by Anne Violette

Created on: June 13, 2008

Who would've thought that such a sheer, fragile piece of material could be so important? It's just a piece of fabric, after all. The wedding veil is a detail that is not thought of initially, yet it becomes an essential accessory to fuss over.

I must say, I have seen more than my fair share of hideous wedding veils in the past 10 years as a wedding photographer. Therefore I must candidly inquire; what were these brides thinking when they put these contraptions on?

From the standpoint as a photographer, I would recommend choosing a veil that is very simplistic and hardly the focal point. It's intention is to flatter, not matter. A bride has so many assets that should take precedence over the wedding veil (ahem, how about the dress?); that she should really choose a veil that adopts the "less is more" premise.

Wedding veils have indeed evolved over the last few eras, from a time when they were first introduced by the Europeans during the Crusades. The veil was a symbol of purity and virginity. The bride's face remained covered throughout the marriage ceremony and was lastly revealed upon the proclamation of man and wife.

Throughout the last century, veils have come to mean nothing more than a pretty accessory. The face covering tradition is thankfully all but gone. It is extremely inconvenient and hard to photograph a wedding ceremony with a bride's face covered for the duration of the exchange. Some brides also choose big, wild styles that take up too much room surrounding their face and head, which has always baffled me because of the time it takes to get the hair done to perfection. The bride's beautiful hair is a natural element of the photograph.

The small comb-style veil is the best choice. If a woman wears her hair down, the veil should be at mid-crown in the back; just underneath the natural contour of the head. Any higher and the veil just looks weird, especially on the very top. It can also be uncomfortable for a bride to wear if it's too big. Any gust of wind could make it blow in hers or her groom's face. Many a cranky bride ends up scolding her new husband for constantly pulling on her veil post-ceremony, especially during the formal pictures. He doesn't mean to he just wants to put his arm around his new bride, but the big veil is in his way. Men don't care much for veils, by the way. I've learned that it's a female thing.

Many women will say the veil is a treasure, but I beg to differ. After the fairy tale wedding is over, the dress is more revered and cherished than any other article of clothing. No need to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars on a big veil.

Opt for a tiara, crown or small veil with flowers for a graceful touch. People want to see the bride's face; especially her hubby-to-be. Spend more on a great hairdo, instead.

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