January 2005

The Icing on the Cake

Wedding veils take some thought to be just right

if the wedding is all about the dress, then the veil is the icing on the cake. While you may be able to tell right away if a dress is right for you, veils can be iffy. There are a number of different veil lengths, and the veil has to look right with the dress. Other considerations include the bride’s hairstyle and physical appearance. Joanna Saltz, fashion and beauty editor for The Knot magazine, helps Hampton Roads Bride unveil the mystery.

Chapel and Cathedral
The single tier chapel or cathedral veil extends to the floor. The chapel veil falls 2-1Ú2 yards from the headpiece; the cathedral veil falls 3-1Ú2 yards or more from the headpiece. These veils work well with almost any type of gown from a full ball gown to a simple sheath, and look great on almost any bride.

Elbow
The most common veil, it extends 25 inches in length to the bride’s elbows. It works well with practically any type of gown because of its length and simple lines. When paired with a full-skirted gown, the shorter veil length helps balance and evenly disperse the width of the skirt.

Fountain
Similar to veils our mothers wore, this veil is usually of shoulder or elbow length. It is gathered at the crown of the head to create height and a cascading effect around the face. Since this veil turns in slightly at the waist and gives the illusion of curves, it looks best with a straight gown. Pairing it with Basque waists and full skirts can make the bride look abnormally curvy. But a fountain veil is looks terrific when it balances a long, oval face with volume.

Fingertip
This style extends to the fingertips and is most often paired with a ball gown or A-line dress. It is perfect for the bride who wants some length in her veil but not one that extends all the way to the floor.

Mantilla
This romantic, Latin-inspired look has become the fashionista’s choice. It is a circular piece of lace that frames the face and is often made of lace or lace-edged tulle. A mantilla veil is best paired with a simple dress like an A-line or sheath either covered in lace or accented with lace, or unembellished.— L.B.