Short Dress, Long Veil: How to Wear It
In short
A long veil with a short wedding dress looks modern and still feels like an occasion, which is why it is popular for register office and courthouse weddings. Choose a veil that ends well below your hem, so the two edges do not meet. Floor length makes a soft column, and church or cathedral length trails behind you.
Yes, you can wear a long veil with a short wedding dress, and it looks lovely. The short hem keeps the look modern and the long tulle adds a sense of occasion, which is why it is so popular for register office and courthouse (or city hall) weddings. Choose a length that ends well below your hem, so the two lines do not meet. Floor length makes a soft column behind you, and church or cathedral length trails along the floor for real drama.
Why it works
A short dress and a long veil look deliberate together. The dress shows your shoes and keeps things light, and the veil tells everyone this is your wedding day. At a register office or courthouse, where the ceremony can be over in twenty minutes and you may walk straight out onto a city street, a long veil gives that short ceremony some weight.
The same goes for a bridal suit or a jumpsuit, and for a tea length dress. A few brides each year write to us about veils for a suit. The advice below fits all of these outfits.
Which length to choose
The one thing to avoid is a veil that ends level with your hem. Two edges at the same height cut you in half in photographs. Let the veil end clearly above the hem, or well below it.
| Length | With a short dress |
|---|---|
| Elbow, about 72cm (28 inches) | Ends well above the hem. Light and easy to wear all day. |
| Fingertip, 122cm (48 inches) | Ends near the hem of a mini dress, so check it against yours. |
| Floor, 200cm (79 inches) | Just reaches the floor. A soft column of tulle behind you. |
| Church, 250cm (98 inches) | Trails a little. Easy to manage in a small room. |
| Cathedral, 300cm (118 inches) | A long train of tulle. The most dramatic choice. |
Our lengths are measured from the comb and cut for a bride of about 165cm (5ft 5in). Our veil length options page shows every length on a figure.
Width, edge and tulle
A narrow veil follows the slim line of a short dress and keeps the look clean. A wide veil is fuller and more romantic, and looks best with a dress that has a little volume in the skirt.
A cut edge keeps it modern and lets the dress lead. A pencil or ribbon edge draws a fine line around you in photographs. Save a lace edge for a lace dress, so the two match. If you are unsure, our single tier cut edge veil in silk style tulle is soft and simple, and comes in every length from fingertip to cathedral.
Practical tips for a register office or courthouse
- Measure the room. Register office rooms are often small, with a short walk to the table. Church length is easier there than cathedral, and still trails behind you in photographs.
- Think about steps and pavements. City hall and courthouse steps make great photographs, but a long veil drags on stone and pavement. Ask a friend to carry the end between photographs.
- Plan for wind. A long veil outside on a city street lifts in the breeze. Magnetic veil weights clip onto the hem and help it fall back.
- Decide when it comes off. If you are heading on to a restaurant or a party, our post on when to take your veil off has a simple timeline.
Prefer something short?
A short veil suits a short dress too, and you can wear it all day without thinking about it. A birdcage veil sits over the eyes and has a 1950s feel. Our Iris birdcage veil is made from fine Russian net on two small combs, so your hairstyle stays on show. See our page on what a birdcage veil is for how to wear one.
An elbow length veil like Amber is another easy choice. It ends above the hem of most short dresses and is light enough to forget you are wearing it.
Whichever you choose, every veil in our wedding veils is made to order in our Bath workshop.
Sarah Jane x
Your questions
What length veil would suit my dress?
With a short dress, let the veil end well above or well below your hem. Floor, church and cathedral lengths all work. Avoid a length that ends level with the hem.
Will a short veil work with an updo?
Yes. A short or elbow length veil sits neatly at the crown or just below an updo, and is easy to wear all day.
How do you wear a birdcage veil with combs?
Slide one small comb in above each ear, so the net curves around your face and sits over your eyes. Pin across each comb if your hair is smooth.
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