Weddingbee Blog

Ever since I decided against designing and making my own dress, I have been really excited to design and make my veil. I was extremely inspired by some of the lovely cathedral length veils that fellow bees have worn. Armed with yards of tulle, I started my veil journey. It would have been easier if I had my dress at home… guessing on length and the shape of the bottom of the veil was a bit tricky.

First, I asked a friend to come over and model so I could do the draping. My dress form is headless!

Draping the veil was really easy, since I didn’t want to gather the tulle. Here it is, after I trimmed the sides, with pieces of tape marking the center. Don’t mind the soup cans on the floor, I use them as fabric weights. A tutorial will be coming soon!

Mr. Taffy, no peeking!!! I’m not hiding these veils in the back of my closet for nothing!

It was crazy long, so I also shortened the bottom a bit.

Next, I took a light, wispy lace trim, and sewed it onto the edges by hand, using a contrasting thread. Mom Taffy came over and helped me, as it was a really long veil! Next I took it to my dress fitting the following week to see how the length and bottom shape worked against my dress.

I thought it was a bit too long, and I wanted to correct the bottom shape a little to match the skirt more.

Mom Taffy had a great idea- she marked where the actual dress was under the veil with tape, so when I got home I could round the edge to match.

I was really happy with the top portion of the veil, and I thought the lace worked really well with my dress.

Have I ever mentioned that I’m a Gemini? I might as well now, because lately I have been having a hell of a time making decisions. Right after I tried the veil on with my dress, I began having second thoughts about the length. I think it looks lovely, but I felt, for lack of a better term, trapped wearing it. I just didn’t feel as mobile as I would like to. Also, I wanted the hair stylist to put my veil in, and didn’t want to have a super long, easily wrinkled veil to deal with all morning. Then I thought about my dress, and how the back is my favorite part. I thought a fingertip length veil would show off the skirt more, as well as make me feel less weighed down.

So what did this Gemini do? She made another veil, exactly the same, except fingertip length. Here’s what it looks like:

I LOVE it. It doesn’t hide the beautiful lace on the back of the dress, and I don’t feel like I am being dragged down like I did wearing the other veil. Since it is shorter, it is less likely to be tangled in pictures, and my bridesmaids won’t have to worry about keeping it straight.

I will most likely wear this before the ceremony for pictures, and definitely during the ceremony. For the reception, I was going to make a birdcage veil, but after a reality check looking at my ever growing DIY to-do list, I put in an order with the oh-so-talented Mrs. Sea Breeze! Making two veils was enough for this bride.

By the way, a tutorial for both of my veils is coming soon!

Out of the two veils here, which one do you like the best? If you had a long veil at your wedding, did you feel encumbered by it?