Wedding fashion history: This is the reason why brides wear veils when they say “I do”
The veil is a key part of the wedding outfit for the bride. Here’s the story behind it.
Veils have earned their place as a timeless wedding accessory—not just for their romantic flair, but also for the deep meanings layered beneath the delicate fabrics.
The legacy of the veil can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, where brides wore veils not to look good, but to stay hidden—from jealous gods or evil spirits, and sometimes even from the groom until the “I do” moment.
“You can trace its roots back to Rome, where a bride used to walk down the aisle with a veil over her face in order to disguise herself from any evil spirits who wanted to stand in the way of her happiness,” veil designer Samantha Stark told BRIDES. “When white wedding dresses were worn to symbolize chastity, the white veil followed suit.”
CNN adds that in Ancient Greece, the bridal veil was known as a “flammeum,” and “was seen as a form of protection for women, shielding them from evil spirits, wedding jitters and other potential bad omens.”
‘A veil shows the interior desire for a bride being humble’
As centuries passed, veils evolved into potent symbols of chastity, modesty, obedience, and privilege. In medieval Christian societies, keeping a wife partially concealed with a veil sent strong cues about her virtue and her husband’s authority.
That sense of status only intensified in Victorian times; Queen Victoria’s famously veiled wedding in 1840 kicked off a trend where the length and opulence of a veil became a silent herald of wealth and family standing.
For Catholic weddings that take place in a church, the veil is a symbol of modesty: “Most traditional Catholic churches require that the bride’s shoulders be covered during mass, whether that means a dress with sleeves or lace from a mantilla veil,” Stark says. “Traditionally, a veil shows the interior desire for a bride being humble, and it is also a sign of purity.”
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In the modern day, veils are a key part of the outfit: “Today, wedding veils are widely accepted as a bridal accessory that adds a perfect finishing touch to the overall bridal look,“ Stark explained. “Modern brides use the wedding veil as a way to show [their] personal style with a nod to tradition. The wedding veil is all about making a statement. Brides tend to choose veils that complement their dresses, in both length and colour. Lace, rhinestones, and pearls can be added to give an even more personal touch to the overall bridal look.”
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