Accessories
Wedding accessories: veil lengths, gloves, wraps, sashes and bouquets
Wedding accessories finish a dress: the veil, gloves, a wrap, a sash, a tiara and the bouquet. This page gives the named veil lengths in inches and centimetres, glove lengths, cover-ups for a ceremony, and the bouquet shapes florists use.
On this page
Veil lengths
Veils are named by where they fall, measured from the comb fixed in the hair. Bridal guides give slightly different figures for each name, so the lengths below are ranges; a blusher is the short front layer worn over the face and lifted during or after the ceremony, often with a longer veil behind.
| Veil | Length | Reaches |
|---|---|---|
| Blusher | No set length | Covers the face; lifted during or after the ceremony |
| Shoulder | 19–22 in (48–56 cm) | The shoulders |
| Elbow | 25–32 in (64–81 cm) | The elbows or the waist |
| Fingertip | 36–45 in (91–114 cm) | The fingertips, arms at the sides |
| Waltz | 50–60 in (127–152 cm) | Between knee and ankle |
| Floor | About 72 in (183 cm) | The floor, in shoes |
| Chapel | About 90 in (229 cm) | Sweeps the floor behind the bride |
| Cathedral | 100–120 in (254–305 cm) | Trails well behind; the longest veil |
Match the veil to the dress: a fingertip veil (36–45 in (91–114 cm)) shows off a detailed back; a chapel or cathedral veil pairs with a long train. Veils are usually made of tulle, which hides the face while letting the wearer see out.
Veil traditions and the mantilla
The bridal veil dates back to Greek and Roman times, when it was meant to hide the bride from evil spirits. It fell out of fashion in 17th- and 18th-century Britain and North America, returned after a royal wedding in 1840, and became a status symbol in the Victorian era, when its weight, length and quality signalled a family's standing. Veils worn over the face were not common until the second half of the 19th century.
A mantilla is a lace or silk veil worn over the head and shoulders, often over a tall comb called a peineta; it is traditional in Spain and Latin America. In Scandinavia the bridal veil is usually worn under a crown and hangs at the back instead of covering the face. A veil is not normally worn at a civil ceremony or for a second marriage; when it is, it is a fashion choice rather than a symbol.
Glove lengths
| Length | Where it ends | Wear it with |
|---|---|---|
| Wrist | At the wrist | Long sleeves or a day wedding |
| Elbow | At or just below the elbow | Short sleeves or cap sleeves |
| Opera (full length) | Above the elbow, usually to the biceps | Strapless and sleeveless evening gowns; required with white tie |
The finest full-length gloves are made-to-measure kidskin; satin and stretch satin are the common alternatives. Long gloves came into fashion around 1800–1825 and had their greatest vogue from the 1880s to the First World War. At white tie, women wear long evening gloves with a full-length gown.
Wraps, boleros, sashes and tiaras
- Wrap, stole or shawl. A length of fine fabric over the shoulders, for warmth in the evening or cover in a church; at white tie a pashmina, coat or wrap may be worn over the gown.
- Bolero. A short tailored jacket whose fronts meet at only one point; more formal and stiffer than a knitted shrug, and a neat way to cover a strapless bodice for the ceremony.
- Sash. A band of fabric around the waist, or from one shoulder to the opposite hip on ceremonial occasions. On a dress it marks the waist and adds a second colour — a Victorian flower girl wore white with a coloured satin sash.
- Tiara. Traditionally a bride wore a tiara owned by her birth family on her wedding day, and was often given one by her husband or father. A quinceañera is crowned with one at her 15th birthday.
Bridal bouquet shapes
| Shape | What it is |
|---|---|
| Round | A symmetrical dome of flowers |
| Posy or nosegay | A small, compact round bunch; the names overlap, a nosegay usually being tighter |
| Hand-tied | A looser bunch with stems tied together by ribbon |
| Cascade | Flowers and foliage spilling down from the base over the hands |
| Composite | Petals or buds wired together into one giant-looking flower |
Florists use these names differently, so bring a photo. A large cascade suits a ball gown or a long train; a small posy suits a short or slim dress. A flower girl may carry petals, a single bloom or a ball of flowers instead.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a fingertip veil?
36–45 in (91–114 cm), reaching the fingertips with the arms at the sides; bridal guides vary by a few inches.
How long is a cathedral veil?
100–120 in (254–305 cm); it trails well behind the bride and is the longest standard veil. A chapel veil is about 90 in (229 cm).
What is a blusher veil?
A short veil worn over the face as the bride enters, lifted during or after the ceremony; it is often layered with a longer veil.
What length gloves go with a strapless dress?
Opera-length gloves, which reach above the elbow, usually to the biceps. They are the traditional length for evening and white-tie dress.
Keep reading
- Wedding dress train lengths and dress hemlines explainedWedding dress train lengths from sweep to royal cathedral, in metres and feet, plus the named dress lengths from mini to floor and which suits which occasion.
- Dress necklines: sweetheart, bateau, halter and moreDress necklines explained with drawings: sweetheart, strapless, off-the-shoulder, bateau, halter, one-shoulder, V, square, scoop and illusion.
- Wedding dress silhouettes: ball gown, A-line, sheath, mermaid and moreWedding dress silhouettes compared: ball gown, A-line, sheath, Empire, trumpet and mermaid, plus waistlines, maternity and short wedding dresses.
- Quinceañera dresses: ball gowns, colours, the court and traditionsQuinceañera dresses explained: why the ball gown is traditional, choosing a colour, the tiara and change of shoes, dressing the court of damas and chambelanes.
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