12 Seriously Stunning Wedding Veils

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Elizabeth Messina Photography

On your big day, nothing evokes quite the same romance and mystery as a veil. In the quest to find your wedding dress's perfect partner—whether a chic birdcage or a classic cathedral—we present an ethereal assortment of veils, photographed by Elizabeth Messina.

First, no need to limit flowers to your bouquet. Dappled with fabric buds, this waltz-length veil and face-skimming blusher echoes the short-sleeve gown's hand-sewn silk petals without overwhelming its simple lines. You'll feel like you're walking through a flower-filled garden as you glide down the aisle.

The Details: David's Bridal two-tier veil, $229, davidsbridal.com. Vera Wang "Camilla" gown, $7,900, verawang.com. Van Cleef & Arpels earrings, price upon request, vancleefarpels.com.

01 of 11

Lace Mantilla Veil

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Elizabeth Messina Photography

With its classic scalloped edging and chaste shoulder coverage, a mantilla veil, which originated in Spain, gives any wedding look a decidedly Old World feel. They're often pinned at the hairline with a comb to frame the face, but we placed ours below the crown to strike an airier note while still providing a modest screen for a revealing bodice cut entirely from Chantilly lace.

The Details: Delphine Manivet veil, price upon request, 847-800-6312. Reem Acra "She's My Dream" dress, $4,995, 212-206-1915.

02 of 11

Modern Veil and Blusher

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Elizabeth Messina Photography

The sublime lines of a minimalist column dress call for a statement accessory, like this aisle-grazing veil with a fingertip-length blusher. The shape is traditional, but the sleek, hand-pleated texture gives it a 21st-century twist.

The Details: Suzanne Couture Millinery veil and blusher, prices upon request, 212-593-3232. Rosie Assoulin "Butterfly" gown, price upon request, 212-288-1388. Harry Winston ring, price upon request, harrywinston.com.

03 of 11

Embroidered Tulle Veil

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Elizabeth Messina Photography

The colorful embroidered vines, leaves, buds, and blooms that wind across this taupe tulle gown deserve to be seen, not concealed. The solution: an elbow-length veil of the identical material, sans pattern (it's by the same designer, although they're not sold as a set). Gorgeous on their own, together they're amazing.

The Details: Carolina Herrera "Joie" veil, price upon request, and gown, $10,990, 212-249-6552.

04 of 11

Chapeau Veil

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Elizabeth Messina Photography

This hat trick references the Jazz Age, when brides sashayed down the aisle in embellished cloches. We joined together a '70s-inspired floppy felt hat with a short cluster of tulle to lend boho charm to champagne-colored separates. Use any favorite topper—cowboy, fedora, derby, you name it—to make a hit all your own.

The Details: Delphine Manivet "Capeline" hat, $800, 847-800-6312. Suzanne Couture Millinery veil, price upon request, 212-593-3232. Samuelle Couture "Freya" blouse, $1,250, and "Adelaide" skirt, $3,250, samuellecouture.com.

05 of 11

Cathedral Veil

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Elizabeth Messina Photography

An angled 10-foot-long waterfall veil, which cascades in tiers, continues the liquid theme of a hand-beaded dress without competing for the limelight. The gown's glass droplets are placed in delicate rivulets that swirl as you walk, visible through the transparent tulle wave spilling over it.

The Details: Naeem Khan cathedral veil, price upon request, and "Washington" gown, $12,500, Mark Ingram Atelier, 212-319-6778. Van Cleef & Arpels "Pushkar" ring, price upon request, vancleefarpels.com.

06 of 11

Bouffant Veil

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Elizabeth Messina Photography

This frothy whip of platinum netting, known as a bouffant veil, has evolved from a 1950s favorite—which often featured a headpiece—into an artful accessory that can be pinned, twisted, and poufed to flatter any face shape or hairstyle. Here, it's a gauzy contrast to a silver chain-mail slip dress with sharp architectural lines.

The Details: Boutique de Voile veil, $895, boutiquedevoile.com. Galvan gown, $1,715, 212-219-2688.

07 of 11

Long Ombré Veil

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Elizabeth Messina Photography

This duo sneaks a rosy tint into the mix with a floor-sweeping cathedral veil that gradually fades from blush to pale ivory. The pink at the top highlights the gown's subtle shell-toned underlay, which peeks out from a sea of dogwood-printed organza—and the veil's nine-foot train provides still more drama.

The Details: Toni Federici for Watters veil, $688, tonifederici.com. Jim Hjelm gown, $2,310, jimhjelm.com. Graziela Gems ear cuffs, $190, grazielagems.com.

08 of 11

Birdcage Veil

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Elizabeth Messina Photography

The birdcage veil that barely reaches the chin was, not long ago, seen as a circa-1940s look. Today, though, these finely spun pieces can play a surprising role with a thoroughly avant-garde dress, like this streamlined silhouette dotted with rosettes and a bold organdy-petal bodice.

The Details: Paris by Debra Moreland veil, price upon request, 513-542-8345. Delpozo gown, $11,900, 305-573-1009. Siegelson New York ear clips, price upon request, siegelson.com.

09 of 11

Swiss Dot Veils

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Elizabeth Messina Photography

Diaphanous, tea-length tulle dresses covered in colored Swiss dots evoke country charm—until you up the sophistication meter with a spray of flocked vintage netting. These free-form birdcage veils (one black, one red, to coordinate with the frocks) are spot-on, without being too matchy.

The Details: Liv hart birdcage veils, prices upon request, livhart.com. Dresses, from left: Maticevski "Prediction," with black dots, $4,632, and "Reaction," with red dots, $6,210, tonimaticevski.com. Jimmy Choo "Rosana" pumps, in black velvet, $850, and "lilyth" sandals, in red velvet, $950, jimmychoo.com.

10 of 11

Fringe Veil

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Elizabeth Messina Photography

Talk about opposites attracting! Start with a beautifully simple dress of ivory silk with tulle cap sleeves. Add a veil trimmed in long fluid fringe, and you achieve texture, movement, and dynamism, all with a hint of 1920s flapper spirit.

The Details: Jennifer Behr lattice-fringed veil, price upon request, jenniferbehr.com. Johanna Johnson "Hendricks" gown, $5,400, johannajohnson.com. McTeigue & McClelland bangle, $2,600, mc2jewels.com.

11 of 11

Sparkly Veil

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Elizabeth Messina Photography

Both this airy ball gown and lavish cathedral veil are embellished with scattered opalescent crystals for a light-reflecting ensemble that sparkles, glows, and bewitches.

The Details: Monique Lhuillier "Brilliance" veil, $3,400, ball gown, $16,000, and capelet, $3,320, moniquelhuillier.com. Solange Azagury-Partridge cuff, price upon request, 212-879-9100. De Beers ring, price upon request, debeers.com.

Styled by John Paul Tran

. Market work by Colleen Banks and Carrie Goldberg. Makeup by Moani lee for

Beauty Exchange NYC

using

Hourglass Cosmetics

. Hair by Rudy Matins at

L'Atelier NYC

using

Oribe Hair Care

.

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