How to Choose the Perfect Veil for Your Wedding Dress.

Do you already have your wedding dress ready or at least an idea of what you want, but you still don't know if you'll wear a veil or not and what style suits you? Here are some tips to help you make the best decision.

First of all, if you're not sure whether to wear a veil, I advise you to choose it after you've decided on the dress. With the dress on, try or visualize different lengths and/or textures. At the studio, for brides having a ceremony, we usually have 3 to 4 fittings, and it's during the second fitting that we review options for this important accessory.

The veil always adds much more impact to the concept of a bride. If from the moment you decided to get married you thought you didn't want to look too "bride-like," then don't add one, or at most, wear a small "birdcage" style veil, which will practically be like a fascinator. But even if you are super anti "wedding moments," my recommendation is to try it; once you are experiencing something so special, emotions surface, and you might end up choosing the longest and most spectacular veil.

The first thing to consider if you've decided to wear a veil is its length. The most common are: cathedral or cathedral plus, from 1 meter up to 3 meters of train; chapel, barely touching the floor or trailing a maximum of about 50cm depending on your height; mid-length, which can reach the hip or waist; and birdcage, the English style that sits on the head and barely covers it and/or the face.

The cathedral, as its name suggests, is perfect for ceremonies held in very large churches. This veil immediately elongates the silhouette. Most of the time, it accompanies a dress that also has a long train; ideally, the veil should extend beyond that train by at least 20 cm and match the cut of the bridal gown. A princess model will have a circular train, and your veil also needs to open circularly, as much as your skirt opens. You could wear a straight or mermaid dress with a quite straight train; here, your veil can also have a straight cut, but the circular cut always looks more stunning.

Often, you want to look extra spectacular for the ceremony but want a comfortable dress without a train that you can wear for the entire reception. The cathedral veil is a great way to add a train without actually having one, and the great thing is that you can remove it for the party.

The chapel length definitely works to be worn only with dresses that don't have a train; it suits any silhouette. But again, be careful that if your skirt is A-line or princess, it should have a wide veil, even if it doesn't drag.

The mid-length veil is ideal for straighter cuts, mermaid, or trumpet styles. With more princess-like cuts or A-line skirts, I suggest carefully evaluating this length; it depends a lot on your height, the volume of your dress, and the amount of embroidery. In the studio, in short, I make sure you don't look like a Christmas tree with several triangles or that it doesn't cut the silhouette and make you look shorter.

If you lean towards a "birdcage," this is the ideal option for a comfortable and simpler look with that small bridal touch. It suits any silhouette, but style-wise, it leans more towards "vintage" or "English classy."

As for the fabric type, considering the drape, most veils are made of soft, thin tulle, known in Mexico as Italian or Spanish, which allows for that halo effect around the bride. But there are also other tulles with more drape for something very straight; this tulle is known in Mexico as French. For short birdcage veils, open weave or net fabric also works.

Now let's talk about shades and textures. If your dress is "ivory," make sure your veil is too; putting a white one on could make it lose elegance.

Embroidered veils are for a more lavish and elaborate look; ideally, if your dress has embroidery, it should be the same shade and, if possible, the same type of appliqués or very similar ones.

Embroidery all around the edge from the head is very classic, reminiscent of mantillas, and gives this somewhat virginal style. The faded embroidery like rain throughout the veil is spectacular; this is ideal especially when the dress has no embroidery on the skirt and only on the bodice.

If you only want that small detail of embroidery on the veil, it can be on the edge but only what falls on the floor or the tip of the chosen length to accentuate where it ends.

If your dress has no embroidery and you wish it did, you could add it to the veil. But if your look is more minimalist or modern, it's better to avoid embroidery on the veil as well.

For plain dresses or more modern looks, there are also other interesting textures such as dotted tulles, those with pearls, glitter or sequin embroidery, and now also those with feathers, ruffles or over-size 3D flowers, like the "velo fleur" from our new collection.

If you dream of being unveiled, choose a double-layer one to enter with one layer in front and then be uncovered. This makes it more ceremonial and classic in terms of traditions.

Finally, if you want to break from the norm, consider changing the shape of the veil and wearing it as a cape from the shoulders or neck, a robe, coming out of the neckline of your back, tied like a gypsy pashmina, with a hoodie, etc.

At Débh Herrera, we love to create personalized veils that perfectly complement the dress or give it a unique touch. Contact us to find the best option for you.