Traditionally, brides wear a bridal veil, end of story. But what if the thought of yards and yards of tulle billowing after you, leaves you shuddering and ready to bolt? Is there an alternative to a traditional bridal veil? What’s the best way to find something that feels right for you and doesn’t send your soon-to-be mother-in-law into a faint? Where do you start?
Fortunately, there are many alternatives to a bridal veil and it all starts with the dress. Let’s face it, you’ve selected your wedding dress based upon the type of ceremony that you’re planning. You want your bridal headpiece to be in sync with the rest of your outfit. Since you’re thinking about alternatives to a bridal veil, maybe you’ve envisioned less traditional bridal hats. The clearer you can be on what you want, the easier it will be to find.
Start by describing your dress to a friend. The words that you use will also apply to your bridal headpiece. The next thing to consider is your personality. A hat that is simply perfect for one bride might not work for another. An avant garde bride might be looking for an over the top headpiece, while a more demure bride might desire a simple accent piece. Once you are able to describe what you’re looking for, it will be easier for an experienced milliner to create the right bridal headpiece.
Let me give you an example. A bride recently came into my shop. She showed me a picture of her wedding dress that was quite Jackie-O in style. The bride was thinking about a pillbox wedding hat and asked to see that style hat. However, as she talked, she mentioned that she really wasn’t a hat person, and wasn’t completely convinced about wearing a wedding hat. She picked up a small fascinator and mentioned that it was more in keeping with her personality. At that point, we changed direction and focused on creating a bridal fascinator. We found a white wool boucle fabric that coordinated beautifully with her dress and was in keeping with who she was.
