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.  

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!

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.

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!

 

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!