Weddings can be expensive when you add in the cost of the venue, the food and alcohol, and all the other expenses. When you are planning your wedding there are many ways to save money without forgoing any of the sparkle you want on your wedding day. According to the Bridal Association of America, the average price for a wedding veil is $274, but you can make your own for much less. Here are instructions to make your own beaded wedding veil for just the cost of fabric, and a few other accessories, to help you save some money.
Choose Your Veil Style
First, you need to decide the style or length of veil you want. You can choose your veil length depending on your personal preference or the style and length of your dress. For example, you may want a shorter veil to show off details on the back of your dress.
There are many veil lengths to choose from. There is the shortest style of veil, called the birdcage, which falls to just above your chin. A slightly longer veil will reach to your shoulders, then a longer style will fall to your waist. Your veil can also reach to your fingertips, elbows, knees, or to the floor. The chapel veil length falls just onto the floor, and the cathedral length veil trails several feet behind you on the floor.
Measure for Your Veil's Length
Next, you need to determine how much fabric to buy. Use a measuring tape and have a friend help you measure for your veil:
- First, measure from the top of your head down to where you want the veil to end. Be sure to measure from the place on your head you will attach your veil.
- Then, for the second tier, measure from the top of your head again to where you want the second tier to end.
- Add these two measurements together and this is the total length you need to buy in fabric.
- Choose a tulle or other type of sheer fabric in a color that matches your dress.
Collect Your Supplies
To make your veil, you will also need the following:
- Matching thread
- E-6000 glue
- Plastic comb
- Fabric scissors
- Sewing needle
- Package of beads, pearls, rhinestones, or other crystals
- Length of matching 1/2 to 3/4-inch width satin ribbon for optional edging
- Cotton swabs
- Fabric marking pencil
Cut and Gather Your Veil
- Spread out the length of fabric on the floor, and fold it over crosswise so both ends of the fabric are together.
- Cut to round off the corners of your fabric to give your veil curved edges on both tiers. When rounding the edges it can be helpful to fold the fabric in half lengthwise first, so you can cut both sides of your curve at the same time.
- Unfold the fabric and measure where the first and second tiers will meet in the fabric.
- With the fabric marking pencil, mark across the width of the fabric at this point.
- Stitch across the line in the fabric, pulling the thread tight through the fabric to gather it together.
- Tie knots at both ends of the gathered fabric to secure it.
- Sew the comb onto the gathered-portion of the veil.
Accessorize Your Veil
If you want to trim your veil's edge with satin ribbon, sew the ribbon onto the edges, all the way around the veil.
Now you can apply your beads or stones onto the edge or up the back of your veil in a pattern:
- Place a dot of E-6000 glue onto your veil where you want to position a bead.
- Wet the tip of a cotton swab and press it onto the top of a bead. The surface tension of the moisture on the cotton swab will hold the bead onto the swab.
- Press the back of the bead onto the dot of glue. The glue will pull the bead from the cotton swab. Make sure to press the bead fully into the dab of glue so it doesn't fall off.
Continue this until you have added all the sparkle and shine you want on your hand-made wedding veil. For more information on how to save costs on weddings, contact a venue such as A Little White Wedding Chapel.
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