Barely there wedding veils represent one of Britten's most significant design innovations—a registered design created by founder Sarah Jane in 2016 that revolutionised how modern brides wear veils. This patented construction features absolutely no gather, allowing the veil to fall in one weightless, uninterrupted sheet that showcases intricate dress details rather than hiding them. Protected by the UK Intellectual Property Office, this original Britten design has become one of our most beloved and sought-after styles, with thousands of brides choosing barely there veils for their contemporary minimal aesthetic.
Our handmade barely there veils are crafted in our Bath studio using the same meticulous technique Sarah developed in 2016. The genius lies in what the design reveals—with no traditional gather obscuring the view, every intricate detail of your dress back becomes the focal point. Delicate lace appliqués, rows of pearl buttons cascading down your spine, dramatic illusion panels, or stunning open backs all shine through the barely there construction. The tulle falls in one perfect sheet that moves like a whisper with every step, creating ethereal romantic presence impossible to achieve with traditional gathered veils.
Barely there veils suit contemporary minimalist brides, anyone with detailed dress backs deserving showcase, backless or low-back gown wearers, and fashion-forward brides wanting Sarah's original registered design. Available in traditional tulle, Italian tulle, silk tulle, and illusion tulle across all lengths from fingertip to cathedral, barely there veils offer modern elegance with authentic Britten heritage and intellectual property protection ensuring you receive the genuine original design.
Sarah Jane designed the barely there veil in 2016 to solve a persistent problem she observed working with thousands of brides—traditional gathered veils obscuring stunning dress backs that deserved to be seen. Beautiful bridal gowns increasingly featured intricate back details as focal design elements, yet conventional veil construction with fabric gathered at the comb created visual bulk that hid these exquisite details throughout ceremonies when brides most wanted their complete look photographed and admired.
The innovative solution involved eliminating the gather entirely, creating veil construction where tulle attaches to a discreet comb without any fabric bunching or gathering. This seemingly simple change required developing entirely new pattern-cutting and attachment techniques to ensure the veil hung properly despite lacking traditional structural gathering. The technical innovation allowed tulle to fall in one continuous flowing sheet, maintaining beautiful drape while remaining virtually invisible from behind until movement catches light illuminating the delicate fabric.
The design proved so successful and distinctive that Sarah registered it with the UK Intellectual Property Office, making barely there veils protected intellectual property. This official registration recognises the barely there construction as original Britten innovation worthy of legal protection—rare distinction in bridal accessories where most designs remain unprotected. The IPO registration means Britten's barely there design cannot be copied without permission, ensuring brides purchasing from Britten receive authentic original construction rather than imitations.
Sarah's commitment to protecting her barely there design demonstrates Britten's dedication to genuine innovation rather than copying existing styles. The registered design status represents significant investment in intellectual property protection, reflecting confidence in the barely there veil as meaningful contribution to bridal fashion. When you choose a Britten barely there veil, you wear authentic original design with documented heritage and legal protection confirming its innovative status.
Barely there veils showcase dress backs spectacularly, making them ideal choices for gowns where back details represent key design features. Backless and low-back wedding dresses work perfectly with barely there construction that reveals rather than covers dramatic back styling. Whether your dress features plunging V-back, scooped low back, or completely open back construction, barely there veils allow these bold design choices to remain visible throughout your ceremony rather than hidden beneath gathered tulle.
Illusion back dresses with sheer panels, delicate lace inserts, or intricate beadwork gain enormous benefit from barely there veils. The ungathered construction allows guests to appreciate the transparent or semi-transparent back panels that required such skilled construction, with the barely there tulle complementing rather than competing with the dress's own sheer elements. The veil becomes extension of the illusion aesthetic rather than solid covering obscuring carefully planned transparency.
Button-back wedding dresses featuring rows of pearl buttons, fabric-covered buttons, or decorative button details cascading down the spine look spectacular with barely there veils. Traditional gathered veils would hide these charming vintage-inspired details, but barely there construction allows every button to remain visible, creating beautiful focal point as you walk down the aisle. The buttons photograph beautifully through the sheer ungathered tulle, maintaining their intended prominence.
Lace-back dresses with intricate appliqués, scalloped lace edges, or dramatic lace patterns deserve barely there styling that showcases rather than obscures these delicate details. Whether your dress features Chantilly lace, Alençon motifs, or guipure appliqués across the back bodice, barely there veils allow the lace craftsmanship to remain visible and appreciated. The combination of lace dress details with sheer flowing tulle creates layered dimensional beauty without visual confusion or overwhelming decoration.
Barely there veils work beautifully across all our tulle qualities, with each fabric creating subtly different effects. Traditional tulle barely there veils offer classic bridal aesthetic with beautiful soft drape and reliable structure. The traditional tulle provides enough body to fall gracefully while remaining sheer enough to showcase dress details beautifully. Traditional tulle represents the most affordable barely there option while delivering excellent quality appropriate for most celebrations.
Italian tulle barely there veils create ultra-soft romantic presentation with exceptional fluidity and dimensional quality. The premium Italian tulle flows like water, moving gracefully with every step while remaining incredibly sheer and lightweight. Italian tulle barely there veils suit luxury-focused brides wanting the finest materials and garden ceremony settings where the fluid drape responds beautifully to natural breezes. The Italian tulle represents middle luxury tier offering tangible quality upgrade.
Silk tulle barely there veils deliver ultimate luxury with genuine silk fibres creating incomparable softness and subtle lustre. The silk barely there construction showcases the premium fabric beautifully, with the ungathered styling allowing silk's natural drape characteristics to flow unimpeded. Silk tulle barely there veils suit haute couture dress wearers wanting material quality consistency throughout their ensemble and brides creating genuine heirloom pieces for future generations.
Illusion tulle barely there veils offer the sheerest most invisible option, with ultra-fine netting creating barely-there effect in truest sense. The illusion tulle appears to vanish against skin and dress fabric, providing whisper of bridal tradition without substantial visible presence. Illusion tulle barely there veils suit brides wanting absolute minimal veil presence while maintaining the symbolic and aesthetic benefits of wearing veils.
For comprehensive information about our premium tulle options and material selection, see our detailed wedding veil guide.
Barely there veils attach via discreet combs positioned where you want the veil to sit, typically at crown level or slightly lower depending on your hairstyle. The comb remains virtually invisible once secured in your hair, with the ungathered tulle flowing from the attachment point without any visible bulk or gathering creating modern streamlined aesthetic. This minimal attachment suits contemporary styling preferences and ensures nothing distracts from your dress details.
Hair styling with barely there veils offers complete flexibility precisely because the minimal attachment works with any hairstyle. Classic updos showcase barely there veils beautifully, with the sleek veil complementing elegant bun styling without adding visual bulk at the attachment point. Low chignons, romantic twists, and sophisticated braided updos all work wonderfully, allowing your hairstyle to remain the focal point while the barely there veil provides elegant flowing element behind.
Hair-down styling works spectacularly with barely there veils, perhaps even better than with traditional gathered veils. The ungathered construction allows your hair to flow naturally without competing with gathered fabric bulk, creating cohesive romantic presentation where hair and veil blend seamlessly. Loose waves, sleek straight styling, and half-up configurations all suit barely there veils perfectly, making them excellent choices for bohemian or romantic outdoor celebrations.
The barely there construction particularly suits pairing with hair accessories, as Sarah noted in her original design vision. Mini vines, delicate combs, fresh flowers, or jewelled pins can be positioned over the veil attachment area without competing with gathered fabric bulk. The minimal construction allows hair accessories to remain visible and properly showcased rather than getting lost in traditional veil gathering, creating layered dimensional styling impossible with conventional veils.
Barely there veils work beautifully across all lengths, with the ungathered construction creating distinctive aesthetic at every measurement. Fingertip length barely there veils at 122cm offer the most practical versatile option, providing substantial presence while remaining easy to manage throughout celebrations. The mid-length combined with minimal construction creates modern elegant styling perfect for contemporary ceremonies and destination weddings where practicality matters.
Ballet length barely there veils at 150cm create romantic flowing presence that extends beyond fingertips without reaching the ground. The mid-calf length provides impressive movement and photographic impact while avoiding floor contact, making ballet barely there veils excellent for garden ceremonies and outdoor celebrations where ground-touching veils might collect grass or dirt. The length showcases the barely there construction beautifully with substantial fabric creating dramatic effect.
Floor length barely there veils at 200cm reach the ground without creating train, offering elegant formal presence with complete practicality. The floor-skimming length with ungathered construction creates refined modern aesthetic perfect for contemporary formal celebrations. Floor barely there veils suit destination weddings, beach ceremonies, and celebrations where train management proves impractical but brides still want substantial elegant length.
Cathedral length barely there veils at 300cm create maximum drama with the registered design construction showcasing Sarah's innovation at its most spectacular. The extensive length with no gather creates water-like flowing train that photographs beautifully trailing behind, perfect for grand church ceremonies and formal celebrations. Cathedral barely there veils demonstrate how Sarah's minimalist construction technique actually enhances rather than diminishes dramatic impact through pure flowing elegance.
Browse our fingertip length veils, floor length veils, and cathedral length veils to explore barely there options across all lengths.
What makes Britten's barely there veil design special? Britten's barely there veil is a registered design created by founder Sarah Jane in 2016, protected by the UK Intellectual Property Office as original innovation. The patented construction features absolutely no gather, allowing tulle to fall in one weightless uninterrupted sheet that showcases dress back details rather than hiding them. This innovative design solved persistent problems with traditional gathered veils obscuring beautiful dress backs, creating modern aesthetic now beloved by thousands of brides. The registered design status ensures you receive authentic original construction rather than imitations, with documented heritage confirming Britten as the barely there design originator.
How is barely there different from regular cut edge veils? While both barely there and cut edge veils feature plain raw tulle edges without trim, barely there construction is distinctively different. Barely there veils have absolutely no gather at the comb attachment, creating completely flat ungathered styling that falls in one continuous sheet. Regular cut edge veils typically feature traditional gathering at the comb creating volume and body, with cut edge simply describing the unfinished edge treatment rather than the overall construction. The barely there technique represents specific structural innovation that changes how the entire veil hangs and moves, not just edge finishing.
Do barely there veils work with all dress styles? Barely there veils work particularly beautifully with dresses featuring detailed backs—backless designs, illusion panels, button details, or intricate lace—as the ungathered construction showcases rather than hides these features. They also suit contemporary minimalist gowns where clean lines and simplicity define the aesthetic. However, barely there veils work less successfully with very voluminous ballgowns or heavily structured dresses where traditional gathered veils might better complement substantial dress volume. The key is ensuring your dress has back details worth showcasing or maintains modern minimalist aesthetic that the barely there styling complements.
Can I get barely there veils from other makers? While other makers may offer ungathered veil styles, Britten's barely there construction is registered intellectual property protected by the UK Intellectual Property Office. This legal protection means the specific barely there technique and name represent protected Britten innovation. Other makers offering similar ungathered styles cannot legally use the barely there designation or replicate Britten's precise construction methods without permission. When purchasing barely there veils, ensure you buy from Britten to receive the authentic registered design with documented heritage and legal protection confirming you own the genuine original innovation.
