UNVEILED How do I go about choosing a wedding veil? Meet the experts: Sarah Jane Bates is the head designer at Britten Weddings, a Wiltshire-based online boutique selling luxurious hand-crafted bridal accessories and veils. Sarah Jane says: The veil was traditionally worn by brides to retain their modesty until officially becoming married women. Today, the veil is increasing in popularity and there are many options available. The right veil can transform your look and enhance your dress. LENGTH The names of the different types of veil imply the setting they are expected to be used in so for example, if you want to make a dramatic entrance in a small church then the long cathedral-length style will provide the perfect pick. A popular choice is the fingertip-length veil which is around 122cm long. These offer an excellent mid-way point between short and long veils and tend to work well with most dress styles. You can’t beat the romance of a longer veil and if you want one that’s longer than your gown, we would normally recommend you opt for something about 20 to 30cm longer than your train. The best way to measure for this is to stand up straight wearing your wedding dress and measure from the top of your head straight down the middle of your back to the end of the train of your dress. Add approximately 20 to 30cm to this measurement which will provide you with the perfect veil length. Don’t panic if you can’t find one that fits, we can make them to bespoke lengths. COLOUR The main three colours on offer at Britten Weddings are ivory, off-white and white veils. Our ivory one is a warm colour that’s ever-so-slightly cream. The off-white style is a very pale ivory design and there’s also soft white and an optic white. We also stock champagne and blush pink tones in the traditional tulle. The tulle colour does not need to match your dress exactly, they just need to tone in well together. If in doubt, go one shade lighter than your dress. If you are unsure then order our tulle samples. TYPES OF VEIL There are many different types of the veil. The most popular are single-tier styles, two-tier designs and barely-there veils. Single tier means that the veil flows from its attachment point (normally a comb) down the back. A two-tier wedding veil has a ‘blusher’ layer that can be pulled forward over the face. This is raised during the ceremony for the first kiss or at the exact moment you become married and is then swept back over the head to form a second layer at the back of the veil. We make our blushers 72cm long but they can be made to any length if requested. Our barely-there veils are probably our most popular type of veil. This refers to the way the veil is cut rather than the fabric used, and these veils will have no gather to them making them perfect for showing off all of the beautiful detail on the back of your dress. MATERIAL We offer many different materials for our veils from traditional tulle which offers a bit of body and volume and gives you that traditional veil look, to pure soft silk tulle which is one of the most luxurious of all our tulles that drape beautifully. The material you choose will be dictated by your dress and any edges or finishes that you would like. EDGES AND FINISHES The finish of the veil can be just as important as its main design. Adding a lace trim, or a satin edge can help to add that important finishing touch. Fuller, structured wedding dresses tend to benefit from decorative veil edges, whereas softer dresses with a sleek look are more likely to suit a simple cut-edge veil. Equally a scattering of pearls or crystals or some personalised embroidery can make your veil extra special. 01225 985 711, www.brittenweddings.com; www.facebook.com/brittenweddings; www.instagram.com/brittenweddings FABULOUSLY FLORAL Meet the expert: Silvina Martinez yañez is the founder of The Glam Bijoux based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire selling handmade clay floral jewellery, perfect for weddings. I want to wear a statement piece of jewellery on my wedding day that’s colourful and will coordinate with my bridesmaids’ dresses – what do you suggest? Silvina says: Whether it’s an orchid, a poppy, a tea rose or even a succulent, why not wear your favourite flower in your big-day jewellery choices? I make floral jewellery and home décor by hand using clay which creates a keepsake piece for the big day and beyond. https://theglambijoux.co.uk; www.facebook.com/theglambijoux; www.instagram.com/theglambijoux EXPERT ADVICE 59
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