Wedding Veil Lengths, Explained

Open Instagram or Pinterest to start researching wedding veils, and you're absolutely swimming in stunning images, and hearting everything in sight. But, the deeper you do, the more things stop making sense. What are you even looking at? Is that a chapel veil? Cathedral? Fingertip? 

Below, you'll find every wedding veil length from the shortest to the most dramatically long explained.

One quick note before we explore the veil jungle: Veil lengths are measured from the attachment point (usually a comb but sometimes a bridal hair accessory) to your train's hem. Like all things fashion, terms  can vary slightly between designers, so when in doubt, trust the measurement over the label.

Shorter Wedding Veil Lengths

Not every bridel envisions herself in a cathedral veil that trails behind her in royal majesty. And shorter lengths are just as bridal. Your wedding day style is an evolving thing - you might start out picturing yourself in a lace mantilla, and as you try things on, discover you're a finger-tip length kind of girl!  Here's how shorter bridal veils break down.

Elbow Length

Unsurprisingly, an elbow length veil falls right at, you guessed it, the elbow. It measures approximately 30 inches and is one of the most wearable lengths. If you're inclined to wear your short veil throughout your ceremony and reception, this is the veil!  

Fingertip Length

When your arms are at your sides, this 36-40 inch veil hits just at your fingertips - hence the name! Virtually every silhouette, from a fitted crepe gown to a voluminous ballgown, looks lovely with a fingertip veil.

Waltz / Ballet Length

An elegant middle ground, a waltz veil (sometimes called ballet length) sits at around 50 to 60 inches. Kind of like a midi skirt, it grazes anywhere from mid-calf to your ankles. 

Floor Length Wedding Veil

Approximately 72 inches, this elegant veil length is designed to skim the floor. It has a clean finish and can blend into a particularly dramatic train, or emphasize a bias-cut Art Deco inspired wedding dress. 

Chapel Length Wedding Veil

At around 90 inches (7.5 feet), a chapel length veil flows just at the end of a chapel length train. The extra length creates a soft, trailing presence as you walk down the aisle, and creates an ethereal visual from the side. 

Chapel and cathedral veils are often confused, and the distinction comes down to length. While a chapel veil wafts to the hem of a chapel  train, a cathedral veil goes the extra mile at anywhere between 9-12 feet.  

Cathedral & Royal Cathedral Veils — The Showstoppers

A cathedral veil measures 108 to 120 inches, sweeping past the hem of your chapel train in a ethereal flow of fabric. 

A royal cathedral veil, which we're particularly known for, takes that collective top-of-the-aisle intake of breath moment even further.  Measuring a regal 15 feet or more, this veil is for women who want to channel their inner princess. 

For everything you need to know about wearing, styling, and customizing these dramatic lengths, visit our cathedral veil guide. 

The Blusher

When you see images of a bride with a face-covering tier, that's the blusher. It's most often paired with a longer veil, but not always - a blusher is absolutely charming with a finger tip or elbow-length veil. Once the ceremony begins, it's lifted back — either by your partner, your escort, or you — for a genuinely romantic reveal moment.

There's lots of reasons to wear a blusher veil, and they're more versatile than you'd expect!  

The Birdcage Veil 

As you read through the short wedding veil section above, you were probably asking yourself why we hadn't mentioned this particularly glam veil. That's because the birdcage veil isn't really a length. Rather, it's a  style. Made of French or Russian net, it covers a portion of your face. And though it may be short on length, it's long on vintage personality.

Originally popularized in the 1940s and 50s, birdcage veils have never fully gone out of style. They're particularly popular among brides drawn to Old Hollywood glamour, Art Deco aesthetics, or a look that's a bit unconventional. 

How to Choose Your Wedding Veil Length

With so many lengths, these practical considerations can help you narrow things down.

Your gown's train and silhouette. A veil that ends near your train's hem can visually blend together in a way that elongates your look, or it can read busy or inharmonious depending on the cut and mix of fabrics. As a general rule, veils that end before or well after the train tend to read more clearly. We can help you assess this with your specific gown at Bridal Styles Boutique! 

Your hair. Veil placement and type is affected by your wedding hairstyle. A bridal updo offers a very natural place to anchor your veil. If you plan to wear your hair down, how you will affix it and where comes very much into play! Read How to Wear Your Hair Down with a Wedding Veil for all the styling details. 

Find Your Perfect Veil at Bridal Styles Boutique

Like with wedding dresses, it's hard to know which veil length is right for you until you try them on. Lengths that look one way in photos can feel completely different in person. Making the right choice has as much to do with how it makes you feel as how it looks.

Contact us for a consultation, or schedule an appointment to visit us at our NYC bridal accessories boutique to try different lengths with your gown and accessories. We also create fully custom veils tailored exactly to your vision.