Creating A Wedding Veil: A Step-By-Step Guide To Patterning

Making a wedding veil is a fun and easy DIY project that can save you a lot of money. You can make a veil with as little as $10 in supplies and an hour or two of your time. The first step is to decide what length you want your veil to be. Common veil lengths include shoulder, elbow, fingertip, ankle, and chapel. You'll also need to decide if you want a blusher, which is a shorter veil that covers the bride's face as she walks down the aisle.

Once you've determined the length and style of your veil, you'll need to gather your supplies, including tulle, a comb or barrette, a needle and thread, and any trim or decorations you want to add. Then, you'll cut the tulle to the desired length, round the corners, and gather the edge with a whip stitch. Finally, you'll attach the comb or barrette and add any desired trim or decorations.

There are many online resources available with detailed instructions and tutorials for making a wedding veil, including video and step-by-step photo guides. You can also find downloadable PDF patterns and tutorials for a small fee. With a little time and effort, you can create a beautiful and unique veil for your special day.

Choosing the right length

The length of your wedding veil is one of the most important factors to consider when making your own. Here is a breakdown of the most common veil lengths and how they pair with different dress styles:

Birdcage Veil (22.5 cm or 9 inches)

This short, vintage-style veil typically covers just part of the face and is perfect for retro, minimalist, or modern brides. It can cover just the eyes, skim the nose, or fall at the jawline.

Shoulder-Length Veil (50 cm or 20 inches)

A casual and modern choice, this veil ends around the shoulders and is ideal for informal or outdoor weddings.

Elbow-Length Veil (63-68 cm or 25-27 inches)

Falling to your elbows, this length is flattering and versatile, complementing most dress styles. It is a good option if you want your dress to be the star of the show.

Fingertip Veil (91-101 cm or 36-40 inches)

One of the most popular veil lengths, it grazes your fingertips and adds elegance without overwhelming the dress. It is a timeless and classic option that works with a range of different wedding dresses and venues.

Waltz Veil (152 cm or 60 inches)

If you want to keep your veil on during the reception, consider this length, which falls to the mid-calf. It is a great option if you want to wear a longer veil while still being able to move around freely.

Floor-Length Veil (183 cm or 72 inches)

A floor-length veil just grazes the floor and matches the length of the bride's gown. It will add extra volume to your look, perfect if you wanted a ball gown silhouette.

Chapel Veil (230 cm or 90 inches)

If you are forgoing a train, a chapel-length veil will create the illusion of one without the need for bustling. It sweeps across the floor, extending slightly beyond the bride's gown.

Cathedral Veil (275-305 cm or 108-120 inches)

For a dramatic and regal entrance, choose a cathedral-length veil. It extends beyond the train of the bride's gown and is the most dramatic option for walking down the aisle.

Cutting the tulle

Step 1: Cut the tulle to length for your veil

Lay the tulle out on a large table (or a clean floor) and keep it folded in half lengthwise (this is how it was at the store). Put the folded edge nearest to you. At this point, you have two layers of tulle.

Now, fold the tulle in half crosswise by grabbing the rightmost edge and folding it over so that it touches the leftmost edge. At this point, you have four layers of tulle.

Measure again how long you want the tulle to be (from the top of your head down) and cut the tulle to that length (keep it folded) if needed.

Step 2: Round out the corners of the tulle

Now, round off the top left edge of the fabric by pinning to mark it and then cutting in a smooth motion. If you need a guide, try using a large serving platter. You want to be left with a quarter-circle shape.

Step 3: Refold the tulle into veil layers

Unfold the tulle completely. At this point, you have one layer of tulle. The dashed orange lines below show where the folds used to be:

Fold the tulle crosswise from right to left, but you don't have to bring it all the way over. You can match the ends up for a single-length veil, or you can leave a few inches between the edges for a nice layered look. If you keep a shorter layer, it can be used as a blusher if you like. At this point, you should verify that the length is exactly what you want and if it's too long, cut one of the rounded ends shorter, as needed.

Turn the veil 90 degrees counter-clockwise so that the folded edge is at the top, farthest away from you, and the open rounded edges are closest to you.

Don't be surprised if the veil seems wider than it is long, especially if you are using a really wide tulle or making a fairly short veil. Once you gather it all up in the following step, the proportions will make a lot more sense.

Rounding the corners

The corners of a wedding veil can be rounded to create a rounded rectangle, oval, or circle shape. Rounding the corners of a veil can be done by folding the fabric and cutting the corners off so that they are rounded. This can be done by hand or with a rotary cutter.

To round the corners of a veil, first determine the desired shape and size of the veil. Cut the fabric to the desired length, keeping the fabric folded in half lengthwise. Then, fold the fabric again widthwise so that the selvedges are all stacked together on one side. Using a long ruler or straight edge, cut off the selvedges so that the corners of the fabric are 90 degrees and even along the long edge.

Next, mark the desired curve on the fabric. This can be done by using a large piece of paper to mark the start and end points of the curve. Then, freehand a line in pencil, adjusting until the desired curve is achieved. Place the paper underneath the fabric and use a fabric marker to transfer the curve. Remove the paper and cut along the marked line.

For an oval-shaped veil, the curve will start and end at the folds. For a circular veil, measure from the innermost corner (the part that will be the center of the veil when the fabric is unfolded) to the nearest edge to determine the radius. Mark this distance from the center and rotate the ruler slowly to form the curve until you reach the other folded edge.

Once the corners are rounded, the veil can be hemmed, gathered, and attached to a comb or other hairpiece.

Gathering the tulle

Step 1: Cut the Tulle to Length

Lay the tulle out on a large table or a clean floor, keeping it folded in half lengthwise. This is how it was packaged in the store. Put the folded edge nearest to you. At this point, you have two layers of tulle.

Now, fold the tulle in half crosswise by grabbing the rightmost edge and folding it over so that it touches the leftmost edge. At this point, you have four layers of tulle.

Measure again how long you want the tulle to be (from the top of your head down) and cut the tulle to that length (keep it folded) if needed.

Step 2: Round Out the Corners of the Tulle

Now, round off the top left edge of the fabric by pinning to mark it and then cutting in a smooth motion. If you need a guide, try using a large serving platter. You want to be left with a quarter-circle shape.

Step 3: Refold the Tulle into Veil Layers

Unfold the tulle completely. At this point, you have one layer of tulle. The dashed orange lines below show where the folds used to be:

Fold the tulle crosswise from right to left, but you don't have to bring it all the way over. You can match the ends up for a single-length veil, or you can leave a few inches between the edges for a nice layered look. If you keep a shorter layer, it can be used as a blusher if you like. At this point, you should verify that the length is exactly what you want and if it's too long, cut one of the rounded ends shorter, as needed.

Turn the veil 90 degrees counter-clockwise so that the folded edge is at the top, farthest away from you, and the open rounded edges are closest to you.

Don't be surprised if the veil seems wider than it is long, especially if you are using a really wide tulle or making a fairly short veil. Once you gather it all up in the following step, the proportions will make a lot more sense.

Step 4: Gather the Center of the Tulle

You will now have to decide whether or not you want the side edges of your veil's two layers to come all the way up to the top. If you choose to have the edges come up to the top, the top of your veil will be fuller and puffier.

This decision is particularly noticeable if you plan to put a ribbon trim on the edges, because the ribbon will clearly be only at the bottom or will go up to your head, depending on your choice. This diagram illustrates the two variations:

Once you choose from these two styles, you will be ready to gather the top of your veil. Depending on your choice, you will either gather up only the center portion of your tulle (diagram on left), or you'll gather the entire width of the tulle (diagram on right).

Step 5: Gather the Tulle

Once you have decided how much tulle to gather, do so with a needle and strong thread, weaving in and out with small stitches.

Pull the thread to gather the stitched tulle so that it is only about 2 inches wide. Knot the thread securely.

Hold the tulle by the gathered area and give it a gentle shake, which will allow the sides to fall gracefully down with the rest of the tulle.

Attaching the comb

Take the gathered portion of tulle at the top centre and sew it securely to your clip. If you are planning to wear a fancy tiara and want to be able to remove the veil for the reception but still keep the tiara on, just sew the veil to a simple French comb and you can wear both pieces at once, then easily take just the veil off later.

Pay attention to which way the teeth on the comb are facing so you don't stitch the comb the wrong way on the veil.

If you want to add a blusher, fold the tulle to the length of the shorter veil and check that the longer piece measures the length of the second veil.

Frequently asked questions