To Veil Or Not To Veil?

So... I was anti-veil. And not just a little, I was a staunch non-veil supporter. Don't get me wrong, they look beautiful on other people - but on me - ridiculous. But, I also think a wedding dress looks absolutely out of place and insane on me as well - so, I suppose I'm biased.

For months, I've been going on and on to my Mum about how I wouldn't wear a veil.... and then... she told me to start looking for something to wear in my hair. I was set on a jeweled headband at first. Something simple and perhaps art-deco inspired. I'm particular, which left me little options. I did narrow the field down to a couple, but they were each around $200 a pice. That's right, two-hundred dollars... for a headband. Now, I'll throw down a nice chunk of change for a new MK clutch - but a headband? Not going to happen.

So then we considered a comb - again, something vintage-inspired. Here I had better luck, but of course, everything I found was muy expensive. If I won't pay $200 for a headband I sure as heck won't pay $150 for a comb! Well, technically my mother is paying... but still. Mum's not going into the poor house over bridal accessories.

Then came thoughts of that darn veil... I kept thinking that my whole look for the day would just be "too much" - too much lace, too much bolero, too much bride. After combing through the La Sposa 2009 collection once more (my gown is from the 2008 collection) - and seeing several girls in very similar dresses with boleros to mine - and they all had veils on. 

Huh. Maybe I had been too hard on the veil?

But then what veil to get? There are literally, thousands of options. My favorite was the silk tulle veils - of course I would love them, silk tulle runs $300 a yard. Stick me in a discount store and I will pick out the most expensive thing in there - without fail. I also loved the veils by La Sposa, but again they run between $200 - 500. Yeah... I'm going to be wearing this thing for an hour...

Thankfully, there are hundreds of veil sites online. Maybe thousands. After looking around, I found one on eBay I really liked, was more than reasonably priced, and it looked like it would match my dress perfectly. It's pictured above, an ivory Mantilla veil, from PamperedBride. Now, eBay can be a girl's best friend or worst enemy - Yes, I did stay up until 2 am last week to stalk one of my auctions, and ended up losing anyways - it all worked out though, I got the same thing from another seller for half the price and didn't have to fight over it! Thank goodness the veil was a "buy it now" item - no fight necessary!

Within a half hour of ordering the veil - I received an email that it was just put in the mail! Thankfully they also have a return option, so if it comes and I slip back into my veil-hating ways, it can go back. I have the feeling I might like it though... and it will make Mum happy - which is worth much more than the price of some tulle for a day :).