How to Incorporate Your Mother's Veil into a Wedding

Use this cherished heirloom to create your own memories.

It's not uncommon for modern brides to include their mother's veil or wedding dress in their own wedding. If your have your mother’s veil, consider this a rare and blessed opportunity to continue a family tradition. The Victorian maxim that instructs a bride to have both something old and something new also advises her to choose a hand-me-down from a fortunate woman who enjoyed a long and happy marriage. If your mother kept her veil, chances are she has fond memories of her own wedding and hopes to pass that providence on to you.

According to the wedding planner website The Knot, there are two types of brides. One bride will wear a lovely veil in her wedding pictures and during the ceremony, while another may want the focus to be on her hairstyle. The way you incorporate your mother’s veil into your wedding will depend on which of these brides you choose to be. There are no rules that dictate how you should use this family heirloom in your wedding. With that in mind, consider your options and be creative.

Instructions

1. Go cultural. Borrow lace from your mother’s veil to create a Latin-inspired wedding mantilla like those seen in wedding apparel lines by designers like Giorgio Armani. This lace-edged veil gently drapes the face and works well with traditional updos because it's usually held in place by a comb. Many contemporary bridal mantillas are fashioned with antique lace for a classic look. So, instead of paying high dollar for expensive new materials, borrow some lace or silk from your mother's veil to create your own timeless headpiece.

2. 

   Honor the women who came before you.

   Go decorative. Use this cherished piece of family history in your wedding decorations. Use a hat stand to display your mother's veil on a family themed table along with her wedding photos and other nostalgic pictures of your childhood. Invite your mother-in-law to contribute some of her own, and begin to cement new family relationships. For a less dramatic effect, let the veil drape the guestbook table or use it to shroud the minister's podium.

3. Go vintage. The antique theme is a trendy wedding choice. Have your mother's veil restored by a professional for a fraction of the cost for a new designer veil. Any designer will be happy to add new embellishments that will make a dated accessory look fresh and new.

4. 

   Fountain veils like this one draw attention up to the head and face.

   Go big. Consider wearing a multilayered style and include a layer from mom’s veil in your own. Fountain veils use layers that gently lift from the crown. You can also use tulle or lace from an antique veil as a blusher, the part of the veil that drapes over the bride’s face until it's brushed back by a reluctant father or the waiting groom.

5. Go solo. Use a piece of lace or tulle from your mother’s veil to create your own custom hairpiece, tiara, barrette or headband. This also works for hair accessories for the bridesmaids or the flower girl. Include your mom in the project for some pre-wedding mother-daughter bonding time.

6. 

   You've dreamed about this since you were a little girl.

   Go traditional. If you've dreamed of wearing your mother's veil for your own wedding, restore the vintage keepsake and wear it like Mom did. You will need to find a dress that matches the color and style of the veil and consider making minor alterations that flatter your face. For example, a woman with a rectangular-shaped face will benefit from soft but voluminous layers, while a veil that falls along the sides of the cheek and jaw will compliment a rounder face.

7. Give gifts. Make handkerchiefs from your mother’s veil and present them to her on your wedding day so she can wipe her tears as she watches you take your vows. Keep one for yourself, or make several and gift them to close friends and family members, including your grandmother or future mother-in-law.

References

• Martha Stewart.com: 50 Money-Saving Tips
• The Knot: Choosing the Right Veil for Your Face
• The Knot: Veil Tips & Trends
• Wedding Channel: All About Bridal Veils and Headpieces
• The Knot: Irish Wedding Traditions

Resources

• New York Weddings: Veils Store Directory