the veil: update

haha soooo I had been talking before about how I wanted to make my own veil - because how hard can it be to make a birdcage veil really? well, it's hard. especially if you have absolutely zero experience with anything like that.

so after (kinda) flipping out on my mom for trying to take over the project, I ended up scrapping the DIY veil and turning to my dear reliable etsy. I found this simple small birdcage veil fromAnnLeslie and it's exactly what I wanted and even though it's more expensive than the half yard of netting would have been, it was still very reasonably priced and totally worth it for my sanity.

(source)

The picture actually shows the veil in ivory, but I ordered it in champagne. The difference is shown below, in a photo Ann sent to me to help me decide which one I wanted. I chose the champagne at the time because I thought it would go better with my (then) dress - I think the ivory could have worked with my new dress but the champagne will work great too, it's got a nice "natural" color to it which is what my raw silk gown has going on.

(photo credit: Ann Leslie)

I'm really pleased. I just also bought these little clips from Cultivar (photos below credited to said shop) and I'm playing around with it. I may give the purply/blue clips to one of my bridesmaids and just wear the ivory ones.. or who knows. I love both sets.

What are you doing for your headpiece? Or maybe you're skipping it altogether? Here is a greatcollection of posts on the topic over at APW.

photographer: check

So it sounds like I'm not alone in the wedding planning slump, the NearlyWeds have been quiet lately. I know Miss Charleston is in the final stretch, less than 2 weeks! I am le jealous.

Good news though - we have booked our photographer! Thanks everyone who responded to my previous posts on the topic - we've gone with Bisou Photography. Our photographer's name is Bong Lee, you can find him on Wedding Wire. His style is simple, not exactly Our Labor of Love or anything like that, but we really enjoyed meeting him and we're excited to have him. Honestly, not gonna lie, biggest factor was his pricing. Right now he just does this on the weekends as a second job, once he gets into it full time his prices will probably go up. I'm thrilled that we get to help him build his portfolio.

My mom and I had a good talk about that whole veil drama, I think she gets where I'm coming from and all is well. She still has opinions about Everything but she seems ok with the fact that I will not agree with her most of the time. She ended up making a quick sketch of the veil she had in mind for me... glad I nipped it in the bud. Not my style. Speaking of my veil though, it's coming along! I think I'm getting a feel for the way the netting behaves..

Random update on the marathon training: ugh! I'm sick right now and haven't been getting my runs in during the week. Supposed to do my 20-mile training run this weekend --> not. gonna. happen. Last long run was 16.5 miles, 2 weekends ago. :-o

Next on the to-do list: book DJ. And then a lot of those other items Miss Glen Echo listed off...

the veil

So I've finally got my hands on some french netting, and so farrrrr - birdcage veils are a lot more difficult than they look. It's kind of fun playing around with it but at the same time incredibly frustrating because I haven't yet been able to get it to do what I've been picturing in my head. Here are a couple pictures of my efforts.. just haven't quite got the hang of making it behave how I want. But, I've got several months to get it right so I'm not too worried yet.


Here's another piece I was playing with, thought I'd try working in these fabric flowers, they weave easily into the comb (one is weaved in already, looks promising). I'm thinking some of those little blue roses with some pearl and crystal accents? maybe a couple Feathers for good measure? we'll see.
For you DIYers, do you find it's hard to find Space for your projects? Mr. Fairfax and I are in a one-bedroom apartment and my "workshop" is basically the dining room, I've just taken over a wall and started stacking things. It's not easy to work up the motivation to go drag everything out to play with it, especially when I realize all the crazy ideas floating around in my head are well, crazy, and I don't have half the materials I'd need to accomplish everything I want to. Anyway here's a glimpse of my sad corner (sorry it's off kilter; on the left it looks like maybe the recycle bin but no! it's my growing collection of glass jars we'll be cleaning up and using as vases for the tables).

Homemade Veils v. Storebought

I've tried on so many veils since I got my dress in September. None of them really jumping out at me. While I appreciate the tradition of a veil, I didn't really care what it looked like. I knew I didn't want any sort of embellishments or lace on it so that kind of narrowed it down for me.

Last week when I was in my hometown visiting friends, family and running marathon number 3, my mother and I went into David's Bridal that had recently opened up in my hometown in Vermont. She picked out her MOB dress (separate post on that coming up) and I tried on veils.

First of all, it's difficult to try on veils when you're not in your dress. You wouldn't think that but it's true.

Second of all, I realized, there was no reason to spend more than $50 on a headpiece I didn't give a crap about and was probably only going to wear for a few hours anyhow.

So I did some research on "affordable" wedding veils and finally ordered mine last night over Etsy. I've heard great things about a lot of gals getting their veils on Etsy so I ordered this one.


For $25 (after shipping), not bad. Considering I tried on one exactly like it when I picked up my dress for over $100. It's simple. It's white. And it's elbow length. Exactly what i wanted.

There are dozens of veils/headpieces on etsy - I purchased mine from BellaBridalVeils but there are many others who make veils on etsy as well, you've just gotta be willing to search.

Now I only need to get my undergarments before I can schedule my dress fittings - both of which need to be done before the end of this month!!

(Funny that now that I'm getting so close to the wire, I have much more to write about!!)

Where did you find your headpiece? What type of veil (if any) are you wearing for your wedding day??

Rush Hour Wedding Planning -- Veils?

Well, as you area residents know, traffic downtown has become a nightmare. With the Obamas in town and the inauguration right around the corner, I am currently stuck on a bus in traffic.

Slowly making my way from my office in NW DC to our apartment in SE, Capitol Hill.

With so much time to kill (and with it being 2009, the year we get married!) My thoughts drifted to the wedding.

More specifically the question of "to veil or not to veil."

I am not a short girl. Not even close. I will be buying extra length on my dress to accommodate my six foot tall frame.

Veils, while beautiful and something I always wanted, concerned.

Cut to my first dress expedition at David's Bridal. They threw a veil on my head to compliment the dresses I was trying on.

I looked like I had a lacey poofy white fountain springing from my head.

My mind was completely turned off to the idea from that point on. Then Mama JeffMemorial said that I just HAD to wear a veil.

Now I know I don't have to. While it is tradition, it has become a take it or leave it based on preference.

I kind of do want one now, but then another question arose.

My hair will be just above shoulder length, down, and straight. I am going to have one side of my hair swept up in a pin. How do you make a veil work with that, especially when you're a girl who adores symmetry?

Well I started researching and saw all these different kinds of veils. Long ones, short ones, sheer ones, birdcage veils.

Yet another time I learned that there are so many things that seem straightforward with weddings before you actually plan one. The amount of veil choices is endless.

I am still on the fence.

Some say you aren't a bride without one.

Others say it is an out of date tradition.

Then there are those who just don't care!

Where do you fall? Would you adhere to traditon or no? Or do you just like veils?

One of the neat things about researching veils is how there are so many modern and unique takes there are on the idea of a sheath of fabric.

What are your favorite styles?

I will end this as I have survived the pre-inauguration traffic and I am home!

Toodles!