Ask the Expert: I Bought My Veil Before My Dress—From a Different Shop. How Can I See the Look Altogether?


Question: I saw a veil I absolutely loved and ended up buying at the shop where we got my bridesmaids’ dresses … and then I got my wedding dress at a different shop. Now I’m wondering how trying it on with my dress will work so I can see it altogether?

Answer: Your veil is the star of your wedding-day accessories, and when it comes to choosing the one you’ll wear down the aisle, says Pattie Lamantia, owner of The Wedding Shoppe in Wayne, it’s best to have your dress already picked out—or to choose them together. (“The veil completes the look and in many cases, can be used as the train,” she says).

However, if the circumstances are that you’ve purchased a veil separately from your dress—or are wearing a borrowed one that was passed down to you from a family member—Lamantia recommends that you have your veil in your hands before your first dress fitting, so that you can see the whole picture together. (Just tell your gown shop you’ll be bringing your veil with you when your dress comes in.)

To figure out your timeline, you should expect it to take around six weeks for a simple veil, or eight to 10 weeks for a jeweled or lace veil.

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