Wool Over My Eyes
July 28th, 2006 @ 12:31 pm by Mrs. Daisy
Ok, so it’s common knowledge that the wedding industry is a bit of a racket. Everyone has heard the stories of how if you book a venue as a wedding they charge something like 20% higher than if you book a venue for “a party”; how flowers suddenly cost more; etc.
So I didn’t expect a wedding veil to be a complete bargain. (After all, it has “wedding” right in its title). But I so did not expect to have the vendors try to pull the wool tulle over brides’ eyes to this degree.
Judging by my less than amused expression, I’m still able to see the price tag through the netting.
The veils I looked at were a) without lace; b) without embroidery or embellishment of any sort; c) not cathedral length. Essentially, the veil I seek is tulle, with a cord-edge on the veil (fingertip length) and a blusher that *doesn’t even have cording*. It’s essentially a cut piece of net sewn to a plastic comb. So when I was quoted about $500 for this, seemingly, simple piece of fabric, I was shocked. Shocked!
So what are my options?
My mom found this site: Bridal Store Online, which has about a million veils priced under $100. Then there’s David’s Bridal, where the veils, I imagine, would be reasonably priced. But do I do a less expensive veil to go with my not-less-expensive dress? Does it even matter?
I still have to figure this out though. Can anyone recommend a place where you have had veil success? (and if you don’t mind giving a price approximation for what you bought, that info would certainly be helpful!)
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37 Responses to “Wool Over My Eyes”
I spent $100 on a veil at Kleinfelds. But I totally got ripped off!!! This is NYC- there are bargains and materials galore. Go check out the Garment District for tulle and veil stores.
No idea the costs, but I know there’s a store just west of Tomkins Square Park that is just veils. (Bridal Veil Falls is the name, I believe). Might be more reasonable?
I hadn’t started to think about veils yet… figured I’d pick one out once my dress came in. I’m also amazed that it’d cost so much for one that’s so simple - understandable when they’re getting laced & beaded, etc, but yeah. $500? Damn.
Hi!
I had two silk tulle veils custom measured and made at Neiman Marcus Dallas for $365 total.
One was a waist-lenth with a comb attached, and the other was a chapel-length veil that I took off after the ceremony.
It was great because they custom measured the veils, so they were exactly the right length for my height and dress.
$500 is crazy. 
veilshop.com - My friend got hers from there and loved it and it looked great and it cost about 40 bucks!
I ordered their free swatches which includes a swatch of every shade you can get it in - about 12 or more i believe.
Hi,
I have been an avid reader of the website. I bought my veil at veilshop.com. I ordered a drop veil, fingertip length with pearl and swarovski crystals for $74. They have shipped out the order as of today, so I should get it in a few days. Will let you know how it turns out. But honestly, how bad can a “cut piece of net” be?
i got mine from http://www.weddingveil.com
i agreed to buy the veil at the place where i bought my wedding dress - myrjan in brooklyn. they dont have too much choices, but i think the veil i want is pretty simple with some decorative beading to match my dress. because i bought the dress from there, she is giving me 50% off on the veil (i got no discount on the dress) - so my veil will be less than 100 dollars.
also mine was about 135 i believe.
I forgot to describe my veil- one tier, tulle, no embellishments or edging, elbow length
I’m pretty sure I could have gotten it elsewhere for hald the price I paid (which was $100 as mentioned above). Anyway, good luck! =o)
$500 for that????
man, i’m in the wrong business….
I’m making my own cathedral length veil… and it will cost me a grand total of 4 bucks.
i would never pay more than 30 bucks for a veil. it’s so simple and easy to make….
man… i’m really in the wrong business……
ah, you girls are the best!!
a, thanks for the suggestion (and reminding me)! i actually walked by that store since our cake guy is also off Tompkins Square, but Mr. Daisy could not be convinced to go with me. maybe i’ll walk over today (despite the nightmarish humidity!)
Miss Ant, if you’d seen my home ec sewing project (a lopsided pillow semi-shaped like a pig), you’d definitely not advise me to go anywhere near a fabric store. however, my boss, on the other hand, is an expert seamstress, so…
i ordered my veil from http://www.occanseydesigns.com and received it within a week! i was completely satisfied with it. i paid $52 for a sheer fingertip length with a pencil edge.
Um, ebay. I got mine for 12 bucks plus shipping. I see no point in paying a huge sum for a veil.
I’m only going to pay $20 at the most for mine…I’ll embelish it myself if I so see fit. I think it’s ridiculous to pay more than that for a piece of tulle.
i have heard a lot of good things about http://www.occanseydesigns.com, where aJellyBean bought her veil. i’ve seen pictures of real brides with veils from occansey, and they look great…for a simple veil is very affordable, and you can customize length, “poofiness”, fullness, etc…that’s where i plan to get mine.
I got mine with my dress from a bridal shop in NH. The price is irrelevant I suppose since it was not purchased in NY, but in any case the veil was $220. Yeah, a ton of money.
I was surprised at how much I loved it though. It is “cafe” colored and has pewter, ivory, and light gold beading that delicately lines all the edges. It is fingertip length, if I recall correctly. And it hangs ever so beautifully. I almost think I like the veil more than the dress (which, make no mistake, I love dearly).
I was shocked at the price, and tried to dissuade my mom from buying it for me, but she loved it immediately and was unmoved by my appeals for a more sensible purchase.
At its price, the veil cost 50% of the cost of my gown (Maggie Sottero’s Rebecca).
Hey, I have my veil made especially for me. The lady that made my veil made a two layer veil about waist size one layer is shorter than the other, it has a little white ribbon trim at the edges so it looks finished, then she added some crystal to the veil for shine, the veil is also from shinny tulle. The tulle is not shinny- shinny but nice shinny; I hope you know what I’m talking about.
In addition to this veil she also made me a cathedral length veil with the same finished of ribbon at the edges and the shinny crystals for the ceremony. The veil is amazing, for all of this she charged my $89.
I’m from Chicago and the person that made my veil has a small bridal shop in Little Village. This is a Mexican neighborhood in Chicago-I’m Mexican. I am not sure what the equivalent of Little Village is in NY but sometimes it pays off to look into these places, it saves money and they create the veil just like you want it.
Bere
I ran into the exact same problem. I’m on a pretty tight budget so even the ones at David’s were too up-there for me. I mean, really, it’s just a piece of tulle!! I ended up getting one for $20 from craigslist. It’s ivory, fingertip, no lace, etc. Pretty plain but it was brand new since the lady I bought it off of had like 4 for reserve. Maybe you can try craigslist. You would be doing yourself and the seller a favor
Good luck!
in the meantime, Mr. Daisy just told me that i am a “tulle” if i spend $500 on a veil. oh his supportive humor just kills me.
ddonaghe, your veil sounds lovely and i could *see* something with, well, something costing a bit more. it makes sense (to some degree) b/c at least beading is labor intensive.
i, again, appreciate all these ideas, because prior to your comments, i was really tempted to hot glue gun some tulle to a comb and call it a day.
Jo-ann’s has veil kits that are pretty inexpensive (15-20 bucks). Any fabric store has books and often classes.
The veil the woman at Kleinfeld brought me to try on was……TWELVE HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!!!!!! It had gorgeous hand made lace all around the edges but still, that’s more than a ton of dresses cost!!!
As for more realistic options…I am 99% set on getting one from http://www.weddingveil.com where Mrs. Ladybug got hers. And SHHHH but my top choice at the moment is the one Mrs Ladybug actually wore…. (It’s just sooo pretty!!!)
I’ve also heard about girls having good experiences with http://www.occanseydesigns.com
Good luck!
I bought mine from ebay. $20! I definitely wouldn’t pay more than $50.
Ebay, $18 (including shipping)
For an elbow lenght, pencil edged veil. Love it, it’ll do the job
This is pretty irrelevant to the discussion as I’m in Missouri, but…
I got my veil at the same shop my dress came from. Ivory, fingertip, with a ribbon edge. $36. And I LOVE IT! 
It’s seriously one of my favorite pieces of my wedding ensemble–I’d wear it every day if I could, but that might be, erm, a bit strange, no? 
Got mine on Ebay. Chiffon very simple $30!
I bought a cathedral veil with a 26″ blusher in diamond white from Occansey Designs. It was about 70 bucks and just as nice as the 700 erin cole veil I tried on at the salon.
She will customize it and offers a ton of different styles, emellishments, lace, etc. I highly recommend
http://www.occanseydesigns.com/
the first place i looked was a david’s bridal is not so “cheap” there… i actually got my veil (with embellishments) with my dress (including alterations) for $1150.00
the place i went also let me borrow the underskirt for free… it’s a boutique in la
the first place i looked was a david’s bridal is not so “cheap” there… i actually got my veil (with embellishments) with my dress (including alterations) for $1150.00
the place i went also let me borrow the underskirt for free… it’s a boutique in la
Wow $500 for something unembellished… that’s crazy! I haven’t looked at veils yet. But my best friend bought a ribbon edged one and saved quite a bit of money by gluing Swarvoski crystals herself. (She did the same thing w/her shoes.) And it looked just as nice! I think I lucked out, both of my two best friends and my new sis-in-law are all offering (if not, almost insisting because they’re so enthusiatic!) to lend me their veils. So I think that’s a cost I can cut out of my budget. Good luck Ms. Daisy!
I got my veil for $15. This lady works out of her house and makes it to your liking. I told her exactly what I wanted, and in a week it was done. Only thing is that she’s located in So. California.
I bought my veil off of an ebay e-tailer when I got married- kind of like veilshop.com where you give them the specifications that you want. I had a graduated 3 tier, finger tip veil with a corded satin edge and I think I paid less than $40. I loved it too.
The veil store near Tomkinns Square Park is called Bridal Veil Falls - the entire store is devoted to veils! It is located on 9th Street between 1st and A. I had my veil custom-made to my specifications by the owner herself for under $150. Her prices are very reasonable, but even more importantly her customer service is priceless.
i am definitely going to check out Bridal Veil Falls this week. it’s so close by and i really do like the idea of seeing a veil in person, although i have had great luck with internet vendors for everything else, so that’s definitely an option too!
i can’t say it enough– you girls rule! your advice is so helpful, you have no idea!
thanks, thanks, thanks!!!
Hey DIY-ers I just found this and thought I would post it!
Hey Ms. Daisy.. I’m weighing in on this pretty late but I wanted to let you know that purchased my tiara and veil in nyc for about $65 for both pieces. I was in the perfume district (at least that’s what I call it b/c there are many wholesale retails shops in the area that sell perfume).. i can’t remember the exact street but it’s not to far from manhattan square mall and macys on 34th street…
the stores in that area also seem to sell wholesale jewelry and many items for Quinceanera/Prom/Sweet Sixteen parties… Crowns etc.. These stores are on Broadway from 31st to 27th street in Manhattan!
Mrs. Daisy, New York
Age and Occupation: 32, Attorney
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Finance
Engagement Date: December 10, 2005
Wedding Date: November 11, 2006
Blogging Since: June 7, 2006
Venue: Metropolitan Club
About Me: My favorite activities used to include knitting, cooking, doing the crossword puzzle and about a million other relaxing pursuits. Since my engagement, well, not so much. Wedding planning has become my primary hobby. So much so that I am downgrading my work schedule to part-time in order to more fully dedicate myself to my wedding (and reality tv, as well, if I'm being honest).
i bought my veil from the bridal atelier where i got my dress and i don’t really remember how much i paid. i think it was around $200? it was a pretty simple veil, no blusher with the tiniest splash of swarovski crystals.
i’m willing to spend on things that are worth it, but i think most people agree that hundreds and hundreds of dollars on veils seems pretty ridiculous. i wonder how much it even costs to make them.