The Tradition of Wedding Veils

Brides have been using veils to convey status and elegance for thousands of years. A middle Assyrian law code from 1400 BC even specified that only women of certain status were allowed to veil their heads.

 

Greek and Roman brides also wore veils to hide from evil spirits that might wish them harm. The superstition that a groom shouldn't see her bride before the wedding goes back to this tradition, so veils were used to cover the bride’s face.

 

In Judeo-Christian traditions, the veil took a different meaning and was meant to convey that the bride was pure. The lifting of the veil then became symbolic of the consummating of the marriage.

 

In today's world, your veil doesn't have to be wrapped in superstition or convey anything you don’t want it to. It certainly doesn't have to be symbolic of your virtue as you walk down the aisle surrounded by all your relatives.

You get to own it and make of it whatever you want. But there is something special about partaking in the traditions of all of those brides that have come before.

 

It is a way of saying: I am here, and it is my special day. I’m going to own feeling beautiful and happy, that is my tradition.