hough trends have come and gone over their 2000 year-plus history, veils remain

pretty much timeless—not to mention so sub- limely romantic, it seems a miss not to opt in on the single day reserved for a grown girl to wear one. Are you the traditional, full-length type? The flirty blusher type? Or perhaps you're think- ing of adding a fresh orange blossom crown to a lacy veil like Queen Victoria did when she mar- ried her Prince in 1837?

When it comes to veils, your dress and venue are important things to consider, but then there's where to place it, which shade of white to choose, and how to manage the intermittent gust of wind. To help us navigate these nuances, we reached out to accessories designer Debra Moreland. Debra is responsible for the dozens of floriferous and Swarovski-specked pins, combs, headbands, halos, and tulle confections that have delighted so many of our brides over the past two years.

PLACEMENT (LONG)

Fasten veil into your hair at one o'clock; this creates a pretty A-line from head to floor which complements your dress and overall silhouette

Avoid placing at 2 or 3 o'clock; this disrupts the flow of your look

For outdoor (read: windy) ceremonies, consider loosely wrapping a veil around one arm, similar to a stole or sash

PLACEMENT (SHORT)

Since blusher and birdcage styles vary so much it may be a good idea to consult your hairstylist, or simply experiment; often embellishments dictate placement

HOW TO FASTEN

For the most secure hold, fasten the veil by first flipping its comb upside-down, with teeth facing up; if you're doing it right the U curve of the comb will curve away from your head

Gently slide the comb upward so that it grabs a bit of hair and then flip it over so that the U curve cups the back of your head; wiggle into place

STEAM

Hang up your veil when you first receive it to naturally loosen wrinkles

After a few days, gently steam out remaining wrinkles. Do not use an iron; this can discolor or damage the veil

STORE

Hang away from sunlight until your wedding day

LENGTH

Long veils offer the most traditional look, they tend to be universally flattering, and convey formality

Shorter veils can better express personal styles/tastes, but be mindful of your overall silhouette; you don't want your veil to inter- rupt the flow of your look

COLOR CHOICE

Choose a color that will blend into the color of your gown

Aim for the shade of your gown, or a shade lighter; avoid anything darker

ACCESSORIES

Try adding a comb or pin to your veil for a more personalized look

Short-veiled gals: choose a small, delicate comb that doesn't overpower the veil

Long-veiled gals: pick a larger comb or halo so that the two pieces feel balanced

Distinguish your ceremony and reception looks by removing the veil once at the reception; let the comb or pin shine!