Veil shape forms the style of a 1 tier, 2 tier or 3 tier wedding veil. Veil shape can have a subtle effect, but it may help you design a veil to suit your preferences. A bridal veil can fall more to the center back, spread out across the shoulder more, look thinner, look fuller, taper in at the end, have waving sides, have straight sides and more.
Next, if you’ve chosen an illusion veil, you can choose a veil fullness that will further shape your veil. Veil fullness is from the width of the fabric, it effects the number of folds from gathering the veil and how fluffy or sheer it is.
Veil shape and fullness are opportunities to perfect your bridal veil. If these choices overwhelm you, we’d love to help you!
Traditional Wedding Veils are cut straight down the sides and rounded at the lower edge. The entire wideth is gathered across the top for the traditional shape veil. When in doubt choose the traditional veil because that’s how most veils are made and it works well for a blusher and 1 tier, 2 tier or 3 tier veils.
- For 1, 2 or 3 tier veils
- Good for a blusher veil
- Sides hang straight down
- Best choice for long veils
- Gathered all the way across the top
- Tends to fall more to center back, especially at medium and sheer fullness
- For a fluffy veil choose traditional shape with full width
- See our bride’s photos of their Traditional Veils
Waterfall Veils are also known as cascade and angel cut bridal veils. The cut of the veil forms gentle waves that flow down the sides. Before it’s gathered this veil looks like a large triangle with the point rounded out, so full or medium fullness are advised because it tapers to a narrow bottom edge. Waterfall shape works best for elbow, fingertip and waltz length bridal veils. It can be done on cathedral veils and chapel length veils, but the effect is different due to the long length, the cascades are larger. Waterfall veils work best not worn as a blusher.
- For 1, 2 and 3 tier veils
- Not as good as a blusher
- Sides angle in producing waves or cascades
- Best for elbow, fingertip and waltz length veils
- Gathered all the way across the top, but the bottom gets thin
- Falls to center back, tapers at the bottom
- Best at full or medium fullness
- See our brides wearing their Waterfall Veils
Oval Wedding Veils are like 2 tier traditional bridal veils, but only part of the width is gathered across the fold on top. At least 18″ remains un-gathered on each side. This only works for 2 tier bridal veils. A longer 3rd tier can be made under the top 2 oval tiers for a 3 tier veil. Oval wedding veils work smoothly as a blusher and they spread out around your shoulders even when worn back.
- For 2 tier veils, a long tier can be added for a 3 tier veil
- Great for a blusher veil!
- Folded and gathered part way across, fold hangs loose over shoulders
- Not as full and fluffy even at fullest width, has to be full or medium width
- Spreads out and tends to fall around the shoulders
- See our brides wearing their Oval Shape Veils
Heart Shaped Bridal Veils are 2 tier veils actually made in 3 separate sections gathered together to create a layered look. Heart shaped will not work as a blusher because the top layer is formed with 2 half tiers. These bridal veils work best for shoulder, elbow and fingertip length wedding veils. The heart shape veil has a woodland or flower child look, a relaxed romantic look.
- For 2 tier veils only
- Made with 3 pieces resulting in a veil that looks like a heart
- Best for shoulder, elbow and fingertip veils
- Gathered all the way across, but it’s not too puffy
- Falls to the center back with a layered look
