Veil over face during ceremony and who lifts it?

Question

I bought my wedding dress this weekend and the lady helping me put a veil on my head with a cute comb tiara in front of it. I never even considered a veil until she did this. It completed my look and it was beautiful. I'm just wondering if women still wear the veil over their face when they walk down the isle? Some web sites say the father of the bride is supposed to lift the veil when they reach the isle; however, other web sites said that the groom is supposed to lift the veil before the kiss, which is what I thought the tradition was. I almost just want to wear the veil on top of my head but not over my face, just hanging behind my head. Is that tacky? My fiance seemed surprised that I bought a veil and I'm wondering if they are out of style? He's been to way more weddings than me and I wonder if most brides choose not to wear one. How did you or are you going to do the veil thing? Are you having your father lift it or your fiance?

Answer 1

No one does the viel over the face anymore (at least I hope not)... I think it's great to wear a viel, just draping over the back and not covering the face.

Answer 2

Sometimes the father lifts it (to kiss his daughter on the cheek), sometimes the groom. And yes, some women still wear a blusher veil. It's totally optional.



I didn't want to do a blusher veil because our wedding was not traditional, and I don't believe in what it represents. I believe that when I chose to marry, I decided as a grown woman alone, fully in control of her own life and making her own decisions. My parents weren't involved in the decision. I also don't believe in the practice of saving virginity for marriage, which is what the veil represents (the veil, NOT the white dress).



I actually thought about not doing a veil at all, but I ended up choosing a single-layer non-poofy veil because it's part of the bridal costume and I do like how it looks. I've seen weddings both with a blusher veil and without. It's totally a personal choice, and is beautiful either way. =)

Answer 3

I actually wore a cathedral veil with a blusher (this is what the face covering is called). We had a Catholic Mass and I chose to wear the blusher. It's not uncommon for some churches to request that the bride has a headcovering, so yes, some "modern" religious brides still do wear veils. In secular weddings, it's less common, but some brides still choose to wear one.



Our priest informed us that the blusher was to be lifted after my now husband and I walked down the aisle but before we were seated (the couple sits during Mass ceremonies). So in my case, my husband lifted the veil since we walked together. I was not "given away".



So really I only had it down for the 45 second walk down the aisle before the ceremony began. Good thing too, it was hot! And awkward. :) It did make for some stunning pictures though, I'm not going to lie.



I think that nowadays it's common for the veil is to be lifted before the ceremony begins, as it was in my case. Who lifts it depends on your ceremony structure. I walked with my now husband, so he was the one to lift the veil. Same would likely be the case if you walk alone. Other brides have their father or mother (or both) do it. I'm sure a bride out there has also lifted her own veil. Unless your church (if religious) or officiant requests a specific way, the choice is determined largely by your entrance.



As for the decision to wear a veil, there are so many factors that really only you can decide. Some brides wear one for religious reasons, others believe they "represent" something, some think it's "traditional", others simply like the look. Conversely, some women hate veils for the same reasons.



Have a wonderful wedding.

Answer 4

I would lift back the veil when your mom or dad kiss you. Or simply wear it not covering your face at all. Either is fine.



As a side story, I walked down the aisle with the veil over my face. For some reason, having the veil over my face for about 10 minutes (while I was waiting to walk down the aisle) wound up affecting my vision for about 20 minutes. I could still see, but everything was in a surreal haze. You know how in a movie when they show someone's vision while they are drunk or on a drug trip...it was like that.



But the veil looked cool in the photos. And that's all that matters. LOL.

Answer 5

i don't believe in the tradition of "giving the bride away". i think it still dates back to the belief that a woman is property and not a person; so at my wedding in 5 months i'll be having both parents walk with me down the aisle and my fiance will do the same with his parents. i'm not going to wear a veil because i want my fiance to know it's me and that i'm the woman he fell in love with and wants to marry, (anti-veil tradition there. a veil typically was meant as either "wrapping" on the bride, to hide her from anyone who may want to steal her away, or to keep her "pure" until the groom took her as his own.) instead, i'll be wearing a small fascinator in my hair. my mother wore a gorgeous veil though and i think for the right woman or the right couple, the traditional significance can be great or it may just look right. for me though, i do not want one. and no, veils are not out of style. i'm pretty sure there will always be some bride somewhere that wants to do the full bridal package, veil included. to each his own, i'm sure you will look gorgeous on your day and that your fiance will love whatever you choose. good luck :)

Answer 6

Traditionally, the face veil is lifted by the groom just before the kiss. However, I have seen weddings where the father lifted it after joining the bride's hand to her groom's. I also went to one wedding where the maid of honor lifted the veil for the bride and took her bouquet to hold just before the ring exchange. Frankly, if I were you I would either do it myself or have the groom do it. But that's just me. :) As for the reception--as I see it, the veil is a symbol of your being a "maiden" and should come off after the wedding. It will get in the way at the reception, so once your photos are taken I would remove it. That way you don't have to worry about dragging it through the wedding cake, having it pulled off by accident and messing up your hair, etc. :)

Answer 7

Blusher Veil Tradition

Answer 8

It's true that the original tradition was the groom would lift it for the kiss.



Then, the fathers began lifting them at the altar.



I have personally never seen a modern bride cover her face with a veil at all. Usually, they are worn in the hair or on top of the head, now.

Answer 9

At the weddings that I've been to, the father of the bride raises the veil when he gives her to the groom at the altar. Others have kept it down over their face until the priest says it's OK for the groom to kiss the bride. It's totally up to you and what you want.

Answer 10

I think it's totally pretty when people wear veils out of their face (and no cute is never out of fashion).I think it can be the father or the groom who lifts the veil, either way congratulations .

Answer 11

My daughter just got married, and walked down the isle with the 'blusher' over her face. It was very romantic and breath-taking. When she and her dad got to the end of the isle, her dad lifted it and he they hugged and then she turned and hugged me because I was standing in the front pew. Then her fiance stepped forward and her dad handed her off to her groom. It was magical.....

Answer 12

Everything that Caliko said. 100% agree.