The Justine M Couture Signature Veil collection: build your perfect veil

The Justine M Couture Signature Veil Collection offers the most popular shapes and style veils that can be extensively customized in alternative length, gather, width, layering, trim and beading options allowing brides to creat the perfect veil for their style. As well as offering the classic simple raw cut veil, optional trims include stitched/pencil edge, silk satin ribbon, silk cording, metallic ribbon in gold and silver, organza ribbon, horse hair and Swarovski beading.

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The Clara Belle veil, shown here, has a traditional teardrop narrow cut with fine to medium gather on the comb and a finished raw cut.

 

Twinkle twinkle little stars ... light up the edge of your veil with genuine Swarovski crystals!

If you love sparkle - and you know we do- you will love this Justine M Couture veil that lights up any bride's face with beautiful, twinkly genuine Swarovski crystals. The Clarissa Veil in our Signature [customizable] Collection has tons of options and a whole lot of sparkle! 

Life at trunk shows and why we love them

A few thoughts on our Designer present trunk shows...

Trunk Shows are very concentrated events for wedding gown and accessory designer. Designers travel cross country or internationally, stay in hotels, meets with dozens and dozens of brides, plus the store's concierges and style experts, tailors, managers, buyers and even a lot of the bride's family. It is, of course, an emotional time for the bride and her family, so being present and working face to face with these lovely girls is far more than just matching a veil to a dress or beautiful headpieces and jewelry to their overall style. Our Lead Designer Justine M loves life at trunk shows. Working with people to help them have the most incredible day of their lives is such a gift and Justine says "I'm so blessed to work with such beautiful families and brides it's truly an honor!" 

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Designer Justine M met this beautiful bride [above] at a Kleinfeld Canada Justine M Couture trunk show. Justine says "Kim stole my heart with her picture of her mum (who sadly passed away six years ago) that she brought with her to her gown appointments so her mum could be there. Kim's mum was holding that little curious George when she passed so Kim has had George with her every night since. I was so touched be her devotion and her families' love."

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Scenes from a trunk show at Kleinfeld New York where Lead Designer of Justine M Couture Justine M meets with many different brides over a few days to help them match their accessories to their dream gown. Interacting with real brides in real time is so valuable for a designer as inspiring brides with new and exciting looks is of course very important, but knowing what they want and how they feel is everything.  Justine M Couture strives to always help the bride feel the way she wants to feel on her wedding day; beautiful, classic, trendy, powerful and in love. We thank you for the honor. Please keep up with our schedule of trunk shows here.

Style Alert: The Romantic and Vintage Juliet Cap Veil

Shakespeare's famous tale of love "Romeo and Juliet" offers visions of true love, romantic drama, and hearts filled with longing. One of this year's hottest trends the Juliet Cap Veil offers all that and more. With it's snug to the head style, often delicately embroidered [as our WIllow Veil is seen below] a gathered side or back and long veil trailing down, this look is very classic, feminine and very Downton Abbey! A Juliet Cap Veil matches perfectly with silk biased gowns, big floral arrangements, romantic weddings and all styles past! 

What we are made of makes us who we area

The right raw materials. That's the only way we work and always has been. The Justine M Couture Collection is crafted from the absolute finest elements available in the world: Sterling Silver, precious gold fill, luxurious fabrics, delicate illusion tulle, raw silks, authentic Swarovski crystals and unique vintage elements culled from many shores and the finest components all brought together to be designed and fashioned by hand in America to create our sought after Bridal Veil and Accessory lines available to discerning brides everywhere.  

While other accessories companies are are producing goods off shore with factory workers, our Lead Designer Justine works (personally) with our crafters to make sure every piece we ship is perfect and up to our exhausting standards. 

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Our veils are created from the finest Illusion tulles, satins and ribbons, quality metal combs, authentic hand loomed Lace imported from France and genuine Swarovski beadwork are engaged for our heirloom veils. Embroidery is meticulously hand crafted by trained artisans and hand finished at our studio in San Diego.

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Our accessories and jewelry are constructed using the finest materials with metals including Sterling silver, Gold fill, vintage filigrees, the finest silks, organzas, satins and materials and genuine Swarovski Crystallized Elements. 

We take what we do, and how we craft our collections, very seriously and respect that the finest Bridal Salons in the world deserve a product they can stand behind for years. 

Bridal Fashion Trends for 2016: Feathers!

Now here is another trend after our own hearts: feathers!! The allure... the drama...the early Hollywood Screen Stars knew you just cannot get any more dramatic than feather accents! Check out this fabulous gown by Vera Wang with black ostrich.

Oh and did we mention Justine M Couture has the most gorgeous ostrich feather trimmed veil; the Swan Lake?

A big thank you to This Modern Romance for the above stunning image of the Justine M Couture Swan Lake veil.

Vera knows there's no better way to stop traffic than with feathers and we couldn't agree more!

Featured style: The Florence Veil in the Embellished Collection

We are often asked if we love all of our veil creations equally. Of course we do! But out of the myriad of styles, shapes, textures, trims and options that we offer in our veils we were bound to come up with a couple of favorites....and the Florence veil from the Embellished collection is one of them.

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This lovely, rich veil has a traditional cut veil with medium gather on comb, embroidery all round the edge and is embellished with intricate, hand sewn filigree embroidery and delicate seed pearls, beads and stones throughout bottom and sides of veil. We love it!

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Veil Terminology: the 4th in our series of expert Veil advice from Lead Designer Justine M

If you are veil shopping then you know a girl can become a tiny bit overwhelmed by all the various terms being thrown around: butterfly, waterfall, cascade, fingertip and more.

Veils have been around for a very long time with many centuries of style changes and additions so here's a little Veil 101 cheat sheet for you to help you along...

Butterfly: Oval-shaped and folded in half. Ribbon edging follows a crescent shape rather than a straight line.

Cage: A small veil that just wraps around the head, often ending at the chin and usually made from Russian tulle which has a very wide aperture

Cascade: Two or more layers of various lengths.Can do double duty as a blusher. Bottom layer(s) can act as "petticoat(s)", fluffing out top veil. The more layers the less translucent [or opaque] the effect.

Cathedral: Falls 3-1/2 yards from the headpiece (that's 11 1/2 dramatic feet of length!)

Chapel: A yard shorter than a cathedral veil. Often worn with a sweep train to give the illusion of a longer train.

Elbow: A blusher that goes to your elbows.

Fingertip: The veil touches the tips of your fingers, a length that often works with ball gowns.

Flyaway: Touches or just covers shoulders. 

Mantilla: A long, Spanish-style, circular piece of lace that frames the face. Can be attached to a high metal armature and is usually secured with a comb. The fabric is often lace or lace-edged tulle. 

For more beautiful veils take a look at our best selling Justine M Couture veils.  

Why we love Southern Bride Magazine and all the Southern Brides who read it

What is it about a southern bride and a southern wedding?  The old-school style charm, the rich landscape, the historic beauty of the cities and buildings?

Maybe it's all those manners since justine and COUTURE's lead designer is from England we have a particular appreciation for a land of people who love old fashioned pastimes and good manners!

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Of course it helps when the South has such an amazing magazine and blog as Southern bride!

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Southern bride magazine has been kind enough to showcase just going into tour pieces more than once over the years these images showcase a beautiful shoot by the seashore. 

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Featured veil: The Felicity Circular Veil

The Felicity double layer veil

The Felicity double layer veil

This beautiful classic veil is available with a raw cut (no trim) or trimmed and has medium/light gather on the comb and is available in  alternative lengths. 

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This classic double layer veil offers the best of all worlds for brides looking for traditional, elegance and romance!

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Placing the comb in the middle of the  tulle creates a double layer veil with a waterfall effect. 

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The Felicity is perfect for gowns with dramatic trains or hemlines.

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The Felicity's blusher layer gives the touch of tradition so many brides love for formal or religious weddings, or anytime you want to feel the drama of being unveiled for your true love at the altar!

The most popular Justine M Couture veils all in one spot

Did you know that we have gathered together all of the most popular Justine M Couture veils and put them into one lovely catalog just to delight you? Check it out here, but we warn you.... they're so gorgeous you 're going to want to have a wedding just to have an excuse to wear one! 

Pairings: a Lea-Ann Belter Bridal Gown paired with a Justine M Couture veil

“Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.” - unknown

bride: Erica | gown: Annabelle via The Ivory Suite Bridal Boutique | photo: Heidi Ryder Photography | Lea-Ann Belter Bridal Gown designs can be found at The Ivory Suite Bridal Salon and The White Flower Bridal Boutique [both of whom carry Justine M Couture]

About the designer: 

Lea–Ann Belter has been making beautiful gowns for a select group of brides for close to two decades.

Forever painting and drawing, Lea–Ann knew from a young age her future lay in her creativity.

Upon graduation from an art–focused high school, Lea–Ann continued her formal education at the Sheridan College of Crafts and Design where she specialized in glass and textiles. She then studied fashion design at the International Academy of Design and Merchandising, becoming a finalist in the Dubonnet awards, given to Canada’s top fashion students.

Earning her diploma at IADM, Lea–Ann trained with a couturier where she further refined the characteristics that define her work: flawless execution and impeccable quality. That year, Lea–Ann’s commitment to perfecting her craft made her a finalist for the International Woolmark Prize, an award for emerging fashion designers.

But Lea–Ann really found her calling when she designed a wedding dress for her brother’s fiance. In creating that first bridal gown, Lea–Ann’s meticulous execution and timeless aesthetic harmonized with her inclination to design for modern, professional women. Before long, Lea–Ann opened her first designer wedding gown boutique in Toronto’s exclusive Yorkville area.

Five years later, Lea–Ann’s vision for a line of modern, timeless bridal dresses became a reality when she launched the Lea–Ann Belter Bridal gown collection through a network of retailers. In 2005, Lea–Ann opened the first Lea–Ann Belter Bridal flagship store on Toronto’s Queen Street East, and in 2007 she was named Wedding Gown Designer of the Year at the Canadian Wedding Industry Awards.

Since then, Lea–Ann has extended her reach, making her wedding dress collection available in a curated selection of bridal boutiques across North America and Europe. In 2012, Lea–Ann moved Lea–Ann Belter Bridal and her designer wedding gown boutique to their permanent home in Toronto on the corner of Dundas Street and Broadview Avenue, where she plans to spend another 20 years (or more!) designing and crafting wedding gowns.

See more of Lee-Ann Belter's classically beautiful gown designs here.

Don't miss the Saturday September 12 trunk show at the White Flower in San Diego, California

Saturday September 12, if you're in San Diego be sure to make it to the White Flower Bridal Boutique for the Justine M Couture trunk show. 

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We just love The White Flower Bridal Salon. We know you'll find that this very personable and professional gown salon really knows how to take care of their brides!  

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And what better place to find your dream gown there in sunny San Diego, the most popular wedding city in the USA and the 10 most popular wedding destination in the whole world! 

See you there!!  

See you there!!  

Where do I fit in? The right veil for your body - the 3rd in a series on veil selection by Lead Designer Justine M

“A badly chosen accessory, however beautiful in its own right, will take the attention away from its wearers, and thus fail to do its job by becoming “the focus” rather than an complementing “accessory” which is it’s purpose. Most importantly; you should still feel like you!”

A properly selected veil should accentuate the positive aspects of your face, figure and coloring. Women with dramatic features can pull off a more dramatic detailed look, lighter complexions suit softer fabrics, embroidery and lighter laces. 

Face Shape and hair style is important…. correct placement of a veil is crucial to your overall look so consider how you are wearing your hair when selecting a veil.  If the veil feels overwhelming close to your face, try placing it further back towards your crown.  

Ask yourself when wearing your potential veil… does this veil compete with or add something to my gown and look?  How does the veil suit my personality?  Do you feel like you are wearing the veil or is it wearing you?  

One of the most important pieces of styling advice I give to brides is....

Let the stylist or designer help you.

We’ve all seen the reality shows and know that opinions of your family and friends matter, but most good quality bridal stores truly know how to style brides, and so take advantage of this skill and where possible attend a “designer present veil trunk show” – designers are qualified to select the perfect veil for brides based on all your needs and considerations:-  “it’s what we do best aside from design” so use this tool where possible and be honest about your likes and dislikes, it will help achieve your goal to find the perfect veil.

Matching your veil to your gown: The second in our series of expert veil advice from LEAD DESIGNER JUSTINE M

Gown meet Veil - Veil meet Gown…

Your gown is the best tool to use when selecting a veil and accessories.  This single item so intimately highlights the outline of your personality.  A simple gown with clean lines is a clean canvas to paint on it what you will …..add a lace veil for a romantic vintage touch, a heavily beaded or embroidered veil for classic elegance or keep it simple with a raw cut (no trim) for effortless sophistication. 

Make your veil work for you!

Other fun tips to consider is that most cathedral veils can we double up as a wrap for an evening reception by placing the veil over the shoulders, for a multi purpose look.  Long veils can also be bustled into the skirt of the gown so that you get to wear them for longer and highlight any embroidery or detail…… be sure to make the veil work for you!  

Length, Cut and Details

The veil’s length, cut, styling and details are easier to select if you consider the style of your bridal gown.  Consideration should always be given to the back of the gown to ensure that any particular pattern or cut, bow or waist band, bustle, belt or beading on the back of your gown isn’t compromised by adding a veil with competing trim or mainly in the wrong length.  Elaborate and flamboyant gowns can be enhanced by dramatic or simple veils, depending on the wearer’s personality. 

The Catherine Veil from the Justine M Couture Avant Grade Collection

The Catherine Veil from the Justine M Couture Avant Grade Collection

Gown Shape and Width

When choosing a veil your bridal gown’s shape and width should be considered.

  • A gown with a lot of movement works well with a wavy or “waterfall” cut veil.
  • A full-skirted ball gown is the perfect gown to pair with a wide cut or “teardrop” shape veil to encompass the width of the full skirt. 
  • A gown with very straight or clean lines works well with any veil, as you can either mirror the line of the dress or create more volume with shape.

You can create a more dramatic silhouette with any veil by adding layers, thereby adding volume and character. Consider a circular cut veil where the comb is in the center of a circle or oval so that the trimmed edge sits around the base of the veil (i.e. away from the face) allowing you to wear a more elaborately trimmed veil.

Watch for our next article in the series..."Veil Terminology" coming soon!

 

The triumphant return of the [very] dramatic veil

One of the hottest bridal style trends for this year is heavily embroidered and embellish veils.

The Armonde Veil from The Avant Garde Collection

The Armonde Veil from The Avant Garde Collection

The Paisley Veil from Embellished Collection

The Paisley Veil from Embellished Collection

For a few decades the veil was nowhere to be seen at weddings and now it is back in full style and with no holds barred!

The Amy Veil from the Lace Collection

The Amy Veil from the Lace Collection

Today's bride wears a veil for different reasons than her sister of centuries ago- no need to hide behind a wall of fabric before seeing your groom for the first time! Today's veil is a celebration of design and style for any wedding.

Want to see what's popular with brides right now? Check out the best selling Justine M Couture Veils section. 

Selecting your veil: Lead Designer Justine M brings you expert advice on Veils

In the modern world… women have a fresh approach when it comes to thinking about the wedding veil, now considered a bridal accessory, rather than a tool worn for modesty.

(above the Justine M Couture Kyoto Veil in the Avant Garde Collection)

A veil is not something we wear everyday, and selecting one that suits your own style [and that perfectly complements your bridal gown] can be a daunting task. Veils add an extra sense of tradition and flair for occasion. And your veil should enhance your style and personality.

(above the Justine M Couture Paisley Veil in the Embellished Collection)

Today we bring you the first in a weekly series of tried and tested “veil facts” to help any bride find the perfect veil! Designer Justine M says...

There are 6 key things to consider when selecting your veil style:

  1. Veil Length (short & flirty or long & dramatic) should complement your gown
  2. The cut of the Veil (refers to the Veil's shape) again be sure to pair with your gown
  3. The gather/thickness of the Veil (the way the veil is attached to the comb)
  4. The number of layers the Veil has (1 is translucent, 2 or more is bold and mysterious)
  5. The Veil's trim (lace along the edge?) or decorative beading (scattered beading?)
  6. The comb type (the way the Veil attaches to your head)

Some brides love a dreamy and bold “full poufy” look that multiple layers creates and some brides prefer a more simple “fine gather” look with a simple trim. Your veil matches your personality more than any other accessory!

Justine M Couture has the capacity to cut any veil in a variety of different thicknesses and lengths. Also comfort is a huge factor on your wedding day so be sure to pick a veil with a metal comb [the only type Justine M Couture uses] that will be comfortable and easy on your hair.

(above the Justine M Couture Pirouette Veil in the Lace and Mantilla Collection)

Stay tuned for the next installment....."Matching your Veil to your Gown" coming soon!

Fun Fact: Did you know that in Ancient Rome Brides appeared enveloped in a saffron-colored haze that symbolized the flame of Vesta, the goddess of home and the provider of life? Check out more fun facts on Veils on the "For Dummies" website!

Another beautiful real Justine M Couture bride featured on Ceremony Blog

We just love seeing this San Diego bride in a Justine M Couture veil and accessories! Thanks to the amazing White Flower Bridal Boutique in San Diego for carrying our collection and taking such good care of your bridal clients! Be sure to attend a great trunk show this Saturday at The White Flower Bridal Boutique! 

Shout out to the amazing photographer Taylor Abeel for such lovely photos!