Like the gowns they are worn with, veils can be elaborate and dramatic or simple and understated. The only rule for selecting a veil is that it should complement both the bride and the gown. For example, an heirloom lace veil shouldn't be forced to compete with an extravagant dress; Jacqueline Bouvier understood this principle when she wore a sweeping heirloom lace veil with a fairly simple scoop-neck taffeta gown in her wedding to John F. Kennedy. By the same token, an exquisitely detailed gown is shown off better by a sheer tulle veil than a fancy lace one.

Proportion must also be considered. A short veil looks too informal with a long gown, and an excessively long veil -- or one with a multitude of tiers -- tends to overwhelm a short bride instead of adding height. When trying on a veil, make sure you don't disappear beneath it; also, wear your hair as you plan to for the wedding, otherwise you won't have a clear idea of how the veil will actually look.

Veil Materials
Nylon tulle is today's veil material of choice. The more traditional silk tulle tends to get limp when it's damp, whereas nylon retains its stiffness. Veils shouldn't be strewn with rhinestones because rhinestones photograph like black dots. Even pearls, tiny satin bows, and other embellishments may look spotty in photographs, so be sparing with these ornaments.