How Long Will You Wear Your Wedding Veil?

Shorter veils are easier to wear for a longer period of time than chapel or cathedral styles, for the simple reason that you won’t have to deal with anyone stepping on it. At a minimum, most brides elect to remove it for the dancing portion of the reception, as veils can get in the way with crowds. Hugging your guests or even sitting down at dinner can also pull on your veil. If you go for a birdcage variety, it will be much easier to wear throughout the event. Some women change from a longer veil to a birdcage style, fascinator, or elaborate headpiece to keep the bridal look during the reception. 

Of course, the decision is not necessarily just about when to take a veil off, but also when to put it on. If you and your future spouse choose to do a “first look,” you may be debating whether or not to have your veil on during that moment. One reason why brides choose to put it on later is so there is still another surprise when walking down the aisle. The downside is that in most cases, the hairstylist will be gone once you’re ready to put the veil on; however, your mom or a bridesmaid can always be shown how to put it on securely while you’re still getting ready. It also depends on how many photos you want your veil in. If you have a detailed or intricate bridal veil, you may want to wear it for all of the portraits and other pictures taken, while if you kept it simple or only wore a veil to appease someone else like a family member, you might prefer to have it on for just the ceremony. 

For more advice, find out the right heel height for your big day and see examples of real flower crowns to inspire your bridal look.