One of the most traditional pieces of a bride’s wedding look is the veil. Although some brides opt not to wear a veil, most consider it to be a must-have for their big day. However, when you go wedding shopping for the first time, you may be shocked to find out just how much veils cost. For just a short veil with no accessories and no fancy cutting, you’ll pay $50 or more. A longer veil that includes a tiara, beading, a finished edge, ribbons or flowers? They can be upwards of $200-300!
So, what’s a bride on a budget to do? Make your own of course! If you can’t find a veil that you like in your price range, you can fairly easily replicate a look with some basic materials and a free afternoon. You may also want to ask your mother or bridesmaids for help if you aren’t particularly crafty.
The most basic part of the veil is the tulle, which is that see-through material that most veils are made of. You can find tulle in any craft store in every color of the rainbow. So, if you’re having a non-traditional wedding, you can make a colored veil instead of the standard white veil.
You’ll also need a sturdy headband or hair clip so you can attach the material to something. I recommend using hot glue - it holds well and dries quickly. However, if your wedding will be taking place in the beating sun, you may want to use white glue instead. Hot glue could melt and cause a sticky mess in your hair!
You may also want to purchase tiny flowers, beads or ribbon to complete the look.
Start by using a bit of the tulle to cover the hair piece so that none of the metal or plastic shows through. Next, begin gathering the tulle in pleats in your hand. The tighter you gather, the more volume your veil will have. Glue this layer to the bottom side of the hair piece so that it can be brought up and over to fall down your back. Repeat this process to create the layer that can fall over your face and later be flung back as well to reveal your face. Leave the pieces of tulle long so that you can cut to size when you are completely done. Add embellishments as you see fit.
If you or someone in your family sews, you may want to finish the edges, but this is not necessary. Cut the tulle how you like it best. You may want to wear it and cut while it is on you, being careful not to cut your hair of course!
Making your own veil might be a bit tricky, but can save you hundreds of dollars. The key is to look at a number of veils to see what styles you like best. Replicating them is not too difficult if you have the picture in front of you as you create your own veil. For sample veil looks, head over to The Veil Shop or Wedding-Veil.com.
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