A wedding veil may just be a bride’s most important “accessory” decision that she makes for her wedding day. By choosing the best style for her aesthetic and dress, veils hold a true WOW factor, and can really add the magic touch to her wedding photos. too. ;) But with so many options to pick from, how does one choose!?

First up: the birdcage!

I love when brides pick a birdcage veil. It usually means they’ve got a soft spot for vintage style, which I’m always about. And, as you’ll see from the follow photos, can be worn for either an outdoor spring wedding or a formal winter church wedding. Jillian’s birdcage veil was more ornate, as her dress fit her snug and simply. Megan’s veil, on the other hand, was a simple addition with just the right accent of style to her long-sleeved lace wedding dress.

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megan kelly wedding iowa des moines birdcage veil

Next, I’m choosing to show the knee length veil. I prefer this over the fingertip veil, as it adds just a bit more length to any bride’s height and also is just a bit more fun to play with! Olivia’s veil had two layers, so that she could have one over her face as she walked down the aisle… and the lace on her veil tips was stunning! Always pick the veil with lace ends. :)

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Kristen and Jenna also had knee-length veils. You can see that it works well with any style of dress, and can end with lace, beading, or nothing extra at all!

kristen wearing her veil and showing bridesmaids her dress
jenna and treye wedding chapel length veil

Emily wore a “waltz” length veil and it looked amazing on her. It brought out the delicate elegance or her grandmother’s wedding dress… which was fairly simple, except for the lace bodice. The waltz length is great for brides who want a long veil to add to (or accent) their height… and yet not as long as a cathedral length veil, so they won’t trip on it or get it muddy.

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Finally, the glory of all veils: the cathedral length veil! It doesn’t get longer than this. Heather wore hers in June, while Lizzy rocked a December wedding with both her lacy veil and a scarf for warmth. Even though both ladies had detailed wedding gowns, the veil only added to their splendor!

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cathedral length wedding veil in winter wedding Ames Des Moines Iowa
why wear a wedding veil?

So, what are my tips? Well, if you like the idea of veil photos, you should probably wear one (or at least bring one along for photos)!. I think it’s sweet when brides wear a blush (over the face) veil down the aisle, so consider a double layered veil if you like that tradition. And if you want to make a statement, wear a long veil!

  • If your wedding gown is princess styled (aka ballgown or poofy) you should pick a longer veil (knee length or longer) or a birdcage veil.

  • If you’ve chosen an ornate wedding dress, choose a veil that is more simple in nature, while if your dress is simple, pick a veil with some lace, layers, beading, or sparkle to it!

What do you think? Yes or no to veils, and what kind is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

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