How to Care for Your Wedding Veil - Before, During, and After the Wedding
A well-made veil is not a disposable accessory. Treated with a little care, it can look as beautiful a decade from now as it does in your wedding photos. Treated carelessly, even the most beautiful piece of tulle won't survive the year.
Here's everything you need to know - from the moment it arrives to long after the wedding is over.
Step One
When your veil arrives
Open it carefully and remove any tissue or packaging. Lay it flat or hang it immediately - don't leave it folded in the box longer than necessary, especially if it's a longer length. Tulle that sits compressed for weeks will crease in ways that are harder to address closer to the wedding.
Hang it on a padded hanger in a cool, dry spot away from direct sunlight. Sunlight will yellow white and off-white tulle over time, even with short exposure.
Before the Wedding
Steaming before the wedding
Most veils will need a light steam before you wear them - this is normal, not a sign of a defect. Use a handheld garment steamer and work with the steamer moving upward through the tulle, keeping it a few inches away from the fabric. Don't press the steamer directly against the veil, and never use a flat iron.
If you don't have a steamer, hanging your veil in a steamy bathroom for 20–30 minutes will gently relax most creases. The weight of the veil will do a lot of the work on its own.
Do not hand wash or machine wash. Do not bleach. Light steam is the only home care that's safe for the fabric and any embellishments.
Wedding Day
How to Put It On - and Keep It There
The less your veil touches surfaces before you wear it, the better. Keep it on its hanger until you're ready. If someone is helping you attach it, make sure their hands are clean and dry - oils from skin can transfer to tulle.
Our veils attach with a metal comb. Slide the comb into the hair horizontally and then rotate it 180 degrees to lock it in place. For fine or slippery hair, a few bobby pins on either side will add security. If you're wearing a veil like the Double Layer Elbow Veil or Blusher Floral Veil, your hairstylist will be able to help with placement at your hair trial - bring it with you.
Most brides remove their veil after the ceremony or after portraits. There's no rule here, but longer cathedral-length veils are easier to manage when removed before the reception. Shorter styles like a fingertip or birdcage veil are comfortable enough to wear all evening.
After the Wedding
How to Store Your Veil So It Lasts
Allow the veil to air out before storing it - especially if you've been wearing perfume or hairspray. Both can affect the fabric over time if sealed in while still fresh.
Store your veil in a breathable garment bag or acid-free tissue paper, not a plastic bag or box. Plastic traps moisture and can cause yellowing and mildew. Fold the veil loosely if needed, or store it flat.
If you want to preserve it long-term alongside your dress, a professional bridal preservation service is the most reliable option. They'll clean, treat, and seal both pieces in archival-quality packaging.
The Short List
What to avoid entirely
A short list of things that will damage a tulle veil:
- Perfume or hairspray sprayed directly onto the veil (spray these first, then let them dry before putting the veil on)
- Sitting or pressing the veil against rough or heavily beaded fabric for extended periods
- Storing it near a heat source
- Any attempt to machine wash or hand wash at home
Take care of it, and it will photograph beautifully for as long as you keep it.
Try Them On at TEMPÊTE Vancouver
Every veil in our collection is made in-house in Vancouver, and our showroom appointments are designed specifically to help you figure out exactly what works for your look.
Browse our full veil collection online or book an appointment at our Vancouver showroom to try them on in person.
New Collection
Wedding Veils
Made in Canada
Crafted in small batches
in Vancouver, BC.