What Are Fingertip Veils?

The wedding veil has, at various points throughout history, been a symbol of the bride's virginity, modesty and feminine mystique. To some, wedding veils still embody one or all of these things. To others, veils are a longstanding tradition and a chance to feel grand and magnificent on their wedding day. No matter the reason, brides have a variety of veils to choose from. Fingertip veils are a style of veil that has a hemline that reaches the bride's fingertips when her hands are at her sides.

Every bride has different measurements and fingertip-length veils on one woman may only reach wrist-length on another. Because of this, fingertip veils are also defined by their length, generally somewhere around 36 inches (91.44 cm). Veils of this length are generally appropriate for semi-formal and formal wedding gowns that reach the bride's ankles or the floor. Brides wearing chapel or cathedral length wedding dresses may also choose this length instead of cathedral length veils to cut down on the amount of unwieldy fabric surrounding them.

Fingertip veils come with one tier or two. One tiered veils are a single piece of fabric and typically cover the bride's hair. Two-tiered veils have an additional length of fabric called a blusher. The blusher is shorter than fingertip-length and covers the bride's face. Two-tiered veils add a dramatic flair and appear fuller and more voluminous than single tiered veils.

The placement of the veil on the bride's head can affect how long or short it looks. If a fingertip veil is placed further back on the bride's head, it may appear longer than fingertip length. This can be remedied by repositioning the veil closer to the bride's forehead. Because a veil is meant to enhance a bride's appearance rather than detract from it, shorter brides may opt for an elbow-length veil instead, which is generally 30 inches (76.2 cm) long. A shorter veil on a shorter person may hit at the appropriate length, where the traditional fingertip-length veil would be too long.

Although wedding veils are common, they aren't the only variety available. Other types of veils include those used for dance, such as belly dance, or those worn for religious reasons. While these veils may hit fingertip length, the term “fingertip veil” is typically reserved for use when describing wedding apparel. Fingertip veils are made from a wide array of fabrics, including polyester, nylon, rayon, silk and cotton and can come in a variety of colors. Veils may be embellished with embroidery, sequins, rhinestones or other adornments or left plain.