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HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025
Chapter 29 of the Book of Genesis tells the story of Jacob and his struggle to marry Rachel, the woman he truly loves. As per an agreement with Rachel’s father, Laban, Jacob worked under him for seven years. However, at the end of the deal, he tricks Jacob into marrying Rachel's older sister, Leah, instead.
How could Jacob have learned this too late? During their time, it was customary for a bride to be veiled, including obscuring her face to the groom. This story is the basis for the Jewish wedding rite of bedeken, where the groom affirms that he’s marrying the bride out of inner beauty and not appearance.
While this tradition is alive and well in Judaism, things are different in a Western wedding. Although blusher veils are still widely worn today, more brides are opting for bridal veils that provide an open view of their faces. No lace wedding veil today will reliably hide the bride’s face, anyway.
As such, does veiling the bride’s face still have a place in a modern wedding?
It isn’t hard to see why brides centuries ago had to be entirely veiled. Scientific knowledge was still in its infancy relative to today, and people’s understanding of the world primarily came from culture and religion. As far as marriage is concerned, what they knew back then was that an unveiled woman was prone to the machinations of evil spirits.
We mentioned the flammeum a dozen times in our blog when talking about the origins of the wedding veil. Not only did this ancient Roman veil mean “flame-coloured,” but it was tailored in a way that looked like the bride was on fire. Evil spirits, at least according to the Romans, are vulnerable to fire.
Another interpretation is that the veil hid the bride’s face from evil spirits. They can’t wish for misfortune in her married life if they can’t spot her in the first place, somewhat similar to whistleblowers staying incognito to avoid reprisals.
As science gradually began to explain the workings of the world and the universe, the belief in evil spirits soon gave way to more practical ones. Back when forced arranged marriages were popular, the bride’s family would have her face fully veiled to prevent the groom from changing his mind. After the vows were exchanged, there was no turning back for the groom.
Today, veiling your bride’s face is, for the most part, a nod to what people used to believe in centuries past. Some very traditional families still hold onto this religious custom or cultural etiquette, but modern brides are free to choose the overall bridal look they desire.
For a veil to completely shroud your face, it must be long enough. The good news is that it narrows down to most bridal veil lengths, including specific birdcage veil designs, so that’s the length issue out of the way.
The more important matter is choosing how you want your perfect wedding veil to cover your face. There are at least two styles to choose from: the drop veil and the two-tier veil.
A drop veil consists of a single layer of tulle attached to a comb with no gathers, which drapes gracefully over the head and shoulders. It creates a soft, ethereal look with a flat, seamless appearance, often appearing more minimalist than other traditional gathered veils. Essentially, it “drops” over the head without any obvious gathers or attachments, giving it an illusion of a floating veil.
Drop veils technically become two-tier veils when the front tier is pulled back during the unveiling. The only difference is the lack of the tulle gathering on the comb. Drop wedding veils are often associated with royalty, as many brides wed to members of royal families like Kate Middleton (to Prince William) wore one.
A blusher wedding veil can either be a one-piece veil or consist of a detachable front section or blusher (though we only offer the former ) . Unlike a drop veil, this design features a significant tuft of tulle made with several layers. A blusher veil can go up to three tiers for the most puffiness (called a puffy veil).
Choosing this veil stylesignifies that you strongly value the traditional wedding—that you still believe in the need to protect your happiness from those who harbour ill will. The inevitable lifting of the blusher makes the big kiss more momentous.
As with most decisions you make while planning your wedding, there isn’t a right or wrong answer here. Your personal choice of veil should be based on whatever speaks to you and your wedding dress.
If you’re a stickler for tradition or find the look perfect for your bridal ensemble, then there’s no harm in veiling your face before everyone in attendance. However, know that the days of hiding your looks until the big reveal are – save for a few exceptions – gone. Everyone wants to see the woman who’s about to start a new chapter in her life story.
A final note: in case you’re wondering what happened to Jacob, he did eventually marry Rachel. He had to work for Laban for seven more years, though.
