Crafting A Headband Veil For Your Wedding Day

Making your own wedding veil is a great way to save money and add a personal touch to your special day. You can make a simple veil for as little as $10 in supplies and an hour or two of your time. Here's how to make a wedding veil with a headband.

Step 1: Measure and Cut the Tulle

First, decide how long you want your veil to be. A typical veil would come down to your fingertips, but other popular lengths include shoulder, elbow, floor, chapel, and cathedral.

Purchase tulle that is around 72 inches wide for a shorter veil, or 108 inches wide for a longer veil. Cut the bottom of your veil into a rounded rectangle, if desired. You can leave your veil rectangular, but a rounded bottom will give you a nicer shape.

Step 2: Sew the Tulle

Sew across the top, straight edge. You can do it by hand using a running stitch or on a sewing machine using a straight stitch. For a full veil, sew all the way across the top, straight edge. For a less-full veil, sew across the center part, leaving a gap on either side.

Step 3: Gather the Tulle

Gather your stitching, then tie the thread off. Gently tug on the end of your stitching until the tulle gathers. Keep pulling until the gathered area is the same width as your comb, about 2 to 4 inches. Tie the thread off into a secure knot, then cut off the excess.

Step 4: Attach the Tulle to a Headband

Hot glue or sew the veil to the headband according to the instructions on the package.

Step 5: Decorate the Headband (Optional)

Hot glue the medium-size flowers to the center of the band. Hot glue the smaller size flowers on either side of the medium-size flowers. Fill in all the holes around and in-between the medium-size flowers with the smaller ones. Insert the pearl sprays. Use white glue to secure.

Choosing the right veil and headpiece combination

When choosing the right veil and headpiece combination, there are a few factors to consider. Firstly, the length and style of your veil will determine the type of headpiece that pairs best with it. For instance, short veils such as birdcage or blusher veils go well with smaller, more delicate headpieces like simple combs or vintage-inspired clips. On the other hand, medium-length veils offer more versatility and can be paired with anything from intricate tiaras to floral crowns. If you're opting for a long veil, consider pairing it with a more substantial headpiece like a crown to add a regal touch.

Another important consideration is to match the aesthetic of your veil and headpiece to create a cohesive look. If your veil features lace or beading, opt for a headpiece with similar details. Conversely, if your veil is simple, a more ornate headpiece can add flair and accentuate the details on your wedding dress.

Lastly, ensure that your veil and headpiece complement your wedding dress. For example, if your dress has intricate detailing, a simpler veil and headpiece might be a better choice to avoid overwhelming your look.

Placement matters: Positioning your veil and headpiece

The way you position the veil and headpiece can dramatically affect your overall bridal look. Here are some tips for getting it just right:

• Classic placement: Traditionally, the veil and headpiece are positioned at the front/top of your headpiece. Similar to the look of a tiara, this look feels regal and effortless.
• Contemporary placement: For a more modern look, consider placing the headpiece with the veil underneath at the top of an updo or half up hairstyle.
• Low placement: If you’re wearing your hair in a low updo or chignon, you can position the headpiece and veil at the nape of your neck. The placement is elegant and works well for brides who prefer a subtle, understated look.

If you are wearing your hair in a low updo or chignon, you can position the headpiece and veil at the nape of your neck. The placement is elegant and works well for brides who prefer a subtle, understated look.

If you are wearing your hair all down, your hairstylist will most likely create a hidden foundation under the hair to support the piece in your hair. These extra precautions (extra hair pins!) will securely hold the headpiece and veil in place.

If you are wearing your hair in a low updo or chignon, you can position the headpiece and veil at the nape of your neck. The placement is elegant and works well for brides who prefer a subtle, understated look.

If you are wearing your hair in a low updo or chignon, you can position the headpiece and veil at the nape of your neck. The placement is elegant and works well for brides who prefer a subtle, understated look.

If you are wearing your hair in a low updo or chignon, you can position the headpiece and veil at the nape of your neck. The placement is elegant and works well for brides who prefer a subtle, understated look.

If you are wearing your hair in a low updo or chignon, you can position the headpiece and veil at the nape of your neck. The placement is elegant and works well for brides who prefer a subtle, understated look.

If you are wearing your hair in a low updo or chignon, you can position the headpiece and veil at the nape of your neck. The placement is elegant and works well for brides who prefer a subtle, understated look.

If you are wearing your hair in a low updo or chignon, you can position the headpiece and veil at the nape of your neck. The placement is elegant and works well for brides who prefer a subtle, understated look.

It's all about the proportions

When choosing your bridal comb, consider its proportion relative to your veil comb. You’ll be positioning them next to each other so size is important. The body of your bridal headpiece should be wider (longer) than the width of your veil comb. So if your veil’s comb is 3 inches long, your headpiece needs to be at least 4-5 inches long.

Extra wide veil comb? A veil comb that’s 4-4.5 inches or wider is best styled with a longer and narrow comb. Delicate hair pins will appear disproportionate and too busy in the hair.

Plastic veil comb? Consider the thickness of the veil comb itself, particularly ones that are attached to thick plastic combs with a lot of tulle wrapping. These veils are hard to work with because they appear heavy and chunky in the hair. We avoid plastic combs across our collections and we only use fine metal hair combs as they’re stronger, sturdy, flexible and lightweight.

Love a fuller veil with lots of volume? Ensure your headpiece is wide enough to cover the veil comb. The VERSE comb is a smaller comb that pairs perfectly with a fuller AMORA wedding veil. At just over 5.5 inches wide, the VERSE is perfect to cover a wedding veil comb that’s up to 4 inches wide.

If you prefer a sheer wedding veil, a drop veil like our ROSELLA chapel veil or BLAIR fingertip veil will sit flat against the head and will ensure your bridal comb will sit flush against it.

When styling your wedding comb and veil, make sure you take into account how they’re constructed. If you have two central combs (one on the veil and one in the middle of the headpiece), it will be possible to layer them one of top of the other but it may be more of a headache – literally – than it’s worth.

Look for headpieces designed around a split comb system or headpieces which don’t feature a comb at all. This way you can easily position the veil, position the headpiece and easily secure them into place. The two comb system is signature to our brand – we feel two combs allows extra flexibility with style around various hairstyles and head shapes. And of equal importance, it means you can style your headpiece with a veil. Just ensure the combs are wide enough to sit either side of the veil’s comb.

The advantages of wearing separate pieces rather than one that is sewn together

There are several advantages to wearing separate pieces rather than one that is sewn together. Here are some of them:

Flexibility in styling

When the veil and headpiece are separate, you have more versatility in how you style your hair and position the accessories. You can experiment with different looks, trying the veil at different heights. A separate headpiece and veil allow you to adapt your look throughout the day. For example, you might choose to remove the veil after the ceremony while keeping the headpiece on for the reception.

Practicality

If the veil is sewn into the headpiece, removing the veil can be complicated and may require the help of a hairstylist. With separate pieces, the veil can be easily removed without disturbing the headpiece or hairstyle.

Maintenance and care

It’s easier to manage, clean and store a veil and headpiece when they are separate. Veils are typically more delicate and prone to wrinkling, so having them unattached makes them easier to handle without damaging the headpiece.

How to secure your look

The more accessories you have in your hair, the greater the base that is needed to support them. We suggest the layered look is best suited for an updo, but a half-up half-down or even loose wavy hairstyles can be achieved using a few simple techniques to secure those metal hair combs.

If you are wearing your hair all down, your hairstylist will most likely create a hidden foundation under the hair to support the piece in your hair. These extra precautions (extra hair pins!) will securely hold the headpiece and veil in place.

Use multiple hair pins: Secure your veil and headpiece with multiple bobby pins or hair combs to ensure they don’t shift during the day. Make sure to choose pins that match your hair colour for a seamless look.

Try it on together: During your hair trial, make sure to try on your veil and headpiece together. This will give you a sense of how they work as a pair and allow your hairstylist to make any necessary adjustments.

Consider weight and balance: If your headpiece is particularly heavy, you may need to reinforce it with extra pins. Similarly, if your veil is long and voluminous, make sure it’s anchored securely so it doesn’t pull on your headpiece.

Once the veil is secured into place with bobby pins, you’re now ready to position the headpiece and pin it into place. It’s best to secure the veil first and then the headpiece on top of the veil’s comb for a more seamless finish.

Choose headpieces constructed using split combs or no comb at all

When styling your wedding comb and veil, make sure you take into account how they’re constructed. If you have two central combs (one on the veil and one in the middle of the headpiece), it will be possible to layer them one of top of the other but it may be more of a headache – literally – than it’s worth.

Look for headpieces designed around a split comb system or headpieces which don’t feature a comb at all. This way you can easily position the veil, position the headpiece and easily secure them into place. The two comb system is signature to our brand – we feel two combs allows extra flexibility with style around various hairstyles and head shapes. And of equal importance, it means you can style your headpiece with a veil. Just ensure the combs are wide enough to sit either side of the veil’s comb.

Attaching the Veil to a Headband

If you are making a headband veil, you can attach the veil to the headband using glue or by sewing it on.

Attaching the Veil to a Comb

To attach the veil to a comb, you can sew it on or use elastic loops that can be pinned into the hair. If you are sewing the veil on, match up the top edge of the veil with the top edge of the comb. Sew the veil to the comb, wrapping the thread around the comb and between the teeth. Tie the thread off in a tight knot, then snip off the excess.

Frequently asked questions