Hello, lovelies! Today we’re talking about cathedral length veils: what they are, how long they measure, where to buy them, how much a cathedral length veil costs, and how to properly hang / travel with your veil WITHOUT creasing it.

We’ll also inspire you with the loveliest cathedral veils from Britten Weddings.

Let’s jump right in!

Veils are incredibly gorgeous and will steal the show of your walk down the aisle — well, almost. That job is for your beaming smile… followed by your gown and veil. :)

Veils are a classic accessory for the bride. I was once speaking with a veil designer so passionate about the work she does for each bride revealing, “She will put on her wedding dress… but anyone can wear a dress. She puts on the veil, and now everyone knows she is ‘The Bride’.”

And she has a point: you may encounter that plus-one guest who wears a dress in the slightest, softest shade of blush that almost looks like white (how dare she!) but NO ONE will wear a veil.

The veil is your territory.

So, today we’re talking about how to rock the heck out of that veil and we’re focusing on cathedral length veils because they are the most popular, most sought-after, and look exceptionally lovely cascading down the aisle.

They are also very, very long — and that’s why we love ’em so. There’s more to love!

What is a cathedral length veil?

A cathedral length veil is a bridal veil with the longest length possible. It is designed to be the most dramatic veil available, making an elegant grand entrance as you walk down the aisle. (click to tweet this!)

Depending on the embellishments you choose, a cathedral veil can feature delicate lace motifs, beading, pearls, or crystals, as well as ribbon sewn along the border of the veil.

You can also leave the veil natural in tulle with no additional accents; it’s just as lovely and depends on your own style preference.

Here’s an example of a veil with lace motifs.

Here’s an up-close view of the lace in white and ivory.

How long is a cathedral length veil?

A cathedral length veil measures 300cm (118in).

What color is the tulle for a veil?

The color of your veil depends on where you buy it, as every shop offers a different selection. Most commonly, though, you’ll find tulle in ivory or off-white, as well as bright white. It is recommended to coordinate the color of your veil with your gown for a perfect match.

You should choose a veil that is sheer enough to show off the details of your dress. This style of veil is called “barely there”, made in the softest whisper of tulle available.

Where to buy a cathedral veil?

You can buy cathedral length veils online or in-store. The veils shown here today are handcrafted by Britten Weddings and available for purchase online in their convenient Etsy shop. They use English made tulle attached to a silver plated comb for the finest quality veils. In addition to the cathedral length veils, they also offer other lengths and classic veil options.

Here’s a break-down of the veil lengths to see the difference in elbow-length (the shortest) to cathedral length veils (the longest).

-Elbow length veils: 72cm
-Fingertip length veils: 122cm
-Ballet length: 150cm
-Floor length veils: 200cm
-Church length: 250cm
-Cathedral length: 300cm

How much are cathedral length veils?

Since this veil style is the longest and uses the greatest about of fabric, it is traditionally more expensive. However, the price will also depend on what you add to it (such as eyelash lace, an embroidered floral motif, or pearls, as a few examples).

The veils from this particular shop range anywhere in price from $130 to $300+ for the length.

How do you wear a cathedral length veil?

You can wear a veil traditionally, pinned into your hair with a bridal comb or tiara.

The hair comb or tiara can be as minimalist or extravagant as you’d like it to be, leaving it in gold or silver metal or embellishing it with sparkly crystals, rhinestones, or pearls.

Another option: a silver leaf hair comb, shown here.

Your veil can be worn with a hair-up or hair-down hairstyle and with or without a blusher (a layer worn in front of your face).

Here are some examples of the veils paired with wedding combs. Don’t they look lovely?

Other styles are available, such as a Juliet Cap which features beaded crystals and is worn as a “cap” on your head, like this example below.

A Juliet cap veil can also be worn further down, like this example.

How to travel with your veil

Keeping your veil wrinkle-free without creases yet allowing it to breathe is a tough task, especially if you are traveling for your wedding.

With this handy veil storage kit (available only at Britten), you’ll receive a hanging hook attachment for longer veils and a storage bag to keep your veil looking its best before you walk down the aisle.

The hanging hook clips to the comb of your veil so you can easily hang it up; the hanging attachment allows you to fold the veil over to prevent creases. The breahtable veil cover is acid free and allows you to store your veil while enabling air flow to protect the veil inside. There is a full-length zip with metal ring at the bottom of the bag to hook over the hanger when folded in half. This veil storage bag measures 150cm (59in) long.

This veil storage bag is a must-have for every bride and is affordable. You can buy yours here.

Buy your cathedral length veil online

If you like the cathedral veils we showed you today, you can buy yours here. You can also visit their main website here.

Now you know where to buy cathedral length veils, what they are, how long they measure, what hair combs and tiaras to pair with a veil, and how to store a veil without wrinkling it.

If you have any questions for us, be sure to contact us or leave a comment below!

What do you think of these cathedral length veils? Are you wearing one for your wedding?

Happy Planning!

xo
Emma

Britten is a Featured Artist at Emmaline Bride.