Veils are not made equal. From fabric and length to fullness and style, every aspect of your wedding veil can make or break your bridal look.
With thousands of veils to choose from, it can easily feel like an overwhelming task. However, there are ways to refine your search. These are the key veil lengths and the looks they suit best:
The birdcage:
For a vintage flair, opt for the birdcage veil. This short veil often features stiff netting or mesh that covers just the forehead and top half of the face. They are usually fastened to pillbox hats or headbands.
This veil looks best for brides wanting a more vintage, throwback look. It pairs especially well with tea-length dresses.
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Fingertip length veil:
For a more classic look, the fingertip length veil is perfect. This mid-length veil stops below the waist and is flattering on every body shape. Not too long and not too short, this veil can be dressed up or down depending on how fancy you want your look to be.
This is truly the jack of all veils. It flatters a range of hairstyles and dresses, so you have endless options with this look. If your dress is quite embellished and dramatic, it may be best to pair it down with a more simple veil. However, a more simple silhouette can be given added drama with a full veil.
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Ballet length veil:
One of the most popular veil looks is the ballet length. Also known as the waltz veil, it falls below your hips, anywhere between your knees and ankles.
This look is extra feminine and romantic, and works especially well on petite brides as it won’t drown her out with fabric and make her appear smaller.
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Chapel length veil:
Most brides traditionally opt for the chapel length veil, which drapes all the way to the floor and spreads out a few inches behind their wedding dress.
This style is more formal and traditional, making it perfect for brides wanting a classic look.
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Cathedral length veil:
This style is essentially the extended chapel veil. It’s usually about 30-60cm longer than a wedding dress, and often requires assistance when laying it out neatly behind you.
Brides wanting a bit more drama but not too much fuss will love this look. It complements ballgowns especially well, adding a special fairytale spin.
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The Royal veil:
It’s clear to see how this veil got its name. Channel the drama of Princess Diana with a bold wedding veil that extends not only centimetres but meters behind your dress. Of course, you’ll need some assistants on hand to make sure it looks perfectly sleek and straight, and that no one trips on it.
Naturally, this veil is perfectly designed to complement a dramatic ballgown.
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Picture: Pexels
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We all hope for a smooth-sailing kind of wedding day, but of course, there’s always the odd chance that some drama will go down.
You might think no one would be rude enough to show up to a wedding uninvited, but it can happen. Rather have a game plan worked out on how to handle it than get caught off guard.
Here’s how to avoid having unwanted guests show up, and what to do if it happens.
1. Be clear on the wedding invitations
Firstly, make sure that you are very clear about who is invited when sending the wedding invitation. Sending one card to a family when you only intended to invite the parents, for instance, could cause a misunderstanding. The best way to avoid this is to put the names of your guests on the card, and state whether or not plus-ones and children are invited.
Here’s an example: Instead of saying “Dear Maxwell family”, rather say “Dear Julia and John, please join us in the celebration of our wedding. We regret, we are not able to accommodate children”.
2. Follow up on unwanted RSVPs
Should you receive an RSVP for someone who was not directly invited, you have the full right to contact the person and politely ask them not to come. This is most likely to happen in the case of invited guests who want to bring uninvited partners. Contact the invited partner, and gently but firmly say that you really do not have space for more people than invited.
3. Make a decision about whether to let them stay
Once you’ve done all the invitations right, there is still a chance that someone might show up out of the blue. A long-lost cousin you have no contact with might feel wronged and shows up to confront the family, or an ex-partner tries to interfere with your new relationship.
In cases like these, you need to decide whether you will force them to leave or let them stay and adopt a “the more the merrier”-attitude, provided there is no drama. You will probably be too caught up in your own fun and happiness to bother about the plus-one that snuck in after all. If it’s more serious than that, you should address it.
4. Speak up
Should the situation need sorting out, you will have to face the person and ask them to leave. It will probably be unpleasant, but it is needed. Be friendly and kind, and take your partner or a member of the bridal party with you. Take them aside in private and tell them that it’s wrong for them to be here. Here’s an example: “I’m really sorry I couldn’t invite you, but I feel that it’s better if you are not here today. Please leave the wedding, and we can talk more later.”
5. Know who to call
Hope for the best, but plan for the worst. If the uninvited guest for some reason refuses, you need to have backup. The person might be intoxicated, aggressive or just plain rude but you do not need that on your special day. If you have a wedding planner, call them for assistance. If not, call the venue security or the manager, and explain the situation. It might be a good idea to also save the nearest police station’s number too, just in case.
Picture: Unsplash
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Whether you’re giving the maid of honour speech or are the father of the bride, wedding speeches are a bit daunting for everyone.
If you’re a bit nervous about standing up in front of a room full of people, here are some tips to make your speech sparkle.
Prepare, with notes
These are people you’ve probably known for ages, but you still need to prepare. Trying to wing it will only leave you rambling and sweating. Even if you don’t write down what you want to say word for word, general ideas jotted down will keep you on the right path.
Read the room, before you’re in it
The awkwardest part about giving a wedding speech is the uncomfortable silences that sometimes crop up when you try to make a joke or speak to something no one else understands. Think about who will be there and how you can include everyone while still touching on your connection with the wedding party.
Take a deep breath and take it slow
A big part of wedding speech nerves is the speakers rushing through their speech and making it difficult to hear. This only makes the speaker more nervous as the audience don’t respond as they expect to the speech. When you walk up to the mic, don’t start talking right away, take a deep breath and collect yourself. When you start speaking, speak slower than normal, it may sound weird to you but it will sound perfect to everyone else.
Make eye contact with people seated close to you
It may be nerve-wracking but keeping eye contact with different people close to you can actually help balance you and feel like you’re directing your words at an actual person rather than the entire room altogether. Since this is a speech for the bridal party, you can look at them if you prefer.
Give yourself an uplifting pep talk
Before it’s your time to go up rather than telling everyone how nervous you are, psych yourself up by saying even just to yourself that you’re excited. This will put you in a positive mindset and help you be brave for the big moment.
Picture: Pexels
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Eight years of marriage is a massive achievement. Things may have changed, but hopefully your love is still as strong or even stronger.
Every year is a special year for a married couple, as it marks another 365 days of their union. However, each anniversary has its own special meaning, according to tradition.
The eighth year is traditionally symbolised by bronze. As bronze is made of copper and tin, it represents the blending of two elements together, thus creating a stronger product. These elements are individually strong, but made even more durable when they come together.
Here are some traditional bronze gift ideas to give your partner:
– Jewellery
– Bookends
– Wine goblets
– Belt buckle
– Personalised wine bucket
– A sculpture
– An ornate vase
– A bronze-trimmed mirror
Picture: Unsplash