After you’ve said yes to the dress, you might be shocked as other questions start popping up. Now you get to decide on shoes, accessories, a hair and makeup look. Looking at all of your options, it’s completely normal to ask yourself, “why do brides wear a veil?”

Why Do Brides Wear a Veil?

For many couples, the wedding veil has deep roots in history and symbolism, representing tradition, transition into marriage, modesty, protection from negative spirits, and even the unveiling of a new life together.

The History and Symbolism of Wedding Veils

The tradition of wedding veils dates back thousands of years. In ancient cultures, veils were believed to protect brides from negative spirits and misfortune. Over time, they also became associated with modesty and the sacred nature of marriage, especially within religious ceremonies.

In Christian traditions, the veil has often symbolized humility and reverence, while in other cultures it marked the formal presentation of the bride. Eventually, the moment of lifting the veil came to represent trust, intimacy, and the beginning of married life.

Today, while the meanings have evolved, many brides are drawn to veils because they connect the present moment to generations of women who stood in that same sacred space, on the edge of something new.

While I can’t speak for everyone, I’m going to explain 3 reasons why you should wear a wedding veil from a photography standpoint. These are legitimate, artistic reasons that go well beyond tradition. So let’s dive in!

Wedding veils add texture

Due to their fabric, wedding veils add a textured yet soft look to your wedding ensemble, which then adds texture to your wedding images. This is a great thing!

Texture helps provide more depth in photography. If everything in an image looks the same, it comes across as boring. If you look at beautiful images on Instagram, you might start to notice that it’s the different textures that make them so interesting.

Take a gorgeous beach sunset for example: the tumbling waves, grains of sand, and layers of pink clouds in the sky are all different textures that invite your eye and cause you to linger on the image. 

Think of your wedding veil the same way. The tulle fabric is another layer that will help to create beautiful, heirloom images that you and your family will enjoy for years to come, both from the love they represent and their artistic beauty.

Wedding veils add lightness and brightness: Why do brides wear a veil

If you’re drawn to light and bright photography like I am, you’ll appreciate this point!

If you want your final images to have a light, bright, and romantic feel, you need to make sure to include lots of things that are light and bright! This sounds simple, but it’s a big deal.

A wedding veil can strategically be used to lighten up a backdrop that might otherwise be more dark and heavy than you’d hope for. As an example, perhaps there’s a gorgeous ray of sun peeking through some trees, but of course, with trees come tree trunks. A veil can be artfully used to cover those darker elements.

When working with me, I will be paying extra attention to small details like these since the final results are huge! It’s not something that you have to try and pay attention to yourself. But when I have a veil to work with, it gives me a bit extra secret sauce to work with.

Wedding veils add movement: Why do brides wear a veil

I’m a total sucker for when a veil is pulled in front of the bride or the happy couple and you can see all of the lines that form as the veil pulls in the wind.

Those lines just add some extra oomph to the image since they draw your eye right to the subject. That’s why these images are so breathtaking!! All of the movement just embodies romance. I can’t explain it beyond that, but I think you’ll agree when you’re looking at my examples!

Some other important things to keep in mind:

You don’t need to wear the veil for the entire wedding day

Some brides may be on the fence about wearing a wedding veil since they believe it will be another piece of their wardrobe to maintain for the entire day. If you want to pick and choose when you wear your veil, you actually can!

Veils are quite easy to put on and take off without ruining your hairdo. Promise! I do this all the time for my brides! So if you want a veil for just the ceremony and portraits, that’s actually a simple thing to do. That way you get all of the main photography benefits and you can still dance the night away without a bunch of tulle trailing behind you.

Veils come in many different styles, so you can find the length that works best for you!

I’ve made even fingertip length veils fly in the wind during portraits, so I can accomplish a lot no matter which style you choose.

I do prefer longer veils, but you don’t need to be the next Kate Middleton or Priyanka Chopra with your veil length. But… if you do want to recreate the iconic Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas with the longest veil ever flowing in the background portrait… I. Am. Your. Girl. That image by Jose Villa is one I dream about.

You can also wear something called a cape veil, which most brides don’t seem to know about. If you’re particular about things in your hair, a cape veil can be the perfect solution! They typically clip on to your dress straps. I find them so enchanting! Like a traditional veil, you can pop these on and off as well.

Does the veil still have meaning today?

Absolutely, though the meaning is often deeply personal. Modern brides aren’t wearing veils simply because tradition says they should. They’re choosing them because they want to mark the moment with intention.

For some, the veil represents faith or family legacy.

For others, it’s about slowing down and allowing the ceremony to feel sacred and set apart from the rest of the day. And for many, it’s simply a quiet acknowledgment that this moment matters and deserves to be remembered with care.

A veil doesn’t make a wedding meaningful. But for brides who choose one thoughtfully, it can become a powerful symbol of the love, commitment, and legacy they’re building.

Have I convinced you? Will you be wearing a veil at your wedding? Let me know!

Until next time,

Christine

Wedding Veil FAQs

Looking for more photography advice? Take a peek at some of my other journal entries:

Sunset Portraits: What to Expect

How to prepare for a Cape Cod beach engagement session

Interested in some of my recent work? Be sure to poke around!

Sarah and Dan’s central MA elopement

Courtney and Schuyler’s Boston Seaport engagement

Ashley and JJ’s The Coonamessett wedding