This is step 3 in the How to Make a Wedding Veil series. In step 2 we shaped the face/blusher piece of your veil. Here is how to DIY bridal veil edging by gluing trim or lace onto the veil.
To Bling or not to Bling?
It is also time to add (optional) embellishments. How much sparkle should you add? This depends on both your dress and your preference.
A plain gown can benefit from a veil decorated with rhinestones or larger additions. I have seen decorative butterflies, rosebuds, florals made from seed pearls, and sequins. A more bedazzled gown, however, best goes with a more subdued veil.
Do what feels comfortable and do not give in to trendy fashion pressure from others. Imagine looking at your wedding pictures ten years from now. Will you think your veil is perfect for you or will you wonder, “what was I thinking?!” If you need inspiration, see the example beading and trim video here. It shows details from seven different veils.
Also, keep in mind one side of your blusher will show when you walk down the aisle. BUT the opposite side will be on display after the “I dos.” Either (1) includes no embellishments on the blusher or (2) choose something that looks good from both sides.
If you are still in need of beading or other embellishments see our merchants’ selections here.
DIY Bridal Veil Edging and Embellishments
Watch the video tutorial at the end of this post and/or read text instructions below.
What You Will Need
• Scissors
• Glue. I like Aleene’s Fabric Fusion because it’s clear and it holds well.
• Toothpicks or straight pins to apply glue
• Non-porous work surface such as a glass cutting board.
• Partially finished veil from Steps one and two. If it is still clipped into a pseudo-gather, unclip and smooth out the material.
You may wonder why we are gluing on embellishments now instead of finishing the gathers first. It is so you do not get messy with the glue and ruin your fabric. Also, you can better lay out a design, if you care to do so, on a flat veil.
• Keep a damp cloth handy, just in case.
• Embellishments, beading, crystals, and/or trim.
Gluing the Trim or Lace Edging
When you are ready to glue the trim onto your veil, first find the pencil mark you made when creating the blusher. This is where your blusher ends and the veil itself begins. Then:
• Place the material on top of your nonporous work surface and smooth it.
• If necessary, use your weights to anchor the tulle.
• Straight pin the edging to the beginning of the veil section of your tulle.
• Squeeze some of the glue onto an unused corner of your work area.
• Using a toothpick or pin, put a little glue along the underside of the trim and place along the edge of your veil.
• Let the glue set enough so you will not ruin the trim when you move it. Then detach and rotate the next section onto your work surface.
Keep doing this until you’ve gotten all the way around the veil.
Applying Embellishments
First experiment with different patterns to discover what you like best. For example:
• Scatter crystals, beads, or pearls and glue them where they fall.
• Create a pattern that is denser at the top and spaced farther apart at the bottom.
• Begin with large pearls near the bottom of the veil and smaller ones as you move upward.
Once you know where you would like your embellishments, carefully glue each to the tulle. When they are completely dry, you are ready to move onto step 4, making the gathers.
Make Your Own Wedding Veil: Overview | (1) Pattern and Cut | (2) Blusher | You are Here: (3) Lace or Trim | (4) Gathers | (5) Comb
very nice