Aug 15, 2011
There are many different origins for the use of a wedding veil. They have been a part of wedding history dating almost all the way back to they very first people. One of the first records for wearing a wedding veil is in the middle east region. Their veils were used to protect a brides face from the high wind and sand. They were also used as a symbol of modesty. It was also said that a wedding veil was used to hide a brides beauty so that her husband wouldn’t be killed for her beauty.
Later in Ancient Greece and Rome the wedding veil was used to protect the bride from evil spirits. They believed that theh veil would conceal the brides identity which would confuse the evil spirits. In the times of arranged marriages the father and groom would often be the ones communicating, so the bride wasn’t seen until the wedding day. The veil was used to conceal her identity until after the final “I do”.
The definition of ‘veil’ is to hide, cover, mask, or disguise. The reasoning behind the wedding veil has greatly changed since the times when it was used to warn off the evil-eye, show the man’s acceptance of the woman, or to prevent a run away groom. Today’s brides make their own decision as to wear a veil or not.
There are many different types and styles of wedding veils. Some of them are short and only cover the eyes or face of the bride. These veils are common in more modern weddings. Their are also regular length veils that extend to the shoulders or slightly longer. These veils can come in the type where they cover the face, or they are worn to cover the hair as an accessory.
There are also cathedral veils that are as long or longer than the wedding dress. These are often the option chosen by a bride who wants the wow factor when she is standing at the alter but doesn’t have that in the dress. While some brides follow the tradition of wearing a veil that covers their face as they walk down the isle, many modern brides are choosing to create their own tradition and wear a tiara or head piece instead.
