At Madame Tulle, our mantilla veils are handmade to order in a carefully selected collection of lace designs, from delicate floral patterns and fine lace edging to wider, more detailed borders and full lace styles. Available in lengths from fingertip to sweeping cathedral, regal and royal veils, each design brings its own character while preserving the soft, romantic silhouette that makes the mantilla so distinctive.
What is a Mantilla Wedding Veil?
A mantilla veil is traditionally an ungathered veil that drapes softly over the head and shoulders, often finished with lace around the edge.
Because there are no gathers at the comb, the veil lies flatter against the hair and falls naturally around the body. This creates a very different silhouette from a traditional gathered veil, which has more fullness around the crown.
The beauty of a mantilla wedding veil is in the way it frames the entire bridal look. The lace can be seen around the face and shoulders before continuing along the sides and train, making it particularly beautiful when viewed from behind.
The style has its origins in the traditional Spanish mantilla and has become a timeless bridal choice for brides drawn to lace, softness and a more fluid veil silhouette.
For more about the history, styling and different types of mantilla veils, visit our Mantilla Veil Guide.
Mantilla Veil vs Gathered Veil
The main difference between a mantilla and a traditional gathered wedding veil is the way the tulle is attached at the comb.
- A gathered veil has tulle gathered onto the comb, creating softness and volume around the head and shoulders. Depending on the amount of gathering and the width of the veil, this can create anything from gentle fullness to a more voluminous silhouette.
- A mantilla veil is ungathered. The tulle lies smoothly at the comb and falls in a continuous layer, creating a flatter, more fluid silhouette and allowing the lace edging to remain beautifully visible.
Neither style is more formal or more bridal than the other, they simply create different effects. If you prefer softness and volume around the comb, a gathered veil may suit you beautifully. If you love an uninterrupted drape with the lace framing your silhouette, a mantilla may be the one.
Our Mantilla Veil Styles
Lace Mantilla Veil
Lace is at the heart of the traditional mantilla silhouette.
Our mantilla lace veil collection features a beautiful selection of lace borders, from delicate floral patterns to more defined and wider lace designs. The lace follows the edge of the ungathered tulle, framing the veil from the upper body through to the train.
A delicate lace border can create a softer, understated finish, while a wider or more detailed lace can become a beautiful feature of the bridal look.
Your veil lace doesn't need to match the lace on your wedding gown exactly. Instead, consider how the scale, pattern and overall feeling of the two designs work together.
Full Lace Mantilla Veil
For brides who love lace in its fullest expression, our Full Lace Mantilla Veils are created from lace fabric rather than tulle with lace edging.
The lace extends throughout the veil, creating beautiful texture from the top of the veil through to the train. A coordinating lace trim finishes the edge and defines the silhouette.
A full lace mantilla can look especially beautiful against a simple gown, where the intricate veil becomes a feature, but it can also be paired with a lace wedding dress for a richly detailed, romantic look.
Pearl Mantilla Veils
For a beautiful alternative to traditional lace, our pearl mantilla veils combine the soft, ungathered silhouette of a mantilla with pearl detailing around the edge.
Styles including Juno, Alina, Cleo, Luna and Amelia are designed without gathers at the comb, allowing the veil to fall smoothly around the head and shoulders. When worn towards the top of the head, the pearl-edged border gently frames the face in much the same way as the lace border of a traditional mantilla veil.
The effect is soft and romantic, with the pearls creating a delicate outline around the face before continuing along the edges of the veil. It is a beautiful choice for brides who love the distinctive framing and fluid drape of a mantilla but prefer pearls to lace.
A pearl mantilla veil can complement a simple gown beautifully, adding subtle detail without overwhelming the dress, or work alongside pearl and beaded wedding gowns for a softly coordinated bridal look.
Cathedral Mantilla Veil
A mantilla cathedral veil combines the fluid, ungathered silhouette of a mantilla with the beautiful sweep of cathedral length.
At Madame Tulle, our standard Cathedral length measures approximately 120 inches (305 cm). At this length, the lace has room to frame the gown and continue around the train, creating a beautiful view from behind as you walk down the aisle.
Cathedral mantilla veils work with many different gown silhouettes, from fitted dresses to A-line and fuller skirts. When choosing your veil, consider the width of your gown as well as its train so the veil can frame the dress beautifully.
Regal and Royal Mantilla Veils
For an even longer silhouette, selected mantilla designs are also available in our Regal and Royal lengths.
Regal – 138 inches (350 cm) extends beyond our standard Cathedral length, while Royal – 157 inches (400 cm) is our longest standard veil length.
Our Regal and Royal veils are made wider in proportion to their longer length, creating a beautifully balanced silhouette and allowing the lace border to frame the gown on a more generous scale.
These extended lengths can be particularly beautiful with gowns that have longer trains, or simply for brides who dream of an unforgettable sweep of lace and tulle behind them.
Mantilla Veil with Blusher
For brides who would like to wear a blusher over the face, selected mantilla designs can also be created in a drop veil style with a blusher.
Unlike a gathered two-tier veil, a drop veil has no gathers at the comb, preserving the soft, fluid silhouette associated with the mantilla style.
The front portion can be worn over the face for the ceremony and then lifted back, while the longer layer continues behind the gown.
Availability varies depending on the design, so please check the individual veil listing or contact us if you're unsure.
Choosing a Mantilla Veil for Your Wedding Dress
One of the things we love about mantilla veils is how differently they can work with different wedding gowns.
- With a simple or minimal gown: A lace mantilla can introduce beautiful detail while preserving the clean silhouette of your dress. A wider or more intricate lace can become a feature against satin, crepe and other understated fabrics.
- With a lace gown: Don't feel that your veil lace needs to match your dress exactly. Look instead for lace that complements the scale and character of your gown's detailing. Sometimes a softer lace creates beautiful contrast; in other cases, a more defined border can bring the entire look together.
- With an embellished gown: A finer lace mantilla can add softness without taking attention away from beading, embroidery or other intricate details on your dress.
- With a fuller skirt or wide train: Consider the width of your veil as well as its length. A wider mantilla can frame a fuller silhouette more completely, allowing the lace edging to fall around rather than inside the skirt.
The most beautiful pairing is one where your gown and veil complement each other rather than feeling as though they need to match perfectly.
Choosing Your Mantilla Veil Length
The right mantilla veil length depends on your gown, its train and the overall silhouette you would like to create.
- A Fingertip veil – 45 inches (114 cm) keeps the lace closer to the upper part of the gown and is a beautiful option if you prefer a shorter veil.
- A Waltz veil – 60 inches (152 cm) creates more length while remaining above floor level.
- A Floor veil – 75 inches (190 cm) falls approximately to the floor, depending on your height and comb placement.
- A Chapel veil – 90 inches (228 cm) creates a softly trailing silhouette beyond the gown.
- A Cathedral veil – 120 inches (305 cm) gives the mantilla a longer, sweeping train and allows the lace border to frame the gown beautifully.
- For even more length, selected designs are available in Regal – 138 inches (350 cm) and Royal – 157 inches (400 cm).
Custom lengths may also be available depending on the design.
Mantilla Veil Australia
Madame Tulle is an Australian bridal veil label based in Sydney, creating handmade, made-to-order wedding veils for brides throughout Australia and around the world.
Our mantilla wedding veils are available in our two standard colours, Soft White and Ivory, across a beautiful selection of lace designs and lengths.
Soft White is our lighter shade (an off-white or pale ivory), while Ivory has a warmer, creamier tone. Cream (Champagne) tulle is also available on request for selected styles.
If you're unsure which veil colour will complement your wedding dress, our Tulle Swatch Set allows you to compare Soft White and Ivory directly against your gown.
Sydney brides are also welcome to visit our Alexandria studio by appointment to explore our mantilla veils and other styles in person.
How to Wear a Mantilla Veil
A mantilla veil is attached to a slim silver metal wire comb, allowing it to sit discreetly in the hair while preserving the smooth, ungathered silhouette of the veil.
Mantilla veils can be worn with many different hairstyles, including low buns, soft waves, half-up styles and more structured updos.
Where you position the comb will influence how the veil falls. Wearing it higher allows more of the veil to frame the upper body, while positioning it lower around an updo can create a softer, more streamlined effect.
We recommend showing your hairstylist your veil at your hair trial, particularly if you have chosen a cathedral, regal or royal length, so you can decide on the placement and ensure the comb is securely positioned for your wedding day.
Discover More in Our Mantilla Veil Guide
If you're new to mantilla veils and would like to learn more before choosing your style, visit our Mantilla Veil Guide.
Our guide explores the mantilla in more detail, including its distinctive construction, different lace and length options, styling ideas and advice for pairing a mantilla veil with your wedding gown.
Once you've found the silhouette you love, explore our collection of mantilla wedding veils to find the lace, length and detailing that feels right for you.
