As someone who has been in the wedding veil business for years, today’s topic seems a bit bizarre. Nevertheless, between the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and the rise of minimalistic weddings, it’s worth discussing more than ever.
Why are some brides skipping the wedding veil?
On one hand, pearl veils are beautiful head coverings that bring out a bride’s elegance when paired with the right wedding dress. On the other, they’re one of the priciest wedding investments, more so when custom-made. No surprise on the latter, but is it really a better choice?
How The Trend Began
No one can be certain when brides began foregoing the wedding veil. Given the veil’s rich, centuries-long history, we can tell that the no-veil trend has only risen in recent years. This is one of many anomalies of history wherein the only answer we can think of is: “It just happened.”
However, we can make an educated guess as to why it happened. Traditions don’t stay the same forever; they undergo a slow but steady change influenced by factors like integrating cultures and the need for practicality. This is why the custom of wearing head veils in public and during church services slowly fell out of favour, now mainly limited to weddings. Current canon law also no longer requires this, though a few Catholic churches still adhere to this tradition.
The current generation of brides isn’t as exposed and indoctrinated in the old ways as their predecessors. As such, they tend to be curious enough to try new things – in this case, foregoing the traditional veil. If there’s any consequence to not adhering to tradition, the worst is perhaps upsetting the more conservative members of the family.
Practical Problems
ROSABEL - Two Tier Lace Edged Veil
A bride who isn’t as curious about trying to go veil-less may cite more practical reasons for doing so. First, we mentioned the cost-of-living crisis that’s gripping the nation.
Many people may argue that you should pull out all the stops in a wedding because the first is often the only and most significant one you’ll get. That argument would’ve made sense several years ago, but shelling out over AUD$30,000 for a wedding in 2024 has become a challenge in itself with the cost of everything else on the rise.
In fact, the couples interviewed and featured in this ABC News article said they’d rather put the money for the rest of the wedding expenses to a home loan or family holiday. One of the brides even said she never dreamed of having a posh wedding, another example of tradition undergoing gradual change.
Not all brides are worried about money, but they can still opt out of a veil for other reasons. Sometimes, they can’t pull off the look they’re looking for with one. A cathedral-length veil or chapel veil paired with a short wedding dress might seem off to some, just as a birdcage veil coupled with a dress with a prominent train.
This can be an issue for brides getting married outdoors. The longer the veil, the more it can become a nuisance when the wind picks up or gets caught in nearby foliage. You can work around this problem by settling for a shorter head veil, but not everyone is a fan.
A Veil Is Still Worth It
CORINNE II Two Tier lace Wedding Veil Madame Tulle
Despite all this, we argue that a bridal veil is still a worthwhile investment. Whether you’re facing financial constraints or achieving your dream bridal look, we’re firm believers in the mantra: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
If affordability is an issue, note that wedding planning typically begins one year before the wedding day. That’s plenty of time to save for your dream veil, and we reckon it’s also plenty of time to study less costly alternatives, such as plain veils . Cut back on embellishments if you have to, but NEVER on the materials.
Believe it or not, a wedding veil potentially saves money in the long term. This is because it’s relatively common for daughters to inherit their mothers’ wedding veils (sometimes the entire ensemble), either using them as is or modifying them for the perfect finishing touch. As long as they’re stored properly, veils can retain their beauty across generations.
While the no-veil trend may be growing, more brides still put time and effort into designing and wearing their veils. If celebrity weddings of recent decades are any indication, there’s almost an impromptu contest to see who can have the longest or most luxurious veil in the history of weddings. Only time will tell if veils will truly go out of fashion.
Only You Know What’s Best
This blog post has made our case for bridal veils, but its intention is never to convince you. Ultimately, the decision to go veil-less or stick with tradition is yours to make. It may be a tall order, but only you can determine what’s best for your wedding.
