Lace Veil

To a certain extent lace, scalloped edge, and mantilla veils all describe similar types of veils: elegant-looking veils that incorporate lace designs and decorative edges. If you are a bride interested in this type of veil, you will probably want to explore all three styles.

Lace Veils

Delicate, lace veils are the ultimate in femininity and range from all-over to edge-only lace designs. The lace itself can be Blonda, Chantilly, or lace-embroidered tulle. The first two are found primarily on vintage or extremely high-quality veils. Today's bride most commonly wears the last type of lace, because of versatility and lower cost:

- Handmade Blonda lace incorporates designs crafted from two types of silk: A thin thread for detailing and a thicker one to add depth, more details, or color.
- Chantilly lace is intricately embroidered with vegetable, fruit, or floral designs and is named for the town in France where the lace originated. According to Wikipedia, while most Chantilly lace is black, some white veils bear Chantilly designs.
- Lace-embroidered tulle can be sewn to mimic traditional Chantilly or Blonda lace or reflect other designs.

Lace Trim Veils

Another way to integrate the elegance of lace into your veil is through a lace edge or trim. The veil is made primarily from tulle or other veil material, with lace applied around the edges. This look is highly customizable because the specific material, trim design, and other embellishments vary depending on your preference.

Mantilla Veils

When you think of a lace veil, you may envision a mantilla veil -- single-tier with a scalloped edge. Traditionally, mantillas were made from embroidered Chantilly or Blonda lace. Now days, some mantilla veils are made from tulle, with embroidered edging. They are made from a single piece of non-gathered material, which is draped over the head and secured with an unobtrusive comb or pin.

Scallop Edge Veils

The distinctive feature about a mantilla veil is its scallop edge. A veil's edge is usually cut straight or on a slight curve. The exception is the scalloped wedding veil, which is cut with a unique edge. Picture the curvy pattern a row of semi-circles makes placed side-by-side. Or, for visual examples, go to Google Images (images.google.com) and type in Mantilla Veil.

Wearing a Single-Tier, Non-Gathered Veil

Traditionally, lace or mantilla veils are a single, non-gathered oval or round layer of material, to be draped over the head. This creates a sleek and sophisticated appearance, with no pouf or headpiece to interrupt the profile. You can wear this type of veil by pinning or attaching it to your hair with a small comb. You may also want to wear an unobtrusive bow or other hair ornament to hide a pin. If your veil has a scalloped or otherwise unique edge, the traditional way to wear it is so the lace edges softly frame your face and upper body. You may also choose to wear it "blusher style," so the veil covers your face and the edge falls to your bodice. Or, attach the veil to the back of your head so the decorated edges cascade down your back.

Gathered and Multi-Tiered Veils

While you will probably want a single-tier for an all-lace veil (to show the lace in its full beauty), you can wear a lace- or scallop-edge veil the same as any other. Do be careful, however, of the effect when considering more than one tier or heavy gathering. You may inadvertently create a busy or "crowded" look, rather than elegant.