How to Choose the Right Bridal Headpiece or Veil for Your Wedding Day
When you are ready to consider what you will wear on your head, you will first want to consider your wedding gown and what type of wedding you are having. Are you having a very casual wedding, or a very formal one? You also need to consider the length of your hair and what kind of hairstyle you will want to wear. If you have longer hair, will it be up or down? All of these factors come into play when deciding to go with a headpiece or veil. There are also quite a few styles today that incorporate both together for those who just cannot decide. Most importantly, whatever you choose must match your dress and look good on you. Just because something is pretty, doesn’t mean it will look good if you match it to the wrong dress or hairstyle. You might want to consider trying your dress on while you are shopping for the headpiece or veil.
One great way to get ideas is to look through bridal magazines. Find pictures of what you like and what you dislike. Clip these pictures and keep them handy when you are ready to shop. Having an idea of at least what is out there will help you save time and money. You might also consider attending bridal shows. Many companies are on hand at these shows and will have samples of the various types of headpieces and veils.
For those who are leaning more towards a tradition veil, you should know that these come in an array of styles, lengths, and fabric. You have many options to choose from. The pouf style is nice for second or informal weddings. The look is very short and simple. The shoulder length veil is just that, it stops at the shoulders. It allows the back of the gown to be seen in its entirety. This is a great choice if the back of your dress is very ornate and you do not want to obscure the view to your dress. The elbow length bridal veil is commonly seen in more formal daytime weddings and also works great with a shorter informal type of dress. Then, there is the fingertip length veil to consider. This one is the most popular style and is worn with a long gown. This veil hangs just below the waist. The chapel style is floor length and is mostly used in traditional and formal weddings. This type is made to accentuate the long gown. Then, there is the cathedral style that hangs on the floor and trails behind you and the train. This style is for extremely formal weddings.
If you know what style you want, then you can consider fabrics. There are many to choose from and what you pick should depend on your choice of dress and your personal taste. There is the traditional lace veil, which is very stunning for a formal wedding. You usually can choose between white and cream. You can choose shear, which is see-through material commonly seen today. You can even choose shimmery fabrics in pink, blue, white, cream, and for those non-traditional colors red, black, and many more. There are also the vintage old-style crochet veils. These are very simple yet elegant. You will be able to find these mostly in white and cream. Silk and satin are now being used as well. Sometimes alone and other times with shear. Silks and satins can come in an array of colors so there is a great amount of choice here. If you have a causal wedding, you might want to consider a tulle veil. These are easy to work with and are very pretty. In addition, these are generally less expensive and can easily be altered to any length.
If you have decided not to wear a veil, then you can consider a headpiece. These can be very simple and elegant or very ornate. You will have a variety of styles to choose from. If you want to feel like a true princess on your wedding day, then consider the crown style that sits like a ring on top of the head. If you want to go natural, you can chose to have a crown of fresh flowers or baby’s breath. In addition, you can ribbon, satin for a stunning combination of materials. These are classic and pretty accessories that will enhance your dress and hairstyle.
Tiaras are also popular and elegant. They are usually made from silver or gold metal with shimmery rhinestones or crystals to give them sparkle. These are really great for up-style hairdos. Crescents are a band that fits on the top back portion on the head and looks great with an up-do. These also come in a variety of material ranging from beads, flowers, material, or a combination of the above. Back pieces are made for the up-do and worn at the bottom part of the hair on the back of the head. These can also come in many designs and patterns, metal, flowers, beads, fabric, or any combination of these.
Maybe you want to go even simpler. If that is the case, then you can look at a comb that sits in the hair and gives a simple flare. These have the comb prongs to keep it in place. They are also good to keep those loose wispy strands from having a mind of their own. V-bands and circular bands are also very popular. You can easily add flare to it by adding fresh or silk flowers or beads and rhinestones. Hats and Juliet caps are more of a retro style, but still popular with some people. The hat should fit well and not be too big or small. A Juliet cap is a wire band decorated with beads, flowers, or lace that frames the face. These are elegant and very stylish. Some brides even chose to wear white cowboy hats for their wedding.
Whatever you chose, you should first consider your taste. Never wear something you do not love, but instead find a style you like and make it work. This is your wedding day and you should wear what makes you feel beautiful.
