To make or not to make!

With less than 3 months now until we get married (OH.MY.GOD) I have been trying to tie up lots of loose ends! Since I chose my dress back in September - after a good 4 months of constant trial and a lot of error - I made the decision that I was going to MAKE my veil. Having just completed all my handmade invitations I was caught up in the creative bug and thought this sounded like such a good idea by creating something organic and beautiful without the 'wedding' price tag. However, having tried my dress on at the time with a Claire Pettibone veil I had a lot to live up to.

I spent a lot of time researching the best materials for my veil, bearing in mind I wanted something that would fall naturally and not scratch me or cause me to overheat (ode to a beach wedding). I then spent some time calling around asking for quotes on materials etc. The material alone- (for silk tulle) was near on £250, regardless of the fact I'd wanted to hand stitched most of it with fresh water pearls, silk flowers and crystal tear drops. I worried that I wouldn't be able to create exactly what I wanted and if I didn't I would have to forfeit the price tag and buy something.
So, I started researching bespoke handmade veils, by mostly British designers. They are few and far between, but I was really impressed with what I found.

Claire Pettibone inspiration veil

Don O'Neill created the Fall 2014 Theia collection



Photograph courtesy of Sarah Gawler from Ann Guise website

Oscar de la Renta floral embroidered veil - inspiration




Faulkner and Carter lace applique veil

Ann Guise silk veil

Ann Guise silk veil



Faulkner and Carter silk tulle veil with chantilly lace

Faulkner and Carter silk tulle veil with French lace trim

Courtesy of Julia Boggio from Ann Guise website

Grace Loves Lace Jasmine veil

I adore Faulkner and Carter's effortless soft stlye, each veil has something so organically ethereal about it and oozes femininity. You can buy them straight from the website - and they currently have a lot in a very reasonably priced sale! They also can create a bespoke veil especially for the brides requirements, the cost being £400, which I think is very reasonable for a bespoke hand worked veil with a professional finish.

The Ann Guise veils are also absolutely gorgeous, everything she makes is 100% bespoke so you can talk through every fine detail from start to finish. Her gallery of pictures feel a little more grown up, each one so unique to the next - portraying each brides individuality and her testimonials really do speak for themselves by showing how accomplished and talented she is. Each veil is of course individual and prices vary, however the quote I got for what I was after was £495.



Grace Loves Lace is another one of my all time favourite designers for wedding dresses and accessories. They epitomise everything I aspire to be as a beach bride and I only WISH they were based in the UK and not Australia! They do have International delivery, but for me this was too much of a gamble as to whether it would arrive on time and whether or not it would suit my dress etc... 

So, with all that in mind I decided that the most sensible- although the most expensive- option would be to raid Mr Piggy Bank and go for my original Claire Pettibone choice. The comfort of this being that -not only is it the most stunning, unique and timeless veil, it also goes perfectly with my dress.

So with one more thing off my list now I am just down to shoes and how I am going to do my make up and hair! It's my first fitting - with my actual dress- next month and I'm just SO excited! I can't wait to share my dress experience with you and tell you all about the incredible Blackburn Bridal Couture.