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Wedding veils carry a vocabulary all their own. Brides who walk into a fitting fluent in dress terminology often find that veil makers speak a different dialect, with fabric names borrowed from French ateliers, length names borrowed from medieval cathedrals, and construction terms borrowed from couture embroidery houses. This glossary collects forty of the most useful wedding veil terms a bride is likely to encounter, organised alphabetically with concise definitions you can rely on when reading a product description or talking to a maker.
Fabrics and materials
Alencon lace
A French corded lace traditionally woven in the town of Alencon, characterised by floral motifs outlined in a fine raised cord. The corded outline gives Alencon a three dimensional quality and a firmer hand than other laces.
Beading
The technique of applying small beads, seed pearls, or crystals to the surface of the veil by hand. Beading is knotted into the tulle one element at a time so the embellishment sits flat against the fabric without distorting the mesh.
Bridal tulle
A finely woven hexagonal mesh fabric designed specifically for bridal use. Bridal tulle is softer and finer than the stiffer craft tulle sold in fabric stores, and it is the workhorse material of the modern veil industry.
Chantilly lace
A fine French bobbin lace originally woven in Chantilly in the seventeenth century. Distinguished by delicate floral motifs on a very fine hexagonal mesh ground, Chantilly drapes softly and reads as smoky rather than solid in photographs.
English net
A finer, slightly more matte tulle traditionally used in couture veils. English net has a softer hand than bridal tulle and a more muted finish, which suits brides who want their veil to absorb light rather than reflect it.
French lace
A general term for laces woven on traditional French looms, most often Alencon or Chantilly. French lace is prized in the bridal world for its consistent pattern, fine ground, and ability to hold detailed motifs.
Illusion tulle
Another name for very fine bridal tulle, often used by manufacturers to describe a sheer, almost invisible mesh. The term emphasises how the fabric reads on camera rather than the fibre it is woven from.
Organza
A plain weave fabric with a faint sheen and a structured, papery hand. Organza drapes in wider sculptural folds rather than the close skimming drape of tulle, and it carries embroidery and applique away from the body for a sculptural effect.
Silk tulle
The most refined tulle in the bridal world, woven from mulberry silk into a fine hexagonal mesh. Silk tulle drapes with a slow liquid fall and tends to read in a warm ivory rather than a stark white. Read our full wedding veil materials guide for a deeper look at how silk tulle compares to other bridal fabrics.
Veil styles and construction
Blusher
The shorter upper layer of a two tier veil, designed to be worn over the face during the ceremony and then flipped back for the rest of the day. Our note on blusher veils walks through when the front layer is worth the extra fabric.
Comb
The hair comb attached to the gathered top edge of the veil that secures it into the bride's hair. A well made comb is hand stitched into a fabric sleeve so the veil gathers softly at the crown rather than bunching against bare plastic.
Drop
The portion of the veil that falls in front of the comb, over the face or forehead. In a one tier drop veil, the drop is part of the same continuous piece of fabric. In a two tier veil, the drop is the blusher.
Drop veil
A single tier veil with no gather at the comb, designed to drape evenly on both sides of the head from a centred attachment point. Drop veils have a quieter, more contemporary silhouette than gathered veils.
Gathered veil
A veil where the top edge is pleated or gathered into the comb, creating a small amount of volume and movement at the crown. The most traditional construction in bridal veil making.
Juliet cap veil
A veil attached to a fitted cap or skullcap rather than a comb. Named for the Shakespearean heroine and popular in the 1920s, it is now a niche choice often worn with vintage inspired gowns.
Mantilla
A Spanish style veil, traditionally circular or oval, worn over the head with the lace edge framing the face. Mantillas are almost always made of lace and drape softly rather than gather at the crown.
One tier
A single layer of fabric gathered into the comb, with no separate blusher. The most common construction in the modern atelier.
Two tier
A veil with two layers gathered into the same comb, a longer main tier and a shorter upper tier or blusher. Two tier veils give brides the option of a traditional face covering during the ceremony.
Veil lengths
Birdcage
A short veil, roughly 4 to 9 inches, that covers part or all of the face without draping down the back. Often made of French net or fine tulle with a structured shape.
Cathedral length
A veil that extends roughly 108 to 120 inches from the comb, pooling well beyond the train of the dress. Read our wedding veil sizing guide for the full ladder of named lengths.
Chapel length
A veil that extends roughly 90 to 96 inches from the comb, finishing modestly beyond the dress hem. The most popular formal length in our atelier.
Elbow length
A veil that falls to the elbows when arms are relaxed at the sides, typically 24 to 32 inches from the comb. Well suited to fitted bodices and detailed back necklines.
Fingertip length
A veil that falls to the fingertips when arms are relaxed at the sides, typically 40 to 45 inches from the comb. The most universally flattering veil length.
Floor length
A veil that grazes the floor without pooling, typically 75 to 78 inches from the comb. Designed for gowns without a train.
Royal length
A veil that extends over 120 inches from the comb, often reaching 240 inches or more. Reserved for very formal ceremonies in cathedrals, ballrooms, or estate venues.
Waltz length
Sometimes called ballet length. A veil that falls between the knees and ankles, typically 54 to 60 inches from the comb. Useful for brides who want length without a floor finish.
Edge treatments
Corded edge
An edge finished with a fine cord stitched along the perimeter of the veil. The cord gives the edge a defined, slightly raised line that reads clearly in photographs.
Pencil edge
A narrow finished edge where a fine thread runs along the perimeter to define the line of the veil without adding visible weight. A modern, minimal finish.
Raw cut edge
An edge where the tulle is trimmed cleanly with no additional finish. The lightest, most contemporary finish, often chosen for soft drop veils.
Ribbon edge
An edge trimmed with a fine satin or organza ribbon stitched along the perimeter. A more traditional finish that adds visual weight to the hem.
Scalloped edge
An edge cut into a repeating curved pattern, almost always achieved by following the natural scallops of an applied lace trim. A scalloped Alencon edge is one of the most recognisable couture finishes.
Embellishments and details
3D floral
A three dimensional fabric flower built petal by petal in the atelier and stitched onto the veil. The most labour intensive embellishment in bridal accessories. See our 3D floral veils for examples.
Applique
A motif, usually cut from lace or fabric, hand stitched onto the surface of the veil. Appliques are often scattered, clustered at the hem, or arranged in a designed pattern.
Embroidery
The technique of stitching designs directly into the surface of the veil with thread. Hand embroidered veils, like those in our embroidered wedding veils collection, often carry hundreds of individually placed stitches.
Pearl scattering
The placement of small freshwater pearls or seed pearls across the surface of the veil, usually concentrated at the hem and thinning toward the comb. Each pearl is knotted in by hand.
Other useful terms
Bespoke
A veil designed and made from scratch around a specific bride, gown, and ceremony. Bespoke commissions involve sketches, fabric matching, and design consultation before any thread touches fabric.
Cape veil
A veil designed to drape from the shoulders rather than the head, often attached at the shoulder seam or fastened with a clip. A modern alternative to traditional veiling.
Custom
A veil based on an existing design but adjusted to a bride's specifications. Custom changes might include length, width, edge treatment, or the placement of embellishment. Browse our custom wedding veils for examples of how brides personalise an existing piece.
Hand finished
A veil whose key construction steps, including cutting, edge work, and embellishment, are completed by hand rather than by machine. Hand finished veils take significantly more studio time and tend to drape more naturally than factory finished pieces.
Made to order
A veil that is not pulled from finished stock but is cut and constructed only after the order is placed. Most atelier veils, including those from Tara Bridal, are made to order with a typical lead time of eight to fifteen weeks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a drop veil and a gathered veil?
A drop veil has no gather at the top edge and drapes evenly on both sides of a centred attachment point, giving a quiet, contemporary silhouette. A gathered veil pleats the top edge into the comb, creating a small amount of volume and movement at the crown. Both are valid traditional constructions, just with different visual personalities.
What is the difference between a blusher and a drop?
A drop is the portion of any veil that falls in front of the comb, over the face or forehead. A blusher is specifically the upper tier of a two tier veil designed to be worn over the face during the ceremony and flipped back afterwards. Every blusher is a drop, but not every drop is a blusher.
Is Chantilly lace the same as French lace?
Chantilly is one type of French lace, but the term French lace also covers Alencon and other traditional French weaves. Chantilly is characterised by very fine floral motifs on a delicate mesh ground, while Alencon is identified by its raised corded outlines. Both are woven in France on traditional looms.
What does made to order mean for a wedding veil?
Made to order means the veil is cut and constructed only after you place the order, rather than being pulled from a shelf of finished stock. This allows the maker to match the veil to your gown, your colour preference, and any custom adjustments, but it adds a lead time, typically eight to fifteen weeks at our atelier.
What is the difference between embroidery and applique?
Embroidery is stitched directly into the surface of the veil with thread, so the design becomes part of the fabric itself. Applique is a separate motif, usually cut from lace, that is stitched onto the surface of the veil as a layer on top. Embroidery reads as flat and integrated, while applique reads as raised and layered.
Why are some veils called bespoke and others called custom?
Custom usually means an existing design that has been adjusted for a specific bride, perhaps with a different length or trim. Bespoke means a veil designed and made entirely from scratch around the bride, gown, and ceremony. Bespoke commissions involve more design time, more consultation, and a higher level of personalisation than standard custom orders.
