Designing Your Perfect Wedding Veil
MY VEIL DESIGN TOP TIPS
Having made hundreds of them, I believe there are no hard and fast rules in veils.
But there are things that will really elevate your style and give you the overall look and feel you're imagining.
Here are my top wedding veil tips, featuring photos and behind-the-scenes stories from my own big day!
01
FOCUS
Your dress is such an important part of the aesthetic, so you want a veil which is complementing and not competing. It’s all about balance - if you have a heavily detailed dress, a very simple veil gets lost. Similarly a very heavily detailed veil may be too much, and too heavy.
02
DETAILING
Often petite brides worry that they are too short for a Cathedral length veil. In truth there’s no right or wrong height - it’s about proportions, detailing and balance. Heavy detailing around the face can overwhelm petite brides, whereas more delicate edging or one that starts at finger tip height, gives the lightness without detracting.
03
HAIR STYLE
Sometimes brides are surprised at how heavy veils can be, particularly if you’re going for a statement lace style. It’s so important to have a hair style that will support the veil so you can feel truly comfortable on the day.
04
JONNY GOULDSTONE PHOTOGRAPHY
CATHEDRAL LENGTH SOPHIE VEIL
THE VEILING MOMENT
LENGTH
You can’t really go too long on a veil - think royal weddings or celeb veil vibes - but you can definitely go too short. Often brides want a veil which is the same length as their train - the downside of this is your veil will sit in a heap on your train.
GOLDEN HOUR
You may think you have to have a bun or updo - which are great for veils - but the ‘hidden plait’ is a great option for wearing your hair down. It’s the most secure technique and is much better than back combing and hair spray!
We always recommend at least 20cm longer than your dress, so the veil pulls away when you walk to create the beautiful shape. If you have a veil with lots of detailing, we recommend going at least 50cm longer. You invest so much in a veil - you want the detailing to be seen and not get lost.
05
PHOTOS
Now I want to let you in on a secret - the first photo of my own wedding day was not created by the most perfectly timed gust of wind - rather, my uncle being the official 'veil fluffer'!
JONNY GOULDSTONE PHOTOGRAPHY
Let’s face it, a big plus of a dramatic veil are those windy veil shots! It’s so helpful to compile a list of 4 or 5 must-have shots so that your photos are what you have in mind. Photographers vary hugely - some are amazing at laying your veil and train out because they know it creates the best photos - others not so much. It can be a good idea to appoint an official ‘veil fluffer’ who can arrange your dress and veil for those all important shots. However heavy your veil, you can create the windy veil shot by having something throw the veil, so don’t let this put you off your dream veil.
JONNY GOULDSTONE PHOTOGRAPHY
THIS IS BY NO MEANS A COMPREHENSIVE LIST, BUT HOPEFULLY IT STARTS TO GIVE YOU IDEAS ON HOW TO REALLY GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VEIL AND BRIDAL LOOK ON YOUR SPECIAL DAY.
When you design a bespoke veil with us we go through each element to make it truly personal, special and perfect just for you.
