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Veil Alternatives
By Sharon Naylor
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Perhaps you’re not the traditional type and don’t want to wear a long, flowing veil at your wedding ceremony. Perhaps you have ‘sticker shock’ when you see just how much those gorgeous veils cost. Or, perhaps you’re a second-time bride who doesn’t want to do the veil thing this time around. Whatever your reasons for seeking a lovely and elegant alternative to a traditional veil, we have stylish solutions for you.
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It all depends upon how you will be wearing your hair. If you will sweep up your locks in a French twist, a classic Grace Kelly-style chignon, an elegant low ponytail or bun, or if you will wear your hair down in a loose, flowing mass of tendrils and curls, or a controlled sweep of your straight hair, consider how the following ideas will look with your chosen hairstyle for the big day:
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Hair Accents
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The tiara.
Every bride wants to feel like a princess on her wedding day, and there’s no better way to play the part than to perch a stunning jeweled or pearl tiara at the top of your look. Celebrities grace the covers of magazine bridal issues with their crowning glories, and the bridal magazines also feature their cover models wearing exquisite tiaras ranging from the small and simple to the grand and majestic. While the tiara trend shows a preference for the smaller, less overwhelming styles, the key is in the sparkle and the design of the gems. Use colored gemstones in your tiara for extra accent now that color is in for brides, and know that tanzanite stones take care of the ‘something blue’ that all brides are seeking
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Smooth satin headbands
in white, off-white or with a blush color to match your gown and bouquet.
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A large single silver band clip
at the nape of the neck, either smooth and classic, unadorned, or more ornate in a Victorian style.
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Theme hair décor.
For a beach wedding, you might choose to try an element that works with your theme. One bride, crazy about starfish after reading Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s ‘Gift from the Sea,’ found a pretty starfish hairpin and held her waves back with just that one accent. Tiny seashells might grace your hairpins or clips, and you can find tiaras that are made especially for oceanside weddings – with shells, starfish, and coordinating color gemstones.
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Jeweled Pieces
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Jeweled hairclips,
either in sparkling diamonds, rhinestones, crystals, or colored gemstones. As an added bonus, and a freebie, many brides are wearing their mother’s and grandmother’s jeweled hairclips as their wedding day accents.
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Jeweled or beaded headbands,
thin or thick according to your personal style.
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A jeweled bun wrap,
which holds the curled and collected portion of your hair in a neat and secure circle. Bun wraps come in a range of styles from the simple, beaded bunch to a more elaborate design of netted diamonds or rhinestone, pearls, even colored gemstones to complement your wardrobe for the day.
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Jeweled or pearl hairpins.
Push these crystal or pearl-studded hairpins into place in a pattern throughout braids, or in an attractive design in loose, flowing hair. Check accessory stores and – as a low-budget surprise – craft stores to find simple pearl crystal bobby pins (Note: I found these priced at $7.99 for 2), ceramic white rose bobby pins ($1.99 for 4), and $.99 ribbon rose stick-ins in white, off-white, pink, lavender, peach, yellow, sage green, brights and other great accent colors for a custom look.
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Your birthstone.
Use gemstone hairclips containing your own birthstone, plus your groom’s or even your kids’ birthstones, if you have children
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Flowers
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Fresh flowers
attached to the band holding your chignon or low ponytail in place. Some brides arrange for their florists to create a gorgeous, full fresh rose- or gardenia-cluster hair clip on the day of the wedding, which provides a lovely and natural, elegant touch with a lasting scent wherever you go.
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Faux Flowers.
The same effect can be used with exquisite faux flowers when you find terrific silk hairbands or clips.
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A single fresh flower
tucked behind one ear. It could be a bright Gerbera daisy, a cheerful regular yellow-and-white daisy – ideal for garden or outdoor weddings – or a favorite flower you love. Some brides also pay tributes to mothers or grandmothers by wearing their favorite flower.
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Fresh flower sprigs
tucked into your hairstyle. Just insert single stephanotis blooms or baby rosebuds into the design of your French braid or twist for the ultimate bridal look.
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A floral wreath.
Whether your hair is up or down, a delicate floral wreath with great, unique blooms can be the perfect look for you.
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Crystal snap-ons
can be attached to lengths of upswept or loose-flowing hair for added sparkle, whether you choose clear crystals or colored designs.
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Just Hair
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Fake ponytails.
More and more brides are going for hair-hue-matching faux long ponytail additions to their upswept mid-length hair. You can find faux hair lengths, braids and ‘puffs’ to match your color, or have a custom faux made just for you.
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Your hair sculpture.
Instead of adding accents to your hair, allow the hairstyle itself to be the centerpiece. The newest styles in bridal hair design feature elaborate upsweeps with tight curls, elegant updo’s, twists, waves, and unique braiding that is more art than grooming. Hairstylists now create sculptures from the brides’ hair, and the result is an eye-catching once-in-a-lifetime look that will make any bride look her best. While fresh flowers can of course be tucked into these braids and curls, as can jeweled pins, it’s the hair itself that finishes the stunning image.
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With all of these gorgeous options, you might be glad you’re not wearing a veil. Plus, you can devote that portion of the budget to something really top-notch: like your gown!
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Sharon Naylor is the author of "How to Have a Fabulous Wedding for $10,000 or Less", "The Complete Outdoor Wedding Planner", and more than 20 other wedding books.
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