Beautiful, Inexpensive Veils on Etsy

 There are simply some things out of my DIY reach.  Veils would be one of them.  At first glance they seem straightforward swaths of tulle; but further consideration reminds you that the shape, edging, lay, seam, material and comfort of the barrette are all important.  These being topics about which I have no expertise, I decided to purchase a veil, but of course wanted to spend as little as possible.

As with most wedding details, an item’s price does not always correlate with the difficulty of its construction.  Even the most inexpensive retail veils I considered – the White by Vera Wang line at David's Bridal – ranged from $108-$198.  Bridal boutiques begin there but long veils (chapel, cathedral) often start at $300 while custom couture looks can cost as much as $3,000.

Where to turn when you stumble upon a too-risky DIY?  Etsy – the home of crafty folks like yourself who have perfected such projects. 

Kasey at Fascinating Bride is one such craftswoman, with 100% positive feedback (mine included) since she opened two years ago.  Her story starts with tutus: she was making the tulle dresses for her one-year old daughter for photo props; when a close friend got engaged and discovered how expensive veils were (despite the cost of tulle), she asked Kasey to try to create a cathedral veil – which she did with great success. Kasey is currently based out of her home in a suburb of Seattle and will be showcased this fall at the Seattle Wedding Expo.  We caught up with her to talk French netting, what inspires her and what’s next. 

How many veils have you made?

I would estimate around 300 veils in the last two years.

What are your veils made out of?

My veils are made of mostly bridal illusion tulle because it is soft and flowy. I have also used other materials such as French netting to make birdcage veils, or the ever expensive silk tulle. Which I was surprised was not as soft to touch as bridal illusion, however it hangs beautifully. However, it is $50 a yard for the fabric so the price goes up 10 fold for that style, it’s the same fabric Kate Middleton used for her veil when she wed Prince William.

Speaking of Princess Kate, what’s trending right now with bridal head pieces?

There are a lot of lace orders coming in; lace dresses are back in style and gorgeous cathedral veils lined with lace has been my biggest hit.

What’s your favorite thing to create?

I love making custom items. It’s exciting for me to try to create something someone else has dreamed up. The result is very satisfying if I can give them just what they were looking for but were unable to find!

Where did you learn to make veils?

Well, I bought a pattern from Joann’s fabrics. That was a TOTAL bust. Then, I started trying to free cut them myself, this worked so much better and now that is all I do. They took me a while to get the hang of, but now it’s second nature. I can cut and sew a veil in about 20 minutes.

What colors are your veils? Sizes and shapes?

I can make the veils in almost any color, but the most popular are white, ivory, and champagne. Sizes/shapes can vary greatly. From short birdcage veils to long cathedral length veils with trains as long as 10 feet behind the bride! Shapes can be a traditional “A” line to a circular veil that has no comb and simply falls from the bride’s head.

Does a veil have to match the dress?

Because there are about a thousand shades of white/ivory/champagne for wedding dresses, this is probably the most asked question. There are not very many shades of these colors in tulle available. The reason is that it’s not very important for the veil to match the dress exactly in color, but more in color pallet. Tulle is so sheer that it tends to take on the shade of the dress. As far as the style, you want to keep it in the same realm as the dress, but it’s your wedding and your veil so whatever makes you happiest is the right choice for you.

Any tips for veil hunting?

I say shop around. Find a style you love and see what other similar styles/prices/embellishments there are out there. Don’t grab the first one you find, you may pay too much and later on find something less expensive that you would have loved way more.

What else do you sell?

I sell veils and fascinators (bridal hair pieces), but I also really love making brooch bouquets and custom pieces. Anything you can dream, I can attempt! I’ve had probably a hundred custom made pieces dreamed up by the brides themselves, and have never had an unsatisfied recipient. I try my best to communicate well with them throughout the process, show pictures as things progress and keep the line open so that if they see something they want to tweak, it can be adjusted.

Why brooch bouquets?

Brooch bouquets are very unique, although they are gaining notoriety; they are still fairly rare to see. Other than pictures and the dress, brooch bouquets are one of the very few things that will remain beautiful for years to come, they could even be passed down as part of a new tradition. They are a bit of an investment, but the sparkle and shine they make as they are coming down the aisle is irreplaceable.

Have you worked with any Bridezillas?

I am lucky enough to have never had this experience, everyone has been excellent to work with, that’s part of why I enjoy what I do so much!

Do you have any favorite wedding-related stories?

I had a bride lose her veil, and in a panic email me a few days before her flight was to leave for her to get married at the Vatican! I told her I could make her another one quickly, but just before I was about to begin, she found the old one. She was so thankful for my willingness to help her get another one that she sent me gorgeous pictures of her cathedral length, lace-lined veil in the Vatican church. The pictures were stunning and I couldn’t have been more grateful to a client for giving me permission to use the photos. That veil has become my biggest seller, thanks in part by how well it was showcased in her photos.

Since this is a blog about saving dough, how do you keep your costs low?

I buy everything I need wholesale, that way the price of the material is very low and I am instead just charging for labor. When I found out how much a simple plain tulle veil from the designer stores are, I couldn’t believe it! I knew I had to give brides another option of a quality veil that would not break the bank.

If someone is set on trying to make their own veil, any tips?

If you’re going to try to make it at home, you’d need a rotary cutter, a self healing board and a pattern to start. However, the supplies cost more than a lot of the veils on Etsy, so I suggest see what you can find –there are many affordable vendors on Etsy!

Have you been a bride? Any words of advice for brides?

I have been a bride, and the best advice I can give is don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s almost guaranteed that something will go wrong, possibly a few things, but they won’t matter in the end. The guests will likely not even notice, and the most important part at the end of the day is the person who you pledging your life to. They love you and you love them, the little stuff won’t matter.

What’s next for you?

I have actually been involved with photography a lot since I bought my professional camera. I bought it so I could take better pictures of my products, however I loved learning about photography so much I took it quite seriously. I’ve already done a wedding this year, and have another scheduled in August. I love the idea of love, and being able to be a part of so many people’s most important moment of their life is something I truly cherish. I can’t wait to see what else is in store!

Company: Fascinating Bride
Founder: Kasey R
Location: Seattle, Washington
Where to Find: www.etsy.com/shop/fascinatingbride