Beach Wedding Veil
Choosing whether or not to wear a beach wedding veil is a very personal choice. A veil is a traditional wedding accessory dating back to ancient times and many brides will just not feel like a bride without one!
Some beach brides however don't want to wear a veil, not even a beach theme wedding veil because they feel that a wedding on the beach is less formal, or perhaps they have a hairstyle in mind that they would prefer to show off.
Before you decide if a veil is right for you or not, lets have a look at where it came from in the first place.
Veil Styles for a Beach Wedding
Birdcage Veil
This type of veil adds a little touch of vintage glamor to your look. Generally they are made with French Netting or Russian Tulle and can be 2 tier or single tier.
They can also vary in length from just over the tip of the nose to chin length. If you choose a longer veil you can also lift the veil during the ceremony.
A birdcage veil will be great as a beach wedding veil as it is understated and will not blow around in a breeze. It will also not overwhelm your dress and gives a soft grace to your overall look.
Make it more beach themed by adding some starfish embellishment or a tropical flower.
See a selection here.
Shoulder Length Veil
The shoulder length veil also makes a perfect beach wedding veil because it is a lot less formal and will not overwhelm your dress. It is also great for dresses with details on the back as it allows them to be seen and photographed.
As with all veils you can get these in either a single tier or a 2 tier.
Find your shoulder length beach wedding veil here.
Elbow Length Veil
This is another less formal type of veil and would suit a beach wedding very well. It can be double layered or single layered.
The elbow length veil looks great with a cinched waist dress as it ends right at the waist line.
See some examples of elbow length veils here.
Fingertip Veil
The fingertip veil is one of the veils that is most often worn by brides as it compliments most formalities (from informal beach weddings to the Royal Wedding)
It also flatters most figures and dress styles, so it is a safe choice if you are dead set on wearing a veil, but you are indecisive as to which one.
Find some examples here.
Waltz Veil
The waltz veil or ballet veil as it is also called is almost getting a little too formal for a beach wedding, but it looks great with a fitted dress or a mermaid style gown if worn at the back of the head falling down the bride's back.
It also makes petite brides look taller as it creates elongated lines, so could be a consideration.
Have a look at some examples here.
Mantilla Veil
The mantilla veil is circular and normally made of tulle or netting with a lace trim around the border. It is attached to the head with a comb and the lace trim then frames the face.
This is quite a formal style of veil and is best suited to church (more commonly Catholic) weddings, but can suit other more informal settings if it complements the dress and is not too long.
Find some mantilla veils here.
An Alternative Beach Wedding Veil
If you are having a very modern style wedding and was thinking of perhaps a birdcage veil, then maybe this would also be something to consider as your beach wedding veil.
Very modern and elegant.
Get it here.
How To Choose Your Beach Wedding Veil
Firstly as with all wedding accessories, choose your Beach Wedding Dress before you choose your veil. This will ensure that the color you select will match your dress and will also be able to pick up on certain details of your dress like embroidery, lace, bead-work etc. Also remember that your veil should compliment your dress and not overpower it.
Secondly you should decide on how you would like to wear your hair on your wedding day. Have a look at our page on how to choose your Beach Wedding Hairstyle. There are many varieties of veils that can be worn on its own on a comb, with a tiara, headband or bridal halo and some styles of veil that can even be worn with very short hair.
If possible choose a beach wedding veil that is detachable from the
headpiece. You will most probably want to remove it sometime during the
reception when you are mingling and dancing without ruining your
hairstyle.
If you cannot match your veil color exactly to the color of your wedding dress then rather go for a shade lighter, never darker.
The length of your veil is another consideration. For informal or daytime weddings choose a short veil that is on or above shoulder length. If your beach wedding will lean towards semi formal then you can go for an elbow length veil or even longer.
Decide where on your head you want to wear your veil. You can wear a veil in 3 different ways: - right on top of your head - more towards the back of your head, covering your up-done hair or chignon - or in he nape of your neck, covered by your up-do or chignon.
History of the Veil
There
are quite a few versions of where the tradition of wearing a veil
originated from. Many believe, that when it was introduced in ancient
Rome, the people believed that the veil will protect the bride on her
wedding day from evil spirits or the evil eye.
Other sources
believe that it originates from the tradition of arranged marriages. The
groom would arrange with the father of the bride to marry his daughter
and often would not even know what she looks like. Since women could not
work and care for themselves, an unmarried daughter would be a burden
on her parents. Marrying age was also limited to only a few years and an
older women would very likely never marry. For this reason, the bride
often wore a veil over her face until the deal was sealed and her
husband could no longer turn back if he did not find her attractive.
Some
people believe that it symbolizes the chastity, virginity and purity of
the young bride as well as her willingness to submit to her new
husband.
In modern times, of course, none of the above really apply anymore. Now
the wedding veil is simply a sign that the woman in the lovely white
dress is a bride, that there will be a celebration of love. It also
helps to accentuate the features of the bride and complements and
balances the wedding dress.
There are many options of veils to
choose from. If you are one of these brides, then the helpful
information and links below will be just what you need.
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