The Wedding Veil
The first three words that come to my mind about the wedding veil are delicate, mysterious, and revealing. Its sheer, delicate material producing a mysterious "covering" over the bride's face whom we all know, yet can't wait to see at the big reveal… "Oh she looks beautiful, "Isn't she lovely." Even more revealing, is the groom's expression when he lifts his brides veil.
What really is the story behind the "Wedding Veil?"
While researching, I came across an interesting writing published by Jennie DellaMonica that I think you'll find interesting too.
HAPPY READING :)
The Wedding Veil - a Tradition That Continues Into the New Millennium
I wanted to wear a veil at my wedding. It's definitely the part of the ensemble that says, "This is the bride!" But I didn't want to cover my face as I walked down the aisle. Unfortunately, my mother insisted that I do. "It's traditional," she said. "That's what you're going to do." And so I did.
Where did this tradition originate and why does it continue today? The veil once served a purpose dating back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Fearful of evil spirits and demons, they dressed their brides in bright colors, which were believed to fight that sort of thing. Sometimes, Roman brides were completely covered in red veils to protect the bride from evil spirits.
Since the colored veils obscured a girl's vision, this led to another tradition. A bride needed to be walked down the aisle, usually by her father. Hence the tradition of giving away the bride came into being.
In the case of arranged marriages, the veil acted as a screen to block the bride's face from her husband-to-be. Prior to the lifting of the veil, the future married couple had never before seen each other's faces.
The custom of wearing a veil continued, although the meaning behind it changed with time into a role of modesty and obedience. From this, the veil developed into a symbol of chastity. Then it became the sign of submission of women.
When the white wedding gown came into style to represent the virginity of the bride to be, the white veil followed as well. The origin of lace veils is an American one. It is said to have begun when George Washington's step granddaughter, Nellie Custis, married his nephew Lawrence Lewis ina ceremony at Mount Vernon on February 22, 1799. Nellie chose lace because Lewis had once glimpsed her face through the lace curtains of an open window -- and then afterwards he couldn't stop telling her how beautiful she had looked.
Today, the veil is worn as a tradition and an accessory to the bridal gown. The most popular styles include:
* Blusher: A short veil that covers the bride's face as she enters the ceremony.
* Flyaway: A short veil that ends at the shoulder.
* Fingertip: Extends just below the waist, brushing your fingertips.
* Sweep: Ends at the floor.
* Chapel: Measures 9 feet long and trails along the ground.
* Cathedral: Measures 12 feet long and has a significant train.
Wedding experts say that the best advice for choosing your headpiece is to "pick out your wedding gown first; decide on your hairstyle second and then choose the headpiece and veil."
Experts say that elbow length veils are among the most versatile. "They can vary in length from just above the elbows to fingertip length. They go well with A-line, princess, sheath and chemise-style dresses or even a moderate ball gown." Veils typically are made of tulle or sheer netting and range in price from about $100 to several thousand dollars, depending on the ornamentation and the headpiece, which can be sold separately.
The headpiece really sets a veil off and it can be found in a variety of shapes. The most popular is a tiara, decorated with rhinestones or pearls. For outdoor or casual weddings, wreaths and circlets made from flowers can be worn as a headpiece. The veil can be attached with a comb or Velcro. If the bride chooses, she can detach the veil later on an dance the day or the night away.
Whatever length or style of veil you chose, you're sure to look every inch the bride as you walk down the aisle to meet your groom. With the many varieties available, you can make your ensemble as unique as your own personality. Best wishes for a wonderful wedding!
Published by Jennie DellaMonica
