When I went to get my dress altered (hemmed and straps changed), I tried on my dress for the women of Luella’s Boudoir, and decided to play around a bit with headpieces and jewelry. Before this, I hadn’t really considered–and definitely hadn’t tried on–any veils or headpieces. I had thought about different combinations or styles, but to be honest, what I would have on my head hadn’t really been something I was overly concerned with. It would just come to me.
For my dress fitting, I took a good friend, a camera, and as much self-confidence as I could muster. The fawning, and eventual debate, ensued… Because Alex has requested not to see anything prior to the wedding, I’m gonna tell you what I found first, and then what I tried on. Being the awesome brother a Best Bro can be, my little brother weighed in the headpiece debate:
“Alright Erica, the Bro advice is come to ya!! The head stuff is cool and all but I want to see your frickin’ gorgeous face. I agree that some color (purple) would look good for sure. Maybe something little that clips in your hair, or like a purple veil that just goes straight back. Show that face!!”
So, my brother and his girlfriend went online to the ever awesome Etsy and found me the *perfect* headpiece.
- Hair Accessory by Mollusa
But getting to the point of ordering the purple floral headpiece I’ve chosen came AFTER a rather terrifying experience of trying on veils. Terrifying not because the shop and designers weren’t absolutely lovely, but terrifying because for the first time, with a veil on, I looked LIKE a BRIDE. Just check out my face in the next shot. In case you were wondering, that’s my ‘Holy shit, and breathe’ moment.
- Photo by the lovely J
And this was towards the end of the veil-trying-on-ness. I quite liked the combination of the antique beaded broach and veil down the back, but it just wasn’t me. Neither was this. DEFINITELY not me. (I am trying not to freak by covering it up with silliness.)
Photo by the lovely J
It is a gorgeous veil. No doubt. And it is the perfect look for some. Maybe even you have just purchased this exact veil for your big day. For me, it was, like I said, ‘Holy shit, I’m a BRIDE’ and that was strangely, for the first time in this whole wedding planning business, my first realization that if I wanted to, I could really go for the ‘bride look’–and that it wasn’t for me.
Photo by the lovely J
And while the birdcage veil was a little closer to the style and classic look I’m going for, I still think I’d be brushing the damn veil out of my face all day long. In this case, the Best Bro just knew best. What ‘looks’ are y’all going for?
Love the post! I had the same issue with the veil business. Every time I tried my dress on I felt like something was missing without a veil. But when I tried on the veil I felt like a little girl playing dress up. I eventually went with real orchids in my hair. It was perfect and I didn’t have to worry about swatting tulle away from my face all night. I love the purple flower it will look beautiful with the color of your dress!
Thanks Alison! Feeling like a little girl playing dress up was totally it. Real orchids are lovely. The purple flower has arrived now and it matches my dress perfectly! Eek!
I’m in loooove with your dress first of all. I did have a veil on for the ceremony as it’s a traditional Jewish custom to lift the veil. But I took it off after the ceremony and love the pics I didn’t have my veil on waaay more than the ones I had it on with. It felt like it was weighing me down.
I didn’t think I want a veil, but then I discovered the joy of the birdcage, and I discovered that I wanted to be *really* bridal. I did the birdcage, and then switched to a hair flower so I wouldn’t have to brush it out of my face all day, and it wouldn’t drive me nuts! I got the veil on etsy, and it was awesome!
I highly recommend having your cake and eating it too!