If you are a bride-to-be shopping for a wedding dress in Los Angeles or Southern California, chances are you have already realized how much the little details matter. Wedding veil volume is one of those styling choices that can completely transform your bridal look, even when the veil itself seems simple at first glance. Understanding wedding veil volumes and how they affect your wedding dress, your hairstyle, and your overall silhouette can make a world of difference.
At Lovella Bridal, we love helping brides see how a bridal veil can elevate a bridal gown and bring intention to the entire wedding day look, making you feel like "the bride" in the best way possible. From soft and understated to dramatic and full, the amount of volume at the top of your veil plays a major role in how your bridal style comes together.
As a top luxury bridal boutique in Los Angeles and Glendale, California, Lovella Bridal is known for fashion-forward wedding dresses, couture styling, and expert guidance through every detail of the bridal fashion journey, including accessories like veils that are often overlooked but incredibly powerful.
For more styling advice and tips, be sure to see our top 5 bridal accessory trends that we just spotted at this year's New York Bridal Fashion Week.
Watch the Video: Wedding Veil Volumes Explained
If you prefer to watch instead of read, our wedding fashion expert breaks down bridal veil volume visually in this video. We will embed the video here so you can see each veil style in motion and understand how volume changes the overall bridal look.
Understanding Wedding Veil Volume at the Comb
When we talk about wedding veil volume, we are specifically referring to the amount of gather of the material at the comb, or the clip, that attaches the veil to your hair. The way the veil is gathered determines how much fullness or flatness you see at the crown of your head. This detail affects how the veil frames your wedding dress, how it drapes over your shoulders, and how dramatic or understated the look feels.
Some veils are heavily gathered at the comb area to create volume and movement, while others are sewn almost completely flat for a sleek, modern effect. Neither option is better than the other. It all comes down to personal preference, bridal hairstyle, and how you want your bridal look to feel.
Low Volume Wedding Veils with Soft Drape
Low volume wedding veils often use slightly heavier tulle or net tulle with minimal gathering at the comb. Because the fabric has more weight, it does not create a poof at the top of the head. Instead, it falls smoothly and creates a soft, elongated drape down the back of the wedding dress.
This style of bridal veil creates a beautiful illusion from behind and feels very refined and architectural. Some brides love the clean, controlled feel, while others dislike the heavier sensation and prefer something more airy. This veil volume tends to feel more understated and pairs beautifully with sleek bridal gowns and minimalist silhouettes.
For an effortless, yet contemporary bridal style, be sure to get our best wedding dress for minimalist brides, and our top picks for sleek wedding dresses without lace.
Medium Volume Wedding Veils with Movement
A medium volume wedding veil usually features lighter tulle and more gather at the comb. This combination creates a fuller look at the crown while still feeling soft and romantic. Many of these veils are cut in what we call a flutter cut, which allows the tulle to move and float as you walk.
This veil volume adds visual interest and texture without overwhelming the wedding dress. Brides who want a noticeable veil that still feels light and feminine often gravitate toward this option. The same tulle can also be cut straight instead of fluttered for brides who love the fabric but want a cleaner fall.
To compliment with this look, be sure to get our top picks for lace wedding dresses perfect for romantic brides and the best dresses for brides who love a classic, timeless bridal look.
High Volume Wedding Veils and Blushers
For brides who want drama, fullness, and added impact, a high volume wedding veil or a veil with a blusher is the way to go. A blusher is an additional layer of tulle that can be worn over the face while walking down the aisle or flipped back for added volume during the ceremony.
Some brides choose a blusher veil purely for volume and never wear it over the face. When flipped back, it creates extra fullness and dimension, which looks stunning in photos. Photographers often love working with fuller veils because the tulle adds movement and creativity to wedding portraits.
If you choose a blusher, we recommend wearing it down the aisle and flipping it back for the ceremony so your face is clear in photos. That said, your bridal look should always reflect your comfort and personal style.
Flat Wedding Veils with Minimal Volume
Flat wedding veils are sewn with little to no gathering at the comb. This creates an ultra-sleek, modern look where the tulle appears to be gently draped over the head and shoulders. These veils can still feel dramatic, just in a quieter and more editorial way.
This style works beautifully for brides who want their wedding dress to take center stage and prefer a veil that enhances rather than competes. Flat veils often pair well with contemporary bridal gowns and clean lines.
How Veil Placement Affects Volume and Length
Where you place your veil on your head also impacts how the volume appears. Wearing the veil higher makes the volume more visible and shortens the length in the back. Placing it further back reduces the appearance of volume and allows the veil to fall longer behind you.
Veil placement also affects how the tulle drapes over your shoulders and interacts with your hairstyle. Many stylists prefer placement near the crown of the head because it creates the most balanced and visually appealing proportions, but this is always adjusted to suit each bride.
Why Bridal Store Veils Look Different Than Online Veils
One important detail many brides do not realize is that wedding veils from bridal boutiques are typically wider than veils purchased online. The width of the veil contributes significantly to fullness, drama, and how the veil photographs.
We often see brides try on veils in store, fall in love with the look, and then order a veil online that feels narrow and underwhelming once they receive it. Finding a veil with the same width and quality online is surprisingly difficult. This is why veils are considered a specialty item in luxury bridal salons.
Which Veil Volume Is Right for You?
Wedding veil volume has a powerful impact on your bridal look, from how your veil frames your wedding dress to how it moves in photos. Whether you prefer low volume and clean lines, medium volume with movement, or high volume with drama and a blusher, the right veil is the one that feels most like you.
Veils can feel unfamiliar at first because most brides have never worn one before. That is completely normal. The key is exploration, trying different volumes, taking photos so you can see how it looks in pictures instead of only looking at it in the mirror, and trusting the guidance of a bridal stylist who understands how all the elements work together.
Your wedding photos last a lifetime, and the right veil helps tell that story beautifully.
Wedding Dress Shopping Tips from Lovella Bridal Los Angeles
If learning about wedding veil volumes has you thinking more intentionally about your bridal styling, you are in the right place. At Lovella Bridal, we share expert advice to help brides feel confident at every step of wedding dress shopping and styling.
If you want to keep learning, explore these related posts from our blog:
- How to Choose the Right Wedding Veil for Your Bridal Dress
- Top 5 Bridal Accessory Trends from New York Bridal Fashion Week
- Is Wearing A Lace Veil With A Lace Wedding Dress Too Much Lace?
- Why Working with a Bridal Stylist Changes Everything
About Lovella
If you're shopping for your perfect wedding dress, come visit us at Lovella Bridal in Glendale, CA. We carry wedding dresses in all sizes and styles, including plus-size bridal gowns and a full selection of veils and accessories. Lovella Bridal is the premier, luxury bridal wedding dress shopping boutique located in Los Angeles, California. Lovella features couture, feminine, modern and chic bridal gowns in all sizes from the best wedding dress designers. Schedule an appointment to find the wedding dress of your dreams at Lovella Bridal. We can't wait to help you!
About Wedding Fashion Expert
Our wedding dress shopping tips and advice are from Nayri, Lovella's own, in-house wedding fashion expert. Nayri is truly the expert when it comes to bridal fashion and wedding style. As the Wedding Fashion Expert, Nayri is the top bridal fashion stylist and the best-selling author of the book "I'm Getting Married And I Have Nothing To Wear," the ultimate guide to helping brides find their wedding day style and their perfect wedding dress. You can subscribe to her YouTube channel or listen to her podcast for more helpful and practical advice on wedding dress shopping.
