Wedding Veil Etiquette
Everyone loves a dramatic wedding veil on a bride. Whether soft lace is draped around your face or the veil is so long it seems to never end, the right veil can truly create a ‘WOW’ moment on your wedding day — and in your wedding photography. Surprisingly there are a lot of questions surrounding this bridal tradition…
- When should you lift your wedding veil during the ceremony?
- *Who* lifts your veil?
- Can you take off your wedding veil off?
- When should you take your veil off?
Of course, you don’t have to wear a veil if you don’t want to. Believe it or not, back in the day, wedding veils were worn as protection against evil spirits. Seems crazy, right? Clearly, times have changed and wearing a veil is a fashion choice, not used to fend off evil. Let’s start with your ceremony.
When should you lift your wedding veil?
If you’re wearing a blusher veil over your face at your ceremony, you have several options, which is why it’s important to lock these details down before your wedding day. Your father can lift the veil to give you a kiss when you both reach the end of the aisle. Most brides prefer having their dads lift the veil so they can see clearly throughout the ceremony. Or you can wait until after you and your groom have exchanged vows and have been announced by the officiant as husband and wife. Your new husband would then do the honors.
Now that you’ve said ‘I do’, signed the license and took the limo ride to your reception venue – it’s time to party! So, when should you take your wedding veil off?
Post Ceremony
If you’re ready to ditch your veil right away, remove it right after walking back up the aisle. Make sure someone in your bridal party knows how to properly remove the pins or clips without messing up your wedding hair. Don’t consider this a waste of a veil either! You’ll have tons of ceremony photos with it on and you’ll be able to dance the night away without worrying about it getting in the way!
After Formal Family Photos
Want to give your wedding portraits a more bridal vibe? Keep your veil on for photos between your ceremony and reception with your new spouse, wedding party and families. This is the perfect opportunity to get a romantic shot of your veil flying in the breeze, by the way.
Make Your Grand Entrance in Style
Not ready to ditch your veil quite yet? Don’t! Make your reception entrance with it draped over your shoulders and even do your first dance, wearing your veil especially if it’s mid-length. The key is to make sure your veil doesn’t get in the way of any dance moves.
Remember, most couples cut their wedding cake right after making their entrance so that’s also great photo-op to showcase your veil early on in the evening.
Never (ever) Take it Off!
When else will you get the chance to wear it? Might as enjoy your veil for as long as you can. Just make sure it doesn’t get stepped on, ripped or dragged while at dinner or on the dance floor!
Mike Staff is the founder and CEO of Mike Staff Productions, one of the most highly acclaimed wedding services companies in the country, providing award-winning Wedding DJs, Wedding Photographers, and Wedding Videography for over 25 years.
