Last updated : Monday, July 6, 2009

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To Pouf or Not to Pouf

www.thestudiophotographers.com

French or fingertip? Chapel or cathedral? Ivory or white? From the blusher to the beading, the right veil adds a touch of romance and enchantment to your wedding day style. Alexandra Kowalski, co-owner and designer at Bride's Head Revisited, has veil shopping tips for brides-to-be.

Q: What is a blusher and do I need one?
A: The blusher is the short veil that a bride wears over her face as she walks down the aisle. At the altar, the blusher is lifted to the back of the head and creates another layer to the longer veil. Some ceremonies require a blusher, if you don't know already, and you are unsure, you should talk to your minister, priest or rabbi. Even if a blusher is not required for the wedding ceremony, many brides choose to wear this beautiful and traditional style for their grand entrance to the altar.

Q: How long should my veil be?
A: The length of your veil is determined by the style of your dress and your marriage ceremony, and these days, personal preference. A full gown with a train in a traditional wedding ceremony would call for a Cathedral length veil (3 yards long from head to train) or even a shorter Chapel length that trails just a few inches past your dress train. A simple elegant gown at an outdoor wedding might require a shorter veil, elbow length or fingertip length. The most important thing is that the veil should complement your gown and your style.

Q: What color should it be?
A: Most veil designers offer veils in white, diamond white, and, sometimes, in several different shades of ivory. When veil shopping, bring a swatch of your gown fabric. White veils are best with non-natural fabrics. Diamond white is not a true bright white and work best with white silk fabrics (satins, dupionis, chiffons).

Q: Should my veil have a trim or embellishment?
A: Depending on the style of your gown, there are a variety of trim and embellishments that you can choose from to complement your gown. You can enhance the elegance of a simple gown with a veil trimmed with lace or ribbon edging or even with subtle scattering of crystals. A veil can also beautifully echo any beading or trim on a more embellished gown. Whether a simple satin ribbon edging on a fingertip veil or an intricate lace applique on the train of cathedral veil, a veil should complement and enhance your gown, not fight it.

Q: To pouf or not to pouf?
A: Veils come in a large variety of styles. How much tulle is gathered into the comb determines how much fullness your veil will have. You can choose from a very full veil that gives you height and a cloud of tulle around your head to a completely flat veil that seemingly drapes over your head, and everything in between.

Q: Do I have to wear a veil?
A: No (unless it's required by your wedding ceremony). You don't have to (and you shouldn't) wear anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. But, today's veils are not your grandmother's veils. There is such a large variety and selection of veil styles available to brides today. A bride who wouldn't be caught dead in a cathedral length veil and blusher, can peek through an elegant shock of French veiling as she walks down the aisle.

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