wedding veil that can be worn over the bride's face. It can be lifted during the ceremony or simply incorporated into the veil as an additional layer. If you've seen that classic wedding moment where the veil is lifted away from the bride's face, you're looking at a blusher. Shop this Blusher Bridal Veil made by Dareth Colburn Designs → What Is a Flyaway Veil? A flyaway veil is a short wedding veil, often with multiple layers, that typically falls around the shoulders or above. Because it doesn't extend down the length of the wedding dress, it creates a very different look from longer chapel or cathedral veils. Short doesn't mean boring, either. Depending on the dress and veil, a shorter veil can feel playful, vintage, modern or dramatic. Shop this Flyaway Length Veil made by Ruffled Rose Veils → What Is a Shoulder-Length Veil? As the name suggests, a shoulder-length wedding veil falls approximately around the shoulders. This gives you the look and movement of a veil without covering much of the wedding dress. If your dress has details you don't want hidden beneath a long veil, it's worth trying shorter options to see how the whole look works together. Shop this Shoulder Length Veil made by Lennart Radtke Bridal → What Is a Waist-Length Veil? A waist-length veil generally falls somewhere around the bride's waist. It's longer than a shoulder or flyaway veil but doesn't extend down the entire wedding dress. Remember that veil lengths can look different depending on your height and where the veil is placed in your hairstyle, so don't get too hung up on an exact measurement. Shop this Waist Length Veil made by Dareth Colburn Designs → What Is a Hip-Length Veil? A hip-length bridal veil extends approximately to the hip area. This gives you more length and movement while still allowing the bottom portion and train of the wedding dress to remain uncovered. Shop this Hip Length Veil made by Vivian Atelier Studio → What Is a Knee-Length Veil? A knee-length wedding veil generally falls somewhere around the knees. It gives you noticeably more veil without extending all the way to the floor, making it another option between shorter veils and the dramatic chapel and cathedral lengths. Shop this Knee Length Veil made by Olivia Oceana → What Is a Floor-Length Veil? A floor-length wedding veil extends approximately to the floor but generally doesn't trail significantly behind the bride. It can create the effect of a long veil without adding the extended train associated with chapel and cathedral veils. Shop this Floor Length Veil made by Valery Dress → What Is a Chapel-Length Veil? A chapel wedding veil extends beyond the bride and onto the floor, creating a train behind the wedding dress. If you want that long, flowing veil moment without going all the way to cathedral length, this is one of the terms you'll want to know when you're shopping. Shop this Chapel Length Veil made by Belle Veil → What Is a Cathedral Veil? A cathedral bridal veil is one of the longest and most dramatic wedding veil lengths. It extends well beyond the wedding dress and trails behind the bride, creating that sweeping veil look you've probably saved approximately 400 times on Pinterest. If you want DRAMA, a cathedral veil can certainly deliver it. And yes, even if you don't think you're a cathedral-veil person, I still want you to try one. Shop this Cathedral Length Veil made by Bridal Poem → How Do I Choose the Right Veil Length for My Wedding Dress? if you're wondering about choosing the right veil length for your dress, here's the good news... There isn't one correct veil length for each wedding dress. Your stylist will consider the shape and details of your dress, its train, your hairstyle, where the veil will sit and, most importantly, the overall look YOU want. This is why I love trying veils while you're actually wearing your wedding dress or the sample dress in the bridal shop. You get to see everything together. A veil that seemed completely wrong when you saw it hanging on a rack might suddenly make the entire look click. Does My Veil Have to Match My Wedding Dress? Your veil should work with your wedding dress, but that doesn't mean every single detail has to be identical. Your veil does not have to match your wedding dress. Think about the color, lace, embellishment, edging and overall feeling of the dress and veil together. This is another place where your bridal stylist can be incredibly helpful. They see these combinations every day. You don't have to figure it all out yourself. Do I Have to Wear a Wedding Veil? Absolutely not, you do not have to wear a bridal veil to your wedding. You can wear a veil, headpiece, bow, flowers, hair accessories or nothing at all. But here's my advice... Try the veil. Even if you walk into your appointment convinced you don't want one. Putting on a bridal veil can completely change how you see your wedding dress and your entire wedding-day look. You can still decide it's not for you, but give yourself the experience before you rule it out. And one more little tip from me to you... If you're considering a veil, try different lengths while you're wearing your wedding dress. Take pictures from the front AND back so you can see how each veil works with the entire dress, especially the train and back details. Planning the Rest of Your Wedding-Day Look? Your veil is only one piece of your wedding-day fashion. The Bridal Fashion Fix helps you plan the dress, alterations, undergarments, shoes, accessories, beauty, other wedding outfits, budget & spending so all those individual decisions actually come together. GET THE BRIDAL FASHION FIX → Don’t Forget Your Keepsake Accessories... Your bridal veil might get plenty of attention, but not every bridal accessory needs to be on display to be special. Find your something blue, start a new wedding tradition or create a keepsake you’ll have long after the wedding with one of The Garter Girl’s handmade wedding garters and bridal heirlooms. FIND YOUR WEDDING GARTER → P.S. Some of the above product links are affiliate-connected and purchasing through these links helps to support the blog.
