The birdcage veil is all pretty and lovely. In recent days, this short veil covering the eyes and sometimes the full face has made a come-back and adds a touch of vintage glamor that is hard to ignore. While the traditional long wedding veil is perhaps more common in use than this shorter version, the birdcage style is quickly catching on. Actually, most brides shopping for veils are now choosing the birdcage for very good reasons.
Why Go For The Birdcage Veil
1. The first reason why you should opt for the birdcage-style veil is its obvious elegant and soft look. Compared to the long veil, the birdcage is simple yet chic. One can use it to add a look of sophistication without going to too much trouble.
2. Second is that the birdcage veil is lighter and hence, easier to move around in. The long, traditional wedding veil is unfortunately, also bulky and cumbersome, especially if it features a lot of details. With a short birdcage, a bride can even choose to wear it all through the various ceremonies, instead of during one ceremony only.
In fact, the most inspiring stories about the birdcage are of brides who planned to wear the veil for the exchange-of-vows ceremony only. Given the cute look and the whole light feel the veil gave them, they ended up wearing it right through the officiating ceremony, reception and evening party! That just about says how delicious the birdcage is.
3. There are a million ways to wear the birdcage. There is no right or wrong way to wear this veil, except maybe traditional and modern. A lot of guests will be fascinated by the birdcage, regardless of how the bride chooses to wear it.
One can wear the birdcage on the back, a bit on the front or even on the side. It all depends on the look a bride wants to achieve.
4. There is flexibility in length. One can have the birdcage in whatever length they prefer, either shorter or slightly longer than the given standard.
Practical Tips on Choosing and Wearing the Birdcage Veil
It’s always a good idea to buy the wedding gown first, and then shop for the birdcage veil. Finding the perfect wedding dress and especially finding the right size is not
always easy. It is not uncommon for a bride to change gowns a number of times. If they had a birdcage that matched the first dress, it means they have to look for a new veil when they change gowns. Shop for the dress first, and then find a birdcage that matches the dress. If the dress is tailor-made, have the birdcage made to match.
The second tip is to create a balance between the gown and the veil. These two form the most important pieces of a bride’s apparel. If the gown is plain in design, choose a sassy veil to create contrast. If on the other hand the gown is detailed and intricate, a simple veil will do the trick. Having deep details on both the gown and veil will make the bride look too dressed-up. Guests won’t know whether to look at the face or the body!
Different Ways to Wear the Veil
The veils are largely made of netting, which complements all fabrics. This means one can wear the veil with a gown of any material, be it satin, silk, organza, lace, brocade, jacquard, African print, poly crepe, velvet, taffeta or any other.
The birdcage veil usually comes with a sewn-in comb, to make it easy to attach on the hair. Normally, this comb is enough to hold the veil in place, but should one feel the need, they can supplement this support with a hair clip, pin or other hair accessory that will hold the veil in place better. This is especially true of brides who hold their hair in fancy styles which may require additional support.
One can also wear the birdcage-style veil with a variety of hair accessories. A flower for instance, adds a dash of brightness and playfulness. It also gives a fun, girly look. Crystals and hair pins can also be used when one does not want to call too much attention to the head.
The birdcage is not restricted to white. Just like the wedding gown is now available in all colors imaginable, so is the birdcage. Since the idea is to match the veil to the gown, it makes sense to therefore use a birdcage veil of the same color as the gown.
Check out this great YouTube video that shows how to make your own birdcage veil for your wedding.