How to Wear a Mantilla Veil: Placement and Hairstyles

A mantilla sits at the crown of your head, a few centimetres back from your hairline, so the lace edge frames your face and falls over your shoulders. The comb is sewn underneath the lace and slides into your hair like any veil comb. It looks best with smooth hair: a low bun is the classic choice, but loose waves and half up work too. You can also wear it further back, at the back of your head, like a traditional veil.

What makes a mantilla different

A mantilla is a round or oval veil with lace all the way around, and no gathering at the comb. That is why it lies flat and smooth over the head instead of standing up from it. It comes from Spain, where it has been worn to church for centuries. Our page on what a mantilla veil is covers its history and lace.

Where to place it

There are two ways to wear one, and both are right.

At the crown

This is the Spanish way. Place the comb on top of your head, about where a headband would sit, a few centimetres behind your hairline. The lace then frames your face on both sides and falls over your shoulders. This is the look most brides picture when they say "mantilla".

At the back of the head

Place the comb at the back of your head, above or below your bun. The lace falls behind you like a traditional veil, and your face and hair stay fully on show. Our Siena mantilla, with lace over the whole veil, is designed to be worn either way.

Which hairstyles work best

Because a mantilla lies flat, it follows the shape of your hair underneath. Smooth hair shows the lace best. Height on top of your head lifts the lace and spoils the line.

• A low bun or chignon. The classic. The lace lies smoothly over the crown and the bun gives a soft shape at the back.
• Hair down. Lovely with loose waves. Make a small hidden anchor under your top layer first, so the comb has something to grip. Our post on wearing a veil with your hair down shows how.
• Half up, half down. Slide the comb in just above the gathered section, so the twist holds it.
• A high updo. The hardest. If you love one, wear the mantilla at the back, under the updo, rather than at the crown.

How to put it on, step by step

1. Have your hair finished and your dress on.
2. Hold the mantilla by the comb, with the comb under the lace and the teeth pointing towards your face.
3. Rest it on your head where you want it, turn the teeth back and push the comb into your hair.
4. Pin across the comb with two bobby pins through its end loops.
5. Stand in front of a mirror and draw the lace forward on each side until the edge frames your face evenly.
6. Smooth the lace down over your shoulders and check the back with a hand mirror.

Most brides forget the last step. Ask someone to check that the lace is straight at the back before you leave.

Choosing a length

Our mantillas come from fingertip to cathedral length. Fingertip length shows the lace around your shoulders and arms, and suits a fitted dress or a dress with detail at the back. Floor, church and cathedral lengths carry the lace all the way down and along the floor behind you. If your dress has a train, a mantilla that ends 30 to 50cm past it looks balanced.

The mantilla veils page shows each lace side by side.

With your dress and jewellery

A lace mantilla with a plain dress lets the lace be the detail. With a lace dress, choose a mantilla lace in the same tone and a similar weight, so the two belong together. Our lace samples cost a few pounds and are worth ordering before you decide.

Keep jewellery simple. The lace frames your face, so small earrings work better than long drops that catch on it. Skip a headpiece on top, as the mantilla already does that job.

Mantillas for a church wedding

Many brides choose a mantilla for a Catholic wedding, because of its long history in church. Our guide to Catholic wedding veils covers what churches ask for and which veils suit a church ceremony.

Every mantilla we sell is made to order in our Bath workshop, including Sofia, with its French eyelash lace, and Ines, with a Spanish lace edge. You can see them all in our wedding veils.

Sarah Jane x