How to choose a wedding veil – with Madame Tulle

 

Madame Tulle is a Sydney-based bridal accessories designer and curator, catering to brides in Australia and around the world.

They dream and speak all shades of white and beyond; caring about tulle, lace, and other details, and as such – are our go-to when it comes to veils and elegant accessories.

Lead designer and business owner of Madame Tulle, Kay, sincerely find veils to be equally important as all the other accessories a bride chooses to wear on their wedding day. Historically and symbolically, veils may have collected a negative rep here and there, what with being traditional, outdated, and even sexist. However, Kay boldly decided to put all of that aside and focus on the fact that veils are and should be worthy of attention and love. After all, haven’t veils been responsible for countless tears of joy and gasp-inducing awe over the years too?

Naturally, we turn to the experts when it comes to seeking advice, and for what to consider when selecting a veil and which one will best suit your needs – read on below.

 

A question the Madame Tulle team hears most often from their clients, is whether or not they ‘need’ a veil.

You might have tried on some accessories when purchasing your gown, but didn’t want to order it straight away, so then arrives the time for you to go hunting for the perfect veil that will complete your look.

There are a few different styles for you to choose from and in order to find the right veil for you, you need to start with answering the following questions:

 

 

What is your wedding dress style?

Traditional, modern, bohemian, vintage, 1920s inspired, 1950s inspired, the list goes on. From here you will be able to narrow down the options, especially if you have done your research online and browsing wedding magazines. For example, if you are going to wear a bohemian-style wedding dress then a birdcage veil is likely not the option for you.

 

 

What is the silhouette of the dress?

Ball gown, princess, A-line, mermaid, trumpet, sheath, tea length or cocktail. This will help you to decide on the length and the fullness (width) of your veil. Your veil should be proportional to your dress.

BALLGOWN
Short veils (elbow or hip length) and long veils (chapel length to cathedral provided it’s longer than the train of the dress).
Veil width: medium to extra fullness.

PRINCESS AND A-LINE
Fingertip length veils and long veils (chapel length to cathedral length provided it’s longer than the train of the dress).
Veil width: medium to extra fullness.

 

 

TRUMPET AND MERMAID
Birdcage veils, elbow to fingertip length veils and long veils (chapel length to cathedral length provided it’s longer than the train of the dress).
Veil width: narrow to extra fullness.

SHEATH AND COLUMN
Birdcage veils, from elbow to cathedral length veils (if choosing a long veil – provided it’s longer than the train of the dress).
Veil width: narrow to medium fullness.

TEA LENGTH AND COCKTAIL
Birdcage veils, mini to hip length veils.

This guidance applies to wedding dresses in general based on my observation and personal opinion but it all comes back to your desired bridal look and personal preferences.

 

 

What is the material of the dress?

Satin, cotton, chiffon, lace, tulle, silk and the list goes on. Now you can decide on the detail of your veil like the edging and embellishments. If you are wearing a lace wedding dress and you want to wear a lace edged veil, it’s best to ensure that the lace trim matches the lace on your dress.

Don’t let the veil overpower the details and take attention away from your dress. While a plain or non-embellished veil will suit any dress style, if you are wearing a satin gown, perhaps you could consider a satin-edged veil to complement your outfit.

You may also try to mix and match, as long as your veil and your dress complement each other.

 

 

What is the colour of the dress?

White, ivory, cream, champagne, blush, etc. There are different shades and tones of white in bridal fabrics and they are often described as; white (pure white, stark white), diamond white, candle white, silk white, ivory, light ivory and so on.

It’s easy to decide on the colour if the only available options are white and ivory but sometimes this is not the case. So, please be careful when choosing the colour of your veil, avoiding last-minute disappointment when you realise the contrast.

 

 

What hairstyle are you going to wear on you wedding day?

It is also important to consider your hairstyle before ordering your veil. It’s good to know where the veil is going to be positioned on the head so you are able to measure and get the desired length.

 

 

Top tip – don’t leave it too late!

If you still can’t decide on your veil, you can wait until you get your wedding dress to make sure you choose the right style and colour for the veil, but some other valuable Madame Tulle advice is to ensure you don’t leave it to the last minute. A bride shouldn’t be panicking about their veil close to their wedding day – contact the professionals if you have any questions, they’re there to help.

 

Madame Tulle is a fabulous addition to our Ivory Tribe directory, bringing passion and experience to the wedding game – you can rest assured knowing you’re in great hands, and no question is too silly, no request to small.