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The days when every bride walked up the aisle with her face chastely swathed in a cloud of white net might belong to the past, but the traditional wedding veil is far from being consigned to history.
Indeed, after a few years in the fashion doldrums, veils are enjoying something of a resurgence, with many brides opting to add a drift of diaphanous gauze to their ensemble for at least part of their big day.
Award-winning wedding hair specialist Robyn Munro, who is based in Warkworth, says up to 80 per cent of the brides she works with are opting for a veil, and she’s all for it.
“Veils are definitely making a resurgence into bridal fashion,” she says. “For a while, I know a lot of people were thinking it was a bit old-fashioned, but I always say that if brides are even considering wearing one, then they should. After all, there’s only one day you can wear a veil, so even if you just buy a cheap one and have it on for part of the day, just for the photos or the ceremony, why not.”
Robyn says they add a finishing touch to the bride’s outfit and can add an extra dimension to the day.
“The photographic opportunities with veils are incredible, they provide a real element of drama. It creates a little bit of mystery.”
It is the way that veils are worn that has changed most. In the past, bridal veils were statement garments, worn high on top of the head and usually covering the face, head and shoulders. Now, they are placed more unobtrusively at the back of the head, under the crown or even on the nape of the neck.
“No-one is wearing them over the face any more,” Robyn says. “I’ve done two in the last year and both of those were for religious purposes. They’re not dominating any more, they’re a finishing touch, just something for the wind to catch.”
Apart from veils, hair jewellery and accessories are the hottest wedding headgear trend, in shades of gold, silver, bronze or classic white and cream, using delicate, organic forms and twists of fine wire to hold relaxed hair twists and plaits in place. Some brides opt for a hair accessory or jewellery from a friend or relative if they want “something borrowed”. Robyn recalls a recent bride who wanted to wear a brooch belonging to her mother-in-law, but didn’t want to wear it on her dress, so she incorporated it into her hairstyle instead.
“That can often be a really good way of using something sentimental,” she says.
Fresh flowers remain popular for wedding hair, too, though individual blooms or small clusters have replaced full flower crowns, which were fashionable a few years ago.
Regardless of whether brides opt for a veil, jewellery, accessories, fresh flowers, or a combination of all or any of these, for their hair, Robyn believes it is important to add something special to their hair on the big day.
“When you’re all sitting down at the reception and everyone is dressed up, if you have something on or in your hair, it makes you stand out,” she says. “It’s a chance to really embellish yourself. Something in your hair makes you special for the day.”
