The wedding veil is one of the signature accents of a bride’s special day, from the moment she appears at the beginning of the aisle on her father’s arm to the moment her father removes the veil from the front of her face as he presents her to her bridegroom at the altar. Finding or making the right wedding veil does not have to be one of the more daunting tasks in preparing for that day and that moment.
Whether you will wear a white or an ivory wedding veil, you can even make the veil you want the way you want it, whether shoulder-length, waist-length, or even fingertip-length, with a few simple instructions. These begin with picking your length: 24 inches of fabric for shoulder-length, on average; 32 inches for waist length, on average; or, 40 inches for fingertip-length.
Wedding veils traditionally are made from tulle, lightweight, fine netting made of various fibers including but not limited to silk, nylon, or rayon. Named for the south central French city that was widely known for lace and silk production two centuries ago, this netting is used commonly in wedding veils and even wedding gowns, as well as ballet tutus and costumes.
If you find a piece of tulle that appeals to you without being the white or ivory you want, the material can be dyed very easily. Moreover, you can find it in most fabric stores or outlets.
Once you have chosen your veil length, buy your tulle and if necessary have it dyed to the precise color strength of your wedding gown. The tulle should not be scratchy or stuff, and it is not expensive, usually selling for perhaps $2 per yard or even less, and however long you want your veil your tulle bolt should be at least 108 inches wide.
Lay it flat on a large table or even a clean floor, then fold the bolt in half and hold it flat with a heavy object that will not cut or shred the tulle—a coffee mug or small flat-bottom ceramic bowl will do. Then, cut the edge (but not the folded edge) into a curved shape, either using a pattern or just rounding the edges a little bit.
Next, unfold your tulle and sew a running stitch along the straight edge. Then, maybe three inches inside the edge, you can use a needle and heavy white thread to sew all the way across your veil, after which you hold the thread at one end and push the tulle together. You will need a four-inch bridal comb or headband to which to attach the tulle—by stitching if you are getting married in very warm weather, by fabric glue if you are getting married in cool weather.
If you are stitching, just stitch to the comb by bringing stitches through the material and between the comb’s teeth, making certain the tulle is attached to the comb completely.
Depending on your wedding gown, you can trim your veil with similar sequins, crystals, tiny pearls, or tiny clear stones, attaching them with fabric glue. This should be done, ideally, after the tulle is stitched to the comb or headband. You can find bridal veil patterns, too, to help you shape and trim your veil, in sources ranging from sewing and notions shop patterns to styles and templates offered in such magazines or Websites as McCall’s, Brides.com, Bridal Guide, or Bride & Groom.
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