To Veil or not to Veil that is Always the question...
What does a veil symbolise to you?
Many girls baulk at the idea of wearing a veil on their wedding day, feeling unsure of its relevance in modern Australia. Most of them are unsure what a Bridal Veil symbolises and are uneasy about its perceived oppressive religious origins. So what are the true origins of this tradition and, is it as sexist or oppressive to women as we think?
A NOTE FROM JENNIFER.
I see many brides to be each year, and the veil question will inevitably arise at some point during our first consultation. If I were to put it into precise percentages, I would say that about 40 to 60% of my clients chose to wear a veil on their wedding day.
The underlying influence behind their decision tends to fall into two categories, Tradition and Style.
TRADITION: On the one hand, we have a young lady who has a clear vision of her wedding day and a good relationship with the traditions that surround marriage. To her, wearing a bridal veil makes perfect sense.
STYLE: On the other hand, we have a woman who knows her own personal style and a bridal veil is just another accessory that brings her whole look together.
To find out more about the long history and symbolism of the Bridal Veil, I have added a couple of links to fantastic articles below.
Happy reading!
Bridal Veils
The veil is one of the oldest parts of a bridal ensemble, dating as far back as Greek and Roman times, to hide a bride "from evil spirits who might want to thwart her happiness" or to frighten the spirits away. The veil also served to hide the bride's face from the groom prior to the wedding, as superstition says that it is bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony.
As weddings became more religious ceremonies in Western culture, the veil was used to symbolise modesty before God, obedience, and when the veil was white, chastity. By the 17th and 18th century, bridal veils were occasionally worn, but were generally out of fashion in Britain and North America, with brides choosing from many other options instead.
However, the bridal veil returned to popularity after Queen Victoria wore a veil in her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. The bridal veil became a status symbol during the Victorian era, and the weight, length, and quality of the veil indicated the bride's social status. Bridal veils worn over the face were not common until the second half of the 19th century.
The tradition of a veiled bride's face continues today wherein, a virgin bride, especially in Christian or Jewish culture, enters the marriage ritual with a veiled face and head, and remains fully veiled, both head and face, until the ceremony concludes. After the full conclusion of the wedding ceremony, either the bride's father lifts the veil, presenting the bride to the groom who then kisses her, or the new groom lifts her face veil in order to kiss her. Some see the lifting of the veil as symbolically consummating the marriage, representing another thin membrane (the hymen) that will be physically penetrated on the wedding night.
In modern weddings, the lifting of the veil at the conclusion of the ceremony to present the bride to the groom may not occur, since it may be considered sexist for the bride to have her face covered through the ceremony, whether or not the veil is worn to symbolise virginity. Often the veil is worn solely as a fashion accessory as part of the bridal attire, instead of for its symbolism.
Everything You Need To Know About the Wedding Veil Tradition
Liz Susong (for Brides Magazine) weighs in on why brides traditionally wear a veil.
by Liz Susong
A veil is a romantic addition to any wedding dress. It's usually a piece of tulle fabric that complements the dress, but it does not have to be. Whether your style skews ball gown or tea-length, it adds the perfect finishing touch.
Today, couples observe this tradition in new and modernized ways, which we'll go into a bit later. Should you choose to incorporate a wedding veil into your look, it will quickly become one of your most important bridal accessories. And as you consider integrating it into your outfit, questions will likely arise: How much does it cost? What style should I get? How should it be worn? Where did the tradition begin anyway?
Read on to learn more about this storied tradition and for answers to every wedding veil question you can think of.
a final note:
While researching this topic, I certainly learnt that many preconceptions surrounding the Bridal Veil are completely untrue.
In the end, the only person who can decide if a veil is the right fit for your day is YOU!
If your budget is swaying your decision, think about borrowing the veil of a friend or family member. Ultimately you will be wearing it for a short amount of time, and you could save a few hundred dollars! At the same time, it’s a lovely way to include someone special in the traditions you create on your wedding day.
PLEASE NOTE: If you do decide to borrow a veil, be sure that the colours of your gown and the veil match by looking at them together, outside in daylight! (A Silk White Veil may look the perfect shade of Ivory under the warm glow of your sister’s bedroom lights.)
