Wedding veil vs. no veil: Which is better?

Gina (Veil)

When many people think of weddings, they think of a white gown, flowers, vows, and the veil being lifted. Wearing a veil is deeply rooted in wedding customs that, when used, adds a sense of tradition and historical significance to the ceremony. Lifting a veil creates a climactic event at a wedding ceremony, creating anticipation and beautiful cinematography for wedding photos. 

Similar to how an engagement ring serves as a public declaration of a couple's commitment, the unveiling of the bride by the groom is symbolic of publicizing that the woman has gone from single to married. These gestures are steeped in tradition. Even those who have no idea where the origin of the veil comes from still associate lifting the veil to reveal the bride to the bridegroom as a significant moment in a wedding ceremony. 

The wedding gown is known as the centerpiece of the wedding ceremony, and any centerpiece needs detail and accents to make it the highest point. Veils are an ornate complement to a wedding gown. New trends are putting a spin on a timeless tradition by adding color and embroidery to add an element of drama to an already beautiful gown. 

Veils, being one size fits all, can easily be passed down from generation to generation without fear of it not fitting. This works well with the tradition in wedding ceremonies of wearing “something borrowed, something blue, something old, and something new,' outlining four possible items a bride should incorporate into her wedding attire or carry with her on her special day. It is believed to bring good luck and symbolize various aspects of a happy marriage. Veils being so deeply rooted in history and tradition, it is far better to go with one than without. 

Emily (No Veil)

The great part about being a bride today is that brides don’t have to follow bridal traditions to a T if they don’t want to. If a bride wants to skip wearing a veil, they absolutely can. In the past, Roman brides may not have wanted to skip wearing a veil since it was believed the veil would hide her identity from evil spirits as she walked down the aisle. Another way brides of the past scared off evil spirits was by wearing a red veil called a flammeum. This veil was used to make the evil spirits think the bride was engulfed in flames.

Brides should also consider their venue. No doubt, dramatic photos of the veil floating in the wind look amazing. But, as The Knot points out, if the wedding is outdoors and the wind is strong, the veil will float around whether the bride is trying to navigate the venue or pose for a photo worthy of a bridal magazine cover.  

Outdoor venues might also not be long-veil-friendly. Dirt, mud, and other terrain might dirty the veil. One bride shared that she ‘accidentally brushed up against a patch of grass full of stickers during my first look—my wonderful bridesmaids spent close to 20 minutes picking these out of my train…had I had a veil, my poor friends would have been stuck doing this for half an hour!’ Veils can also be expensive and range from $20 up to over $500 (with the average being $274). That’s a lot of money for just one wedding accessory that isn’t usually worn for the entire event.