A veil is an accessory to a wedding dress that brides have been wearing for many years. In many religious weddings, the chances of the bride wearing a veil are very high. Traditionally, a veil shows the interior desire for a bride being humble, and it is also a sign of purity. In modern times, wearing a veil has become a personal preference, with brides going for unique looks with their wedding dresses.
So do you have to have a veil at a catholic wedding? A bride can decide to wear or not wear a veil depending on the conditions set by the wedding officiant or the rules of the parish regarding wedding ceremonies. Some bishops, priests, or deacons will allow you to choose whether to wear a veil or not, while some, mostly conservatives, will request that you wear a veil. You should consult with your wedding officiant before deciding on whether to accessorize your wedding dress with a veil or not.
The superstition that it is bad luck for a groom to see his bride before the wedding increased the use of the veil among many brides. Read on to find out more about whether you have to wear a veil at a catholic wedding ceremony and reasons why you should consider wearing one.
Having a Veil in A Catholic Wedding
For modern brides, wearing a veil at their wedding ceremony is a personal preference. A bride will want to look beautiful at their wedding. Hence, if she feels that wearing a veil will not work for her, she can choose not to wear one. In the past, brides did not have much of a choice when it came to wearing veils. Many religious groups had different reasons to require a bride to wear a veil.
In ancient times, the veil was used as a way of hiding the bride from evil spirits that want to take away her happiness. It later became a way of hiding the bride’s face from the groom, a theory which has stuck to this day. In some cultures, when the groom lifts the veil, it is a sign of ownership. The brides wear the veil to signify that their love goes much deeper. It is more than skin-deep.
One of the most common reasons that brides choose to wear a veil is that it is associated with purity. The veil symbolizes the bride’s virginity. It references a bride entering into the marriage with a pure body and soul. The groom is getting a wife that is pure and untouched by other men.
The veil is not an accessory required by the catholic church; however, some priests and deacons may require the bride to wear one during the wedding ceremony. Most bishops and deacons will inform the bride and groom how they should dress at the wedding ceremony. Most of them require the couple together with their bridesmaids and groomsmen to dress appropriately.
When planning for the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom will meet the priest or deacon several times to discuss matters concerning the wedding. The bride should consult with the priest or deacon about her wedding dress. The wedding dress of her choice might not come with a veil; hence, it will be necessary to ask the priest or deacon if she can wear that wedding dress.
Most of the time, the priest will allow the bride not to wear a wedding veil. However, the most conservative priests and deacons might request that the bride wear a veil. A wedding ceremony will not last more than an hour, so a bride, if asked to wear it, can endure it for a few minutes and remove it later for the wedding reception and the photoshoots.
Women in the catholic church will wear a veil during mass. Some parishes have dress codes on how men and women should dress during mass. If your parish or diocese requires women to wear veils during mass, there is a possibility the priest or deacon will request that you wear one.
Churches with conservative priests will enforce this rule; churches with modern young priests might not care a lot whether you wear a veil or not.
Reason Why a Bride Should Consider Wearing a Veil
There are several reasons why a bride should consider wearing a veil during the wedding ceremony. One of the reasons is if she is required by the church to wear one, then she should do it. If the church has rules regarding the bride and groom attire, they should try and obey all of them. If the bride is required to wear a veil, she should do it. It shows that she is willing to respect the church as well as her priest or bishop.
Another reason is tradition. The bride wearing a veil at the wedding ceremony has been a long tradition in many cultures. If the veil is an heirloom, then the bride can choose to continue the tradition of brides’ in her family wearing a particular wedding veil. A veil can also be used in the more modern traditions; for example, the bride can wear it as something borrowed or something old.
Sometimes a veil can be used to make the wedding dress modest. In the catholic church, women are required not to show their shoulders. Hence, if a bride decides to wear a strapless wedding dress, the priest or deacon will request that she cover her shoulders. Instead of getting another dress, the bride can simply add a veil for the wedding ceremony and remove it after the ceremony is over.
Another reason to consider wearing a veil is that they are aesthetically pleasing. There are very many designs of veils that a bride can pick from when shopping for a wedding dress. A beautiful veil is guaranteed to gain the attention of the wedding guests.
They also make wedding photos stunning. Check the internet and see how many brides made their special more beautiful with a veil. A wedding is a once in a lifetime event; hence you need to look beautiful on that day. Think harder when deciding whether you should wear a veil or not.
Another reason to wear a veil is that it is a perfect emotional accessory. A veil creates an opportunity for a special moment between the bride, her groom, and her family. One tradition is that the bride’s father will lift the veil to present her to the groom, making it a beautiful moment for the father and daughter. Another tradition is the groom lifting the veil to kiss the bride after saying their vows; the veil makes this moment very special.
Final Word
There is no denying that a perfect veil will make a wedding dress even more beautiful. A veil will turn a woman in a white gown into a bride in a wedding dress. As times have changed, it has become a personal preference; the bride has more control over what she can wear at her wedding ceremony.
To wear or not to wear a veil, a question most catholic brides will ask themselves while choosing a wedding dress. When you are not sure of the rules regarding the bride’s attire, feel free to talk to the priest or deacon. Show him your choice, and if he approves it, then you can wear it. Do not take a guess and make the wrong decision; some priests and bishops are so strict that you might end up changing your wedding dress at the last minute.
