Most brides wait till the gown is ordered
before making a decision on a veil. In addition to complimenting your dress, you’ll
need to zero in on your body type. For instance, petite brides want to create the impression
of height. Yes, petites can wear pouf veils as long as the volume up top doesn’t
imitate an Indian-headdress, dwarfing rather than extending height. Also
if you’re short, a cathedral length veil isn’t the best choice—even a dropped
version with zero density. You can get the drama and extension you need
by scaling down to a waltz or chapel length to fit your proportion.
Heavier and/or thick-waisted brides look best in a one layer dropped veil
tacked onto a bun, falling in a swirl down the back. Try keeping your
lines back and delicate, avoiding elbow length veils with lots of volume.
Ditto veils edged in ribbon; they can form lines across the waist,
creating width. If you’re tall you’ll want to keep the poise of your
height intact without going over the edge. Go ahead and wear that
cathedral veil with your long-trained ballgown. But realize even tall,
sylph-like women have limitations. Princess Diana who was a stunning
5’10”, over-volumized her height her wedding day when she piled layers of tulle
atop a dress already screaming of über-pouf. Face it, we all have to work
on getting the symmetry right.
Generally, more ornamental gowns look best with
simple veils, like one layer of tulle with narrow edging or no edging at all;
whereas all over lace veils or ones edged with wide borders require a simple
gown with little adornment. Your dress might have some exquisite back
details you want to show off. If this is the case select a shorter veil
like a fly away or net pouf. Want a more romantic look? Try a layer
of tulle— preferably in a dropped style that doesn’t fall in creases and folds
across your back. Tulle is the best fabric for this; it’s transparent
enough without being so opaque to fog detail. If your gown has no train,
wearing a chapel or cathedral length veil can create one—especially elegant
when bordered in wide-edged lace or there’s a concentration of lacework on the
train portion.
AFTER THE CEREMONY
If you’re in a long veil and want to
remove part of it for the reception, have your salon work out the fastening
system with you and whoever is helping you. Taking off the entire veil?
Exactly when during the reception is up to you; it depends on whether you
want to be veiled in photos cutting cake, toasting, dancing, etc. Some
brides wear their veil the entire day. And I suppose this is because
there is nothing quite like a white veil that says . . . Today is the
only day I will ever be a Bride.
Veils and gowns by Amy Jo Tatum
Photography by Pixamage
Hair: Salon Kao Vey
Mua: Necia Whitmore
Veils and gowns by Amy Jo Tatum
Photography by Pixamage
Hair: Salon Kao Vey
Mua: Necia Whitmore
2 comments:
Gorgeous!
Hello. Amy-Jo,
A simply wonderful collection of bridal elegance and finery. I am certain that many brides will find your advice as to the best type of veil for their body type very helpful.
These pictures are all so beautiful that it is very hard for me to choose a favorite. But perhaps a possible favorite would be the bride with the cathedral length veil wearing a halter gown.
And for me, it is just so womderfult that all these brides add to their elegance by wearing long opera-length gloves, (a favorite of mine).
Sincerely,
Sheila
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