Types of veils
Currently, Aura Veils offers three kinds of wedding veils:
one (or single) tier,
two tier,
cape veils.
Single tier veils consist of one, base layer of fabric.
Two tier veils consist of two layers - base and top (also called "blusher"). Blusher is traditionally intended to cover the bride's face during the wedding ceremony, but it is completely up to you - the top layer can also serve only as an additional layer for extra fullness.
A cape veil is a somewhat modern alternative to the traditional veil, which gives the bride more freedom in choosing her bridal hairstyle, because this ethereal wedding accessory attaches to the shoulder or back part of the wedding outfit.
Veils can also be classified by the amount of gathering/folds created at the veil comb. Veils can be:
- fully gathered (most popular & classic look),
- with a small gathering,
- without a gathering (also called "barely there" or mantilla veils).
The greater the gathering, the fuller and thicker your veil will look. A veil without gathering is recommended in cases where a wide lace edge is to be sewn or an embroidery is to be made at the top of the veil, as well as if your wedding outfit features a detailed back, which should be kept visible through the veil.
Veil length
Veil lengths are universally named after the place on your body they reach or cover:
shoulder length (+- 50cm / 20''),
waist or elbow length (+- 70cm / 28''),
hip length (+- 90cm / 35''),
fingertip length (+- 105cm / 41''),
floor length (+- 190cm / 75''),
chapel length (+- 240cm / 95''),
cathedral length (+- 290cm / 114'').
The blusher is usually 50 - 70cm / 20'' - 28'' long.
Because "one-size-fits-all" doesn't always work (especially for wedding veils), you can order any veil in a custom length.
Advice - if you're planning to wear a wedding dress with a long train and desire a long veil as well, it is recommended that the veil is 5 - 10 cm longer than the train of your dress. That way the veil won't "sit" on top of the train and will better hold its wide shape.
Veil width
Just like your veil length, its width can also be ordered customized, but classically it is divided into the following categories:
narrow (+- 100 cm / 39''),
medium wide (+- 150 cm / 59'', the most popular choice),
wide (+- 250 cm / 98'').
Advice - the more voluminous your wedding dress, the wider it is recommended to choose your veil. For a body-hugging dress even the widest veil will look impressive, but it is generally not recommended to choose a narrow veil for a full skirt wedding dress.
Veil combs & needles
Veil combs can affect the overall appearance of your veil - the wider the comb, the wider the veil is going to fall and the more it will want to hug your shoulders. Aura Veils offers veil combs in 3 different widths - 8, 10 and 12 cm (3.2'', 4'' and 4.7'').
Veil needles are a great alternative to combs and they allow the veil to be secured without a gathering and in a more invisible way. They are best suited for light, two tier veils but can also be used for narrow, single tier veils. It is recommended to use 2 veil needles for a more secure attachment.
Advice #1 - plastic veil combs are more prone to breaking, that's why I recommend and only use metal!
Advice #2 - the comb's teeth are fully hidden into your bridal hairstyle, therefore the color of your veil comb is only visible when the veil is not in your hair.
How to measure your ideal veil length
Important - before buying a veil, it's better to already know your bridal hairstyle and the length of your wedding dress.
Tools for measuring:
tailor's tape (or a string if the veil is going to be longer than the tape),
a hair pin,
your wedding shoes (or shoes of a similar height),
helping hands from a family member or a friend.
Measuring process:
put on your wedding shoes and stand in a relaxed pose with your gaze facing forward,
ask your helping hands to pin the beginning of the measuring tape or one end of the string approximately where the veil will be put in your hair,
read the desired veil length from the tailor's tape or cut the string and measure its length.