Bridal Headpieces
The perfect accessory  to a gorgeous wedding gown is the right headpiece. Whether you love to play up the glamour or keep things simple and sweet, the proper one will complete your trousseau to a tee. The question is, which type would best suit you and your ensemble? Always keep in mind that you want the headpiece and veil to complement your gown, never overpower it or take away from how it flatters your figure. Also, the headpiece should be chosen so that it can be integrated into your hairstyle without weighing anything down or distracting from your look. With that said, before shopping for veils or headpieces you should have already picked out your gown and at least considered some of the possible hairstyles that you might like to do. Then, once you purchase the headpieces and veil, you can go to the salon and try out a few styles to see what you like best.
Remember that those who want to wear a veil throughout the entire wedding, from ceremony to reception, will want to look for something that is beautiful, functional, and durable. The hairstyle will become secondary in relationship to how the veil looks from the front AND behind. If your goal is not the veil, then focus more on your hair and how it will look when the veil comes off. Either way you choose, try and find something that will accentuate your favorite facial features and that will balance out your face shape.
With sunglasses, haircuts, hats, shirts, and jewelry, face shape always plays a part in which type you choose. The same goes with veils and hair pieces. The bottom line is that opposites flatter most. - Round face? Avoid full veils that make your head look rounder than it is. Updos are excellent choices as are sleek styles with the hair down.
- Oblong face? Give it a full look with a fluffier waterfall style veil and avoid updos that will make you look even longer.
- Square jaw? Soften it with tendrils around your face. Avoid full veils that might make your face look wider than it is.
- Heart-shaped? Updos with a veil placed below the hair extend out from behind the neck, making it look wider.
- Short face? Lengthen it with a longer veil without too much fullness. Mantilla styles wil elongate your line.
Hairpieces
Hairpieces can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. Typically, pearls, rhinestones, sequins, and floral embellishments are things you'll find on hairpieces.
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Bun Wrap
These are great for decorating an updo and creating a simple look. A bridal halo is similar, but larger so that it can rest on the head. This is ideal for creating soft, curly updos and for those with short hair styles. |
Hair Jewelry
Hair combs and clips are small and elegant, perfect for nearly everyone who wants an understated hairpiece. Works for most hairstyles and hair lengths. Also good for sweeping updos. |
Bridal Headband
Simple and sophisticated. Perfect for sleek looks with the hair down or straight back. The veil can be attached to the band or placed in the hair with combs. |
Tiara
Best worn with a smooth and controlled updo, whether it's curly or straight. This creates a traditional and romantic look. Use your hair or the veil to conceal the back of the band if it is halo style. |
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Fresh Flower Accents
A few fresh flowers that you have used in arrangements can add a beautiful burst of color to your outfit. Perfect for spring, summer, and outdoor weddings. |
Floral Hair Wreath
For casual, and perhaps even bohemian, outdoor weddings, a floral wreath adds a romantic and feminine touch. |
Bridal Hair Pins
A few strategically placed hair pins with pearls, flowers, rhinestones, or silk flowers add just a touch of timeless elegance and a little flirty fun. |
Bridal Hat
For a slightly different look, try a bridal hat with a built in blusher to cover the face. These are feminine and old-fashioned, even a little retro. Pair it with a short, flirty dress. |
The Veil
Besides personal taste, choosing a veil has a lot to do with the formality and location of your wedding. Basically, the more formal your event and the longer the gown, the longer the veil. Usually, but not always, the veil is kept shorter than the dress. Keep in mind that the length of the veil will vary depending on your height and body proportions, so what may be fingertip length on one person may be down to the knees of someone smaller. Another important factor of length is that you want the veil to highlight the most stunning parts of the gown and frame your face and figure well. For example, if you have a very accentuated waist, it's best not to have the veil hit right at the waist because it will take away from the hourglass look. Better choose one that hits slightly above or below the waist. Likewise, if you have a lot of intricate embellishments on the back of the skirt, it would make sense to have either a shorter or longer veil that will showcase the detailing instead of covering it up.
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Blusher Veil
This shoulder length veil is meant to wear over the face and in combination with a longer veil. It adds mystery and a romantic touch. |
Elbow Length
These can be used as both formal and semi-formal veils. They are perfect for shorter dresses and they also help accent bodice and waist detailing of the gown. |
Fingertip Length
This is both adequate for formal or semi-formal attire, but the gown length should be at least, if not longer than tea-length to get the proper effect. |
Chapel Length
These are typically reserved for formal weddings and for gowns that are at least floor length. They are around three yards long, perfect for chapel length trains. |
Cathedral Length
This is the most formal style veil available and should only be worn with long gowns, preferably with a cathedral or semi-cathedral train. |
Length is important, but there are other considerations to take into account as well. The color, which many people would not even think is an issue, needs to match to the dress as closely as possible. There are usually three colors to choose from: white, off-white (often called "diamond white" which is best for white silk gowns), and ivory. It is recommended that you choose a veil a shade lighter (rather than darker) than your gown.
Pay close attention to the detailing, if any, on the veil. There may be embroidered edges, contrasting edges (say in red to match a sash), pearled edges, sequins, swiss dots, or all-over lace. Try one of two approaches: match up the edging or overall decoration type to your gown or do completely the opposite. For example, if your gown has touches of Alencon lace on it, try to get a veil that will mimic it. Slight touches of lace on both pieces will really make the look come together. However, those with very "busy" dresses, perhaps covered in all-over lace, might want a simpler veil instead of one covered in lace so as not to distract from the gown. The bottom line is the more ornate the gown, the simpler you want the veil to be. The opposite is not always the case (a simpler gown calls for a more ornate headpiece) unless you want to draw attention to your face. However, if keeping an overall simple look is what you're after, keep both pieces as simple as possible.
You also need to consider the fullness of the veil. Basically, the fuller it is, the more formal and extravagant it becomes. The slimmer and sleeker it is, the simpler a look you can achieve. Part of getting the right fullness has to do with selecting the right number of tiers (one, two, or three) and selecting a veil shape.
Finally, you'll want to consider the type of material used for the veil. Tulle is very common, and offers plenty of volume and average stiffness. It comes in various types: polyester, silk, and cotton. The highest quality are cotton and silk, and will be slightly lighter and more flowing than polyester. You might also want a chiffon or organza veil, which both offer a good weight and texture. Just be aware that unlike tulle, these fabrics will unravel if they are not finished. So, you'll have to get a veil with edging. If you don't like the look of finished edges, it's best to stick to tulle.
Major Manufacturers
The best way to shop for veils and hair pieces is to shop by brand. Start with the links below.
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