“Who thought wearing a veil almost as long as a car was a good idea? It’ll get dirty when it trains along the floor. You have to have an entourage to hold it as you walk down the aisle. Heck, what if someone steps on it?”
These are among the common concerns regarding cathedral veils, and we can’t say they’re entirely wrong. At nine to ten feet (by comparison, a compact car is four feet longer), these veils may look impractical. A misstep, whether getting caught in something or stepped on by accident, can risk tearing the delicate tulle.
Different veil styles, including cathedral, chapel, and fingertip or shoulder length veils, each offer unique bridal fashion elements that complement various wedding dresses. Despite this, many brides chose the cathedral veil for their bridal ensemble and had little to no trouble with it. If there’s one part of a wedding outfit that exudes grandeur, no doubt it’s the sight of the wedding dress and matching bridal veil trailing across the red carpet.
The perfect veil depends on your personal style, whether you want a traditional or more contemporary look. Your choice of bridal veil length can dramatically impact your overall bridal style. That said, there are instances where a cathedral veil will shine the most.
In A Cathedral (or a Big Enough Church)
A cathedral length veil is, as we explained in our post on how it got its name, simply a long veil just as a cathedral is a big church. When planning your wedding ceremony, think about the space available for your veil, especially if you opt for a longer veil style like a cathedral. Despite the term, it doesn’t imply that it should only be worn in a cathedral. It’s a great choice for brides getting married in a church with enough space.
Wedding gowns with intricate back designs are often paired with shorter veils to allow the gown’s details to shine during the ceremony. Shorter veils can also be a great wedding accessory, offering practicality while still adding a touch of elegance to your overall look. Cathedral veils aren’t just long but also wide. Even at its slimmest at 54 inches (137 cm), they still require enough open space to allow the wearer to move around with ease.
ALINA I - One Tier Veil with Beads & Sequins
Brides often coordinate their bridal hair with their choice of veil, ensuring that the two elements work together seamlessly on their big day. No bride should have to step on their own veil just to move where they need to be, especially when they exit the church at the end.
On a related note, this can also apply to any indoor venue should the couple opt to tie the knot anywhere other than a church. These include but aren’t limited to dedicated events places, restaurants with spacious function rooms and even a courthouse. Otherwise, you may want to consider cutting back to more practical wedding veil lengths, like a blusher veil or a chapel veil.
Outdoor Weddings (With Precautions)
Designers typically don’t recommend going for a cathedral veil for brides getting married outdoors. The long train of a cathedral veil, while stunning, requires careful planning, especially for outdoor weddings. This is because there are a thousand ways for a veil malfunction to occur, from getting snagged in an outgrowth to flapping uncontrollably in strong winds.
A shorter veil can be the perfect choice for an outdoor ceremony, as it reduces the risk of getting caught on branches or being blown by the wind. Nevertheless, many brides still choose a cathedral length wedding veil, knowing the risks. On top of that, we also believe that cathedral veils can shine under Mother Nature’s gaze, but it’ll require a lot of wedding planning beforehand. Here are some precautions you may want to take.
- Ensure the outdoor venue is free of branches and rocks that can tear the delicate tulle. If getting married on the lawn, the grass should be cut low.
- Consider studding the veil with pearls or other precious stones, as the extra weight can help stabilise it under windy conditions. Alternatively, you can tuck part of the veil under your arms or hold it.
- For photoshoots, designate someone you trust as your “wedding veil helper.” They can be one of your bridesmaids or anyone in attendance whose responsibility is to ensure the veil’s integrity during the shoot.
- Monitor the weather in the run-up to the wedding day, namely the last seven days. You may not be able to dictate the weather, but you can prepare for it.
Choosing the perfect bridal veil style is a reflection of your personal style, ensuring your wedding look feels authentic and uniquely you. Alternatively, some brides adopt a more carefree attitude, which as this wedding forum thread implies, some brides didn’t mind the inconvenience. In the end, looking glamorous in a cathedral veil is worth the hassle.
During the Ceremony Only
So far, we’ve explained that cathedral veils aren’t as impractical as they seem. That said, they can still be in some situations such as the reception. With the floor filled with people walking around, if not dancing the day or night away, a cathedral veil will be a huge target for foot traffic. It’ll also be an inconvenience for guests trying to avoid stepping on it.
As such, when you opt for a cathedral veil, know that it’s ill-advised to keep it on after the wedding. Your bridesmaids will take it off and put it away, though the headpiece can stay to retain some of your bridal look during the party. Besides, there’s no rule that brides have to keep wearing their wedding veils until the end of their special day.
Preserving the cathedral veil not only helps cherish your fond wedding memories but also ensures it’s usable in the future. Some daughters inherit their mothers’ veils, sometimes including the wedding dress, as a sentimental gesture when they’re about to get married.
Wrapping Up
Despite being the longest standard bridal veil length available today, the cathedral veil is as practical as it’s opulent. It may require a bit of anticipating certain conditions, but when you manage to keep it intact, it can really bring out the best in you.
