Bridal Veil Series: An Introduction to Shopping for Veils
After getting engaged, the next thing you (and many other brides) do is purchase a bride magazine and begin picturing yourself in beautiful bridal attire. This includes your dream hairstyle and bridal veil.
Now, before you get ahead of yourself, there is an order things should be done.
1. Pick out your wedding gown first.
Why? How will you know what type of headpiece to choose if you don't know what you're co-ordinating with? Also, you gown could be white, ivory, off-white, cream, etc. There are so many, many shades of white available. When you find that perfect dress, you will want your veil to be the correct shade. Traditional white doesn't work with everything.
2. Decide on your wedding hairstyle.
Why? Now that you have your dress, you have a better idea of what type of hairstyle would look best with your gown. Do you want a formal up-do or a casual loose up-do? Or perhaps you prefer to wear your hair down and flowing around you. Some brides prefer a simple hairstyle, and others like half-up & half-down styles. Those with short hair have many options as well! You may choose to have fun curls accented with hair jewelry, or go with a more modern and funky look accented with a delicate jeweled headband. Or try something that's really different from your everyday hair and purchase a hair extension insert. My friend, Devon, did this and I couldn't tell where the insert began. It matched her hair beautifully. It's a very big decision, ladies, but an important one to figure out before moving on to the next step.
Tips: Depending on the length of your engagement, you may want to consult with your hair stylist to create a "growing-out" plan if you want to grow your hair into a different style for your wedding. Your stylist will be able to help you figure out if the hairstyle you want is workable with your length of hair. If it's not, she can also offer suggestions of styles that will create a similar look.
3. Go Veil Hunting!
Why? Don't go to just one store to look for a veil. Each bridal store will have different selections, especially when it comes to headpieces. Try a variety. Not just what you think you'd like, but try some styles that didn't grab your immediate attention as well. If anything, you'll come away with a much better idea of what you're looking for. After trying on lots and lots of headpieces and veils in all shapes and lengths, you'll have a much better idea of what you're looking for - not to mention a slightly sore head. I suggest a really nice ten minute head massage!
Tips: Don't let someone talk you into buying a veil because it "matches your dress". Instead, look for a detail from your gown you would like to enhance - such as pearls, flower details, or the trim. It could even be the flowers in your bouquet.
Veil hunting all in itself can be a daunting task. There are so many options! Over the next few weeks, I am going to delve into what veils look great with up-do's, long hair, short hair, funky new trends, lengths, edges, shapes, etc, etc, etc. So get ready for veils, veils, and even more veils!
Happy Wedding Preparations!
Danyelle
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*Photo courtesy of wedding-veil.com