Miss Doe, Northern CaliforniaAge and Occupation: 24, Real Estate AssistantFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Recycling ManagerEngagement Date: December 25, 2010Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: Monte Verde InnAbout Me: I’m a Rat Pack fan and a Christmas nut that loves to read, good wine, cheesy ’80s movies and ’90s sitcoms. My wiener dog with an attitude problem and lazy basset hound are my constant source of entertainment. He's a hunter and I like cooking so it's not rare to see wild game on our dinner menu. Both of us were born and raised in a small historic farming town where our feet are still firmly planted. We have been together for nearly a decade and have shared many life experiences together, including birthdays that are only one day apart. We are two old souls that are creating our long-awaited wedding with loads of tradition that blends our two styles into rustic elegance in the foothills of Northern California.
As of right now, I am still veil-less. My head is naked and I need to find the perfect veil to grace it. I know that I want a fingertip length, single-layer veil with an unfinished edge. My problem is that I am having a hard time making a decision on what type of material.
I don’t know about you, but I had never heard of silk tulle until Princess Kate. (I’m sorry, I mean Catherine… oh let’s get real, she’ll always be Princess Kate.) The way her veil flowed was just dreamy.
My only issue is that if I get a veil made of silk tulle…I am worried it will look like nylons on my head. I know, I know…ridiculous. But it is a serious concern of mine.
The other option is bridal illusion, which is what most veils are made out of.
Miss Petit Four, San Antonio/Isla MujeresAge and Occupation: 25, Technology teacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Math Teacher and Football CoachEngagement Date: Feb 13, 2010Wedding Date: March 2012Venue: Zama Beach Club, Isla Mujeres, MexicoAbout Me: I am a polka-dot obsessed, destination wedding diva living and loving in the great state of Texas. I am an island girl at heart and I visit the beach as often as I can. I am a wannabe DIY goddess, but that doesn’t mean I won’t give it my best shot. I love pearl earrings, the color pink, and ruffles are a part of my everyday wardrobe. My wonderful fiance and I are planning a destination wedding with our closest family and friends and we’re leaving a trail of glitter in our path!
This is my aunt’s gorgeous mantilla veil that she so kindly donated to me for the wedding. The only minor problem was that awesome hat it was attached to.
Well, we ended up finding someone to detach the hat at sew the lace onto the veil. Ready to see it?
Miss Elk, City: Syracuse/Long IslandAge and Occupation: 25, Medical StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Computer EngineerEngagement Date: November 22, 2010Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: The Old Field Club About Me: I’m a Long Island girl finishing my last year of medical school in western NY, on the road to becoming a pediatrician. When I’m not studying or sleeping at the hospital, I spend my free time watching bad TV (Vampire Diaries anyone?), playing with my pooch, singing incredibly off-key (to the annoyance of Mr. Elk ), and reading Harry Potter for the zillionth time. Mr. Elk and I are planning a secular wedding infused with both Irish and cultural Jewish traditions. Only a week after I become an M.D., I will get my Mrs. degree, too!
When I first went dress shopping I had already decided that I didn’t want a veil. Why, you may ask, did I make this decision? Well, quite honestly, I think the concept behind a veil is just plain weird. According to Wikipedia, “veils covering the hair and face became a symbolic reference to the virginity of the bride,” and let’s face it, Mr Elk and I have been living together for almost 4 years—that ship sailed a long time ago. (I know a white dress is supposed to do the same, but mine is definitely not pure white—it’s got a dark ivory underlay.) Moreover, stores try to charge at least 100 dollars (and up to thousands!) for a piece of fabric that covers your face for all of a 25 minute ceremony.
While I had made my decision regarding veils, it by no means made me immune to their beauty. I started seeing pictures of gorgeous brides in flowing veils, and began to wonder whether I had made my decision prematurely.
Miss Aardvark, Beaver Dam, WIAge and Occupation: 23, Assistant Product ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Business Analyst Engagement Date: May 28th, 2011Wedding Date: April 2012Venue: St. Philip Catholic Church/Arcadia Brewing Co.About Me: I am a resourceful lady who love surprises and adventure. At the same time, I value traditions, family and friends. I like to make crafty messes, sometimes, clean them up, and do pretty much anything outdoors. The Mister and I are pretty avid cyclists---we have nine bikes in our home right now...and one motorcycle! We both enjoy eating food we can't pronounce (language doesn't really matter) and going places we've never been. We currently reside in rural Wisconsin, enjoying the cheese and beer it has to offer, and getting outside whenever we can!
Alternate title: The non-perfectionist guide to veil making.
You may or may not remember that I was feeling totally overwhelmed with veil options. Well hive, I made a choice (literally I made it! (Har har puns are fun!)). I decided to go pretty traditional, with a fun twist. Props to you if you pick up on the twist. I will be wearing the homemade veil for the ceremony and Step-mama-Aardvark’s cute short veil for the reception.
Anyone who has any interest in being totally shocked by my wedding day look (Mr. Aardvark) should probably not read this post…Or only read about half way.
Ok, now that we have that out of the way, there is one more disclaimer. I am not a perfectionist. Not even close. I am a better-stop-now-before-I-totally-ruin-it-cause-it’s-pretty-good-right?-ist. That is the approach I used when I made this veil. I did do extensive YouTube “how to make a veil” research and took my favorite bits from each one. I have to say, I am pretty pleased with how it turned out. If you are not interested in a $200 dollar veil, perfect edges, or perfect symmetry, I recommend this project and tutorial.
What you need:
Tulle (or other lightweight fabric of your choosing)
Yarn
Thread
Needle
Sewing machine
Comb
Scissors
Any doodads you want to add to jazz it up after you’re done
Miss Aardvark, Beaver Dam, WIAge and Occupation: 23, Assistant Product ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Business Analyst Engagement Date: May 28th, 2011Wedding Date: April 2012Venue: St. Philip Catholic Church/Arcadia Brewing Co.About Me: I am a resourceful lady who love surprises and adventure. At the same time, I value traditions, family and friends. I like to make crafty messes, sometimes, clean them up, and do pretty much anything outdoors. The Mister and I are pretty avid cyclists---we have nine bikes in our home right now...and one motorcycle! We both enjoy eating food we can't pronounce (language doesn't really matter) and going places we've never been. We currently reside in rural Wisconsin, enjoying the cheese and beer it has to offer, and getting outside whenever we can!
The past weekend was a whirlwind. We got SO much done. I will get into all of the food/reception fun in a bit but one of the most exciting parts of the weekend was finding and opening a bunch of dusty boxes. Boxes that held wedding dresses!
In honor of my trip to Michigan my grandmother dug out my great Aunt’s and Mama Aardvark’s wedding dresses. Step-mama Aardvark also found hers and busted it open (from is cryogenically frozen state) for a great round of show and tell!
All of these dresses really got me into the wedding spirit and got me thinking about how to incorporate little pieces into my own Bridal look.
Enough yip yapping on my part! How about some pictures?
This is the lovely box my Great Aunt’s dress was in. I think someday I would like to be a wedding box illustrator. Read more…
Miss Dalmatian, Nashville, TNAge and Occupation: 23, Pediatric NurseFiance's Age and Occupation: 23, Computer Engineer and Entrepreneur Engagement Date: April 13, 2011Wedding Date: May 2012Venue: Historic CedarwoodAbout Me: I am a Northern girl from Chicago who is planning a wedding filled with Southern charm in Nashville, Tennessee. I love dogs, the White Sox, Full House reruns, and anything with ruffles on it. Mr. Dalmatian is my computer-genius problem-solving fiance who is constantly teaching me new things and making me a better person. We live with our adopted pup Echo, who is very excited that his parents are getting married!
I have already shared a couple of photos of how drop dead stunning my sister, MOH A, looked on her wedding day last May. But in order to share another detail of my wedding day look, I am going to turn to a few more photos of hers.
Ms. Ferris Wheel, San FranciscoAge and Occupation: 29, PsychologistFiance's Age and Occupation: 27, PsychologistEngagement Date: May 23 and 28, 2010 (one for each of us!)Wedding Date: November 2011Venue: Parc55 Hotel (city lights ceremony, ballroom reception)About Me: Born in the Southeast, educated in the Northeast, and over-educated on the West Coast, I finally earned my city-girl credentials and have put down roots in gorgeous San Francisco. I’m a raging perfectionist with a lightning quick wit and a terrible sense of both time and direction. Our wedding task list is endlessly growing because of my predilection to think that DIY projects I can make = DIY projects I should make (so not true!). I always go to bed wishing there were more hours in the day to enjoy all the things I adore, whether that be hobbies, friends, my career, our two dogs, or Mr. Ferris Wheel. Ours is a story of a non-traditional couple living an oddly traditional life planning a not-so-traditional wedding in this city we adore. Together we are bustin’ out all of our best skills (and some of our worst ones) to plan a laid-back-chic DIY-craftastic love-alicious affair!
This past weekend I flew back to Georgia to spend a weekend with my mom, brothers, and my grandparents. In all the crazy hustle and bustle of last-minute wedding planning (24 days and counting, gah!), it was nice to get away from the stress for a bit and reconnect with family.
While I was home there was a lot of wedding talk of course, which spurred my mom to pull out some of her own wedding stuff. As soon as I saw her veil and headpiece in the dress box, I couldn’t resist trying it on.
Here’s my beautiful mother wearing her veil over thirty years ago.
And here I am—proving that this look was much better on her than it is on me. Read more…
Mrs. Raccoon, IndianapolisAge and Occupation: 22, StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Graduate StudentEngagement Date: Christmas 2010Wedding Date: January 2012Venue: Catholic Church, Chateau Thomas WineryAbout Me: I'm a wholesome Midwestern girl, TV series junkie, professional shower singer, and Anglophile. I love my fiance, crock pot cooking, my cat Heepo, going for the gusto, and all things wedding. Mr. Raccoon is pretty sweet, too! He’s a mad scientist that loves to travel. We met my first night on campus and have been inseparable since.
If you have not already, I would like you to meet my NO SEW VEIL.
A series of events (which we will get into later) and sales at the local craft store led me to making my own veil. Read more…
Miss Petit Four, San Antonio/Isla MujeresAge and Occupation: 25, Technology teacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Math Teacher and Football CoachEngagement Date: Feb 13, 2010Wedding Date: March 2012Venue: Zama Beach Club, Isla Mujeres, MexicoAbout Me: I am a polka-dot obsessed, destination wedding diva living and loving in the great state of Texas. I am an island girl at heart and I visit the beach as often as I can. I am a wannabe DIY goddess, but that doesn’t mean I won’t give it my best shot. I love pearl earrings, the color pink, and ruffles are a part of my everyday wardrobe. My wonderful fiance and I are planning a destination wedding with our closest family and friends and we’re leaving a trail of glitter in our path!
Does anyone know if it’s against the rules to combine these two?
My veil is something that was always pretty important to me. I knew exactly what I wanted—lacy and super-long! I longed for that beautiful lace edge of a classic mantilla veil and I wasn’t going to stop until I found one that was perfect for my dress.
So, the search began. I scoured Etsy, eBay, bridal salons here in town, and even Craigslist. FYI, all the bridal shops we went to were ridiculously overpriced. $1500 for a veil? Uh, no thanks. I was starting to think that my mantilla dreams would be dashed. Then, my super-awesome aunt swooped in to save the day.
She offered to let me use her cathedral length mantilla veil for my big day! Let me tell y’all, it’s gorgeous. Check it out.
Doesn’t she look pretty?! Love the sleeves
The only problem is that the veil has that ’70s hat style that we all know and love so well.
Miss Aardvark, Beaver Dam, WIAge and Occupation: 23, Assistant Product ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Business Analyst Engagement Date: May 28th, 2011Wedding Date: April 2012Venue: St. Philip Catholic Church/Arcadia Brewing Co.About Me: I am a resourceful lady who love surprises and adventure. At the same time, I value traditions, family and friends. I like to make crafty messes, sometimes, clean them up, and do pretty much anything outdoors. The Mister and I are pretty avid cyclists---we have nine bikes in our home right now...and one motorcycle! We both enjoy eating food we can't pronounce (language doesn't really matter) and going places we've never been. We currently reside in rural Wisconsin, enjoying the cheese and beer it has to offer, and getting outside whenever we can!
OK, so maybe fail is an overstatement, but I am a sucker for a good rhyme. I just feel like I should have some idea about what I want on my head as I vow my love to the man of my dreams! On top of that, some people, like Miss Magic, have picked out their veils before they’ve even bought a dress!!
You may be thinking, “Ms. Aardvark, there are so many looks and styles out there, I’m sure you will be able to find something you like!”
Well, internet, that is the problem. I like all of them (OK, most of them). Yep. Every time I see a veil I imagine myself wearing it down the aisle, and I like it. Every. Time. Shall we take a look at some styles that have fueled my indecision?
This elbow length bubble veil…stunning. Love the simplicity and the volume and the classic “Bridey-ness” (it’s a word!). Read more…
Mrs. Magic, Chapel Hill, NCAge and Occupation: 30, Licensed Clinical Social WorkerFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, ResearcherEngagement Date: December 1, 2009Wedding Date: October 2011Venue: Barn at ValhallaAbout Me: I’m a tall drink of water (5’10”!) and a Southern bride with an enormous appetite for Mexican food, good deals, anything French, and all things wedding! By day I am lucky enough to work with individuals with autism and their families. By night, I’m even luckier to be able to spend time hanging out with awesome friends, crafting, shopping, thinking about exercising, and kicking it with Mr. Magic and our two cats. I tend to have sudden, intense cravings that will not be denied (seafood enchiladas! new jeans!) and I’m prone to being a disorganized mess of anxiety and stress. After waiting (and waiting!) to get engaged, I am finally planning the colorful, fun, fabulously awesome Fall wedding of our dreams. In an effort to share the fun and craziness that is wedding planning, I’m gonna blog about it for y’all---the good, the bad, and the pretty!
I don’t think I’ve told you about my veil yet. You’ve been waiting, I know. I’ve actually had my veil forevah-evah…I bought it before I bought my dress. Allow me to explain.
I tried on the dress that is The One, which I haven’t technically revealed to you fully yet, but did give you a partial view. OK, fine, here’s another snippet.
Crappy photo of lovely dress and Barbie veil, courtesy of Yours Truly
I hadn’t bought the gown yet, or even fully committed to it, but I had tried on veils with the dress that would become The One, and I knew that the veil I wanted was a Barbie veil. That’s not the actual name for it.
I guess cathedral veils are really in these days, but when I tried those on, they made me feel like, um, what’s the expression? A wolf in sheep’s clothing? No. A whore in church? Eh, closer.
Miss Petit Four, San Antonio/Isla MujeresAge and Occupation: 25, Technology teacherFiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Math Teacher and Football CoachEngagement Date: Feb 13, 2010Wedding Date: March 2012Venue: Zama Beach Club, Isla Mujeres, MexicoAbout Me: I am a polka-dot obsessed, destination wedding diva living and loving in the great state of Texas. I am an island girl at heart and I visit the beach as often as I can. I am a wannabe DIY goddess, but that doesn’t mean I won’t give it my best shot. I love pearl earrings, the color pink, and ruffles are a part of my everyday wardrobe. My wonderful fiance and I are planning a destination wedding with our closest family and friends and we’re leaving a trail of glitter in our path!
The detail that is making my heart flutter today is head gear…or head wear. Whatever. Veils and such. After stumbling upon an amazing video over at Style Me Pretty, I really started to think what I wanted to do with my hair. I naturally just thought I would wear a veil and be done with it, but after seeing so many wonderful options, I don’t know how I will pick.
The first look I love is the Bohemian look. I think I would be able to pull this off simply because our wedding is on the beach and will probably be a little less formal that a ballroom wedding.
Mrs. Pony, Bloomington, ILAge and Occupation: 25, AttorneyFiance's Age and Occupation: 34, AttorneyEngagement Date: March 22, 2010Wedding Date: September 2011Venue: Mackinaw Valley Vineyard; Bloomington Center for the Performing ArtsAbout Me: I found my Southern counterpart in law school and since he popped the question last March, we have been busy graduating, job searching, bar taking, and wedding planning. My loves include must see TV, magnets, quotes, anything green, my car, fun socks, the Cubs, and my Mr. Together we love wine, playing outside, and exploring the world together. Stay tuned to see our Midwest wedding full of Southern charm, vintage flair, lots of DIY details, and a whole lot o’ wine.
A bachelorette’s attire is not complete without some sort of headgear. In the festivities I have been involved in, this almost always means some sort of veil. They’re fun and add an extra dab of bridal to the occasion, so I love to include them for my friends.
The easiest way to create a veil in my experience is to buy a cute tiara and hot glue some tulle on it.
The problem with this plan is that these tiaras are made for little girls and do not fit the head of a grown woman. They fit on your head for about .02 second before popping off.
So, for BM So and So’s bachelorette party last weekend, I knew I had to do something that would stay on her head while still being cute, fun, and personal. I started with these materials:
Mrs. Cinnamon Bun, Calgary, AlbertaAge and Occupation: 26, Stage ManagerFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Theatre TechnicianEngagement Date: June 22, 2010Wedding Date: June 2011Venue: Calgary Opera CentreAbout Me: I'm a life-long crafter and bookworm living in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. Some of my loves include Lord of the Rings, Sherlock Holmes, knitting, opera, musicals, Etsy, baking, and of course, Mr. Cinnamon Buns. We're keeping our wedding close to home---the venue isn't very far from our house, and we live within walking distance of 6 bridal salons. I'm using the wedding as an excuse to try out every craft project I possibly can, with the endless help and support of my fiance.
Maybe it was royal fever. Maybe my fingers were twitchy. Maybe it was too much Etsy browsing. Maybe I’m just crazy, but I decided to make a fascinator for my wedding three days before the big day.
(picture from Birdcage Supply - I bought this turquoise and some ivory too)
Now, as we know from some frantic posts at the end of April, I fell in love with a veil and ended up buying it to simplify my life. I figured the netting (which I spent all of $12 on, including shipping!) would just sit in my craft closet and gather dust, like so many other things. But… days before the wedding, it started calling to me. Read more…
Mrs. Parasol, San Ramon, CaliforniaAge and Occupation: 25, Non-profit writer, editor, and bloggerFiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Law school studentEngagement Date: December 19th, 2010Wedding Date: September 2011Venue: Bent Creek Winery (Livermore, California); Reception: Family Residence (San Ramon, California) About Me: I am a California girl at heart. I love the outdoors, sunny days at the beach, and hiking in the woods and mountains. I also love good books and am fresh from completing my Master's degree in English and Comparative Literature in New York City. Living in NYC was an amazing experience, and while I'm glad to be back on the West Coast, I'm also thankful that my two years back East gave me an opportunity to explore new places, make new friends, and indulge my passion for Broadway shows. Oh, and I received a pretty awesome proposal from Mr. Parasol in Central Park. Above all else, Mr. Parasol is my biggest cheerleader and my best friend. But even though I'm thrilled to be marrying him, I wasn't always totally on board with this whole wedding thing and at first, I wanted to run off and elope. I've finally been convinced to throw the wedding I never thought I wanted, and so now I'm busy planning an intimate September wedding filled with DIY details. Along the way, I'm slowly learning to appreciate, perhaps even love the wedding planning process.
When it comes to veils, brides have a seemingly endless supply of options. Choosing an appropriate veil can be almost as stressful as choosing a dress, and I am no exception. Although I had a clear vision of what I thought I wanted prior to even getting engaged (and prior to even choosing my wedding dress), once I started looking at all the different options out there, I found myself doubting my original choice and considering a variety of alternatives.
Here are just a few examples of all the different types of veils available to brides:
image via Snippet and Ink/ photo by Aaron Delesie
All-Inclusion Invitation Suites
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