6 Days to Go: Rachel’s Getting Married!!

Oct 10, 2012 | 53 Comments

So to start off with the title of today’s post, my gal pal Rachel is getting married. Yep, this Sunday is her big day and after a sweet request of veil making, I took to the tulle and prepared my friend the head piece for which she’ll go down the aisle a Miss and return a Mrs.

We did some testing a few weeks ago and I got the aesthetic she was going for…

Testing Day!

…and now the piece is totally complete and I did it all with just a few easy ingredients:

1. Goody Headbands

Goody Headbands!

2. Pearl Beads & Wire

New Dress A Day - DIY - Wedding Veil - Pearls and Wire

Pearl Beads & Wire

3. Krylon Paint Pen & Paper Flowers

New Dress A Day - DIY - Wedding Veil - Krylon Pen & Flowers

Krylon Paint Pen & Paper Flowers

4. Tulle

Tulle!

Oh, and before we get to the veil making, here’s a portion of Rachel’s dress close up – a pretty champagne/ivory/lace blend.

Rachel’s Dress Material

I wanted to bring these colors out more, so with the use of a rose gold headband I began!

I took two bunches of paper flowers and started to draw on the edges of the flowers with the paint pen. I didn’t want to completely cover them in gold, just dab the petal edges to give them a metallic-y shimmer.

Flower Painting!!

I let my flowers dry while I began to work on the tulle. During Rachel and my practice day, we measured how long we wanted the tulle to go. She asked for two layers, so I measured, gathered the ends of the tulle, rolled under once and hand stitched the edges down.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Wedding Veil - Tulle Cinching

Tulle Cinching & Hand Sewing!

I did this to both pieces, but the top layer of tulle was gathered a bit more – two inch top edge versus a three inch edge for the bottom layer. I wanted the top layer to have a bit more lift, so this is why I gathered two different edge lengths.

Two Layers of Tulle

I hand stitched the tulle to the headband using matching ivory thread and then began to attach my flowers and pearls. Because the flowers had wire stems, I just poked the stems through the tulle and twisted the ends together to keep them in place. I used the copper wire to bead/weave the pearls in place and did the same twisting trick.

Pearls & Flowers

Once everything was attached (including a few ivory and gold shimmer roses), the veil looked just like this!! I was so proud of the beaded-flower-craftiness!!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Wedding Veil - Finished Wedding Veil

DIY Wedding Veil Complete!

I tried on the finished product…

Veil Tester!

…and then the bride tried it on. We can’t show her face just yet…the element of surprise, you know! Plus we can’t have her groom accidentally checking her out before the big day!

Bride in her veil!

Oh, and then I had to hide within the veil. You know, like you do, when you’re wearing a veil and not getting married.

Where’s Marisa?

PS, for those married ones, what did your veil look like? Would love to hear! I did lots of Brides Mag/OnceWed/TheKnot/GreenWeddingShoes research to see what other ones looked like before I decided which route to go.

More pics from the wedding will come Sunday night! I’m fixing up my dress as we speak! Also, I’ve been filling out lots of bookplates too for all those who’ve pre-ordered and filled out forms on my BOOK PAGE! There’s still time to order (until 11:59pm on 10/15) and get your hands on a bookplate or other awesome goodies

Head on over – http://www.newdressaday.com/book/ – there’s still time!!!

In all · Tutorials

Erika Kane

I actually had my grandmother rework my mother’s veil into my veil. She had a relatively long veil that was, unfortunately, attached to a bad 80s floppy hat. We removed the veil, attached it to a comb and added rhinestones to the comb. It was perfect!

newdressaday

Oh my gosh, how wonderful! I love that you incorporated your mother’s veil into yours. What a special thing!

Sue

That is absolutely lovely. Terrific job as always.

Can’t wait to see more pics.

Congrats to the happy couple.
Paula

It turned out beautiful. My Mother made the bridesmaids headpieces for my wedding with pink ribbon and daisies with pink centers (it was the early 70′s). She was very talented in the seamstress area unlike me.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=41603120 Emily Haager

I just got married a few weeks ago and had no veil. I did make fabric flowers for all the tables though.

newdressaday

I love that Emily!!

Ali

Very pretty, with lots of great details! I love that you tied in the gold into the flowers, so it all really works together.
My veil was simple, I scored it off of ebay for like $15. It was hip length, two tiers, ribbon edged. I wanted a more neutral veil so that it could let my dress be the attention grabber. It was attached to a comb – easy on, and easy off without messing up the hairdo.
Now that I’m looking at a round 2 of marriage, I’m not going to play it safe, but go all out, be dramatic, flashy, and me. I’m thinking long cathedral veil with scalloped lace edging!

newdressaday

Do it Ali! Flashy and fabulous

Amanda Davis

*LOVE* this so much, it turned out so pretty! You are such a great friend! I, myself, did not wear a veil on my wedding day ~ I have a really small head & very thin hair & things like hats and veils and such just don’t look or feel right on me. I didn’t want to be uncomfortable all day. So, instead, I had a “veil” of hair extensions and finally had the big fluffy wavy hair I have always wanted, lol…and 3 live stephanotis (sp???) flowers pinned into my curls ~ it looked pretty…I was happy with it. We just celebrated our 5 yr anniversary, so I guess the hubby liked it too

on another note, SO HAPPY your book deal goes until midnight on Monday…gotta wait for the $$$ to come, lol
http://foryourtastebudsonly.blogspot.com/ Roxanne

I am getting married in May and have a tiara from my mom. I guess I can make the veil myself? You make it look easy enough and I have the hardest part “finished” already! LOL
Jasanna

So pretty!! I love it! I wore a veil. I actually got it at a thrift store and upcycled it!

newdressaday

Way to go!!! Would love to see it Jasanna!

Rebecca

I made my own veil (and dress!). It was a birdcage veil made from French netting. My pearl-and-wire job was not nearly as good as your though!
http://twitter.com/jodywallace Jody Wallace

I made my own veil too, but it wasn’t anywhere near that fancy! Silk flowers and netting. My kids play with it now, as a fairy crown.
Emily

My veil was about hip length with pearls through out. My sister actually wore it for her wedding as well last year. I hope sister number 3 will wear it as well!!
Diana

One of the BIG secrets of the wedding industry is how CHEAPLY you can get gorgeous results for a veil. I, too, made my veil, actually re-made it from a veil that had been used previously.. gathered it to a Juliet cap frame, recovered the frame with excess fabric from my dress, used trim and pearls from the dress, and voila! Great job!
http://smiletexysmile.blogspot.com/ Texy

I wore a gorgeous lace mantilla instead of a veil for my wedding, and I loved it. You did a great job on this one!
katie

lovely! great job.

i made my own veil — it was long (chapel-length? my dress just grazed the ground, so my veil was my only train). i found ivory swiss-dot tulle and the sweetest ruffled tulle-and-lace trim, and it made me altogether SO happy — it was exactly what i wanted, and fairly inexpensive (the trim was a bit spendy), and i wouldn’t have been able to have it if i hadn’t made it myself. =)

newdressaday

That sounds gorgeous Katie! I LOVE swiss-dot tulle!!

Texasgal

I wore a hat for my wedding in 2004. My mom and I found a vintage, probably 30s/40s hat that fit very close to my head. It was covered in purple velvet (actually very pretty). We bought some satin that matched my dress (it was my mom’s dress that a seamstress updated so I could wear it) and recovered the hat. I wanted to add some netting for a very short, birdcage veil, but we just couldn’t get it to work right, so I just wore the hat. A little nontraditional, but I really liked it and enjoy looking back at the pictures.
Lauraly

I would love to see a picture of the bride wearing the veil and the dress together. Looks beautiful.
I got married in 1977 and did not wear a veil, I had like a baby’s breath wreat in my hair.

newdressaday

You totally will! Pics from the wedding will be posted on Monday!

Tanya Chamberlain

Beautiful job! I wore a mantilla style veil as a tribute to my moms family.
Wom Mom Ethne

This is so awesome. I wore a cathedral length diamond white veil with a blusher for my dad to flip over at the front of the church. I had a small crystal and pearl tiara too. I might not do such a long veil anymore, but it was pretty romantic at the time.
Sarah_H.

This is a lovely veil! For my first marriage (1964) I wore a long lace mantilla that went over a raised comb in front. I made my wedding gown, a long princess cut with bell sleeves and 12″ wide lace all around the hem. For the second marriage in ’99 I wore big Texas hair and a red dress. And no, I do not still wear big hair, but it was in then. And yes, I made the red dress too, and we have kicked up our heels and had a good time for the last 13 years.

newdressaday

Wow, sounds amazing! Big hair and red dress, woo hoo!

http://www.facebook.com/michelleblanz Michelle Blondin Blanz

This is beautiful! I wish I had thought to make my own veil for my wedding. It was my “something borrowed” instead. I opted not to spend the money on one. My best friend let me use hers, which was really special, my only regret being that I don’t have one now. I had a gold leaf headband that I wore as a tiara (reminiscent of LOTR).
El

Lovely! But a word of advice from someone who has made multiple wedding veils: when using a headband, try to have the bride wear it around the house for a couple of hours in hair that is the same or very close to the Wedding Hair. Feel if the pressure points on that headband are going to start becoming uncomfortable. If that is happening, it can cause pain and headaches on the big day. You can alleviate this by making a simple fabric sleeve with some soft batting or cotton inside, to slip over the ends. This can be hidden in the hair style.

newdressaday

So funny because when she tried it on, she said that it was loose, but not in a bad way! It wasn’t adding any pressure which was good – the Goody band I used was just a super thin one which probably helped! Thanks for the advice!

El

Good! Best to know beforehand.

Jenn

Pretty! My mom made my veil. Since my grandmother had made my dress, there was left over lace, so my mom cut appliqués out from the lace and placed them in a pattern around the edge of the bottom length of the the veil and then she placed crystals in a pattern on the top layer. Mine was done on a clip so the clip was crystaled as well. It was extremely beautiful.

newdressaday

Oh, so beautiful!!

Ælla

I’m loving the retro Jump Rope for Heart T shirt!
Katie

Gorgeous! My grandma made mine – 2 layers, tuelle, satin trim. It was beautiful!

newdressaday

Ooh, satin trim…super pretty!

kissem37

You did such a great job! I didn’t wear a veil on my wedding- we got married on the beach in St Croix and I did my hair in a retro pin curl style with fresh frangipani flowers tucked in- they smelled amazing! My dress was a handmade fifties style sundress by an etsy designer and my hubs wore swim trunks and a white linen button down- I love looking at the pics from that day <3

newdressaday

St. Croix? That sounds amazing, especially with the flowers! Email me a photo – your wedding sounds like my dream!!

Melanie

meh…
champagneforyourbrain

My veil was purchased off of eBay – an old 1920s era veil with a lace cap, faux orange blossom flowers near the ears, and a long train. Since it was old (and the tulle was torn in a couple places), the bridal cleaning/restoration shop (that was cleaning my Grandmother’s 1935 wedding dress for me) cleaned the cap and replaced the tulle. Unfortunately I got divorced 4 years later but my wedding day was pretty awesome.
livinca

This is great! I just got engaged and this is giving me a fun idea of how to be crafty and add my own style to the wedding

newdressaday

First off, congratulations! Totally get crafty – there’s something else I made for her that I’ll be posting shortly. Add your own style, girl!

Lovestosew

I stitched the extra beads that came with my wedding dress into my sholder length veil. It was two layers (one layer to cover my face while I did my walk) It stayed on my head with a comb and detached with velcro, so at dinner I could remove it with messing up my hair.
http://twitter.com/HeatherRivet Heather Rivet

I love how the gold flowers turned out!
My aunt made my veil. I knew I wanted a birdcage veil, so I asked if she would make me one. The veil was separate from a side clip made with a vintage brooch and feathers, so I would still have so I would still have something in my hair after I took off the veil. I loved it so much I wore it all night!
Nicole

I went sans veil. Instead, I opted for long white ribbons streaming down from a crown of daisies. I had a renaissance-like dress with flowy chiffon sleeves. loved it! and I didn’t look like every other bride…

newdressaday

That sounds heavenly Nicole! Your whole look is like a Juliet-esque dream!

aquinnah

I love all these stories of home-made weddings! I made (both) of my wedding dress(es). I had a traditional veil the first time (boring), and a comb with fresh flowers the second time (stunning). So far, marriage #2 has lasted 22 years! So far so good.

newdressaday

Wow, you did?? Would love to see photos!!

Adriana M.

I just got married this past weekend, congrats to the bride and what a beautiful veil! My veil was a simple white cathedral tulle veil for the church and a shorter one for the reception because I wanted to wear a veil all night long. I also made my hair clip which had a rhinestone brooch and feathers on it.
Valerie

I just have to add mine. For my 1st wedding, I had a ribbon-rose wreath with a gigantic tulle bow on the back. Eh, I was 19. It was cute. My 2nd time around I went sans veil again, instead opting for a pair of antique cloisonné combs that matched by dress. Total flea market score. The whole wedding was like that. My dress was a $60 ivory silk sheath that I found at a major sale. I think my shoes were the most expensive part of the whole ensemble. LOL. Thanks for the memories
Shelly

I had my doubts, but it is gorgeous!! One of the best things you’ve done. How nice and smart to do that for your friend. Traditional veils are ridiculously expensive.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jennifer-Strickland/100000577377053 Jennifer Strickland

I look dreadful in white so I made my wedding gown lavender. I chose a silver tulle instead of a white one. I glued clear rhinestones (sparkly!) onto the tulle. I used a clear hair comb and sewed the tulle to the comb as it went under my hairdo and a tiara that was on top of my head.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=9389716 Carla Bell

No veil — we had a Shinto wedding in Japan (we met when we were English teachers over there in the mid-90s), complete with kimonos and samurai outfits! (We’re both squinting because we took our glasses off for the pictures, and we’re both blind without them.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=621219045 Christine Jones

I chose not to have a veil because I had a large statement piece for a necklace. If I did it all again though I think I would love a veil like the one you made, looked gorgeous

6 Days to Go: Rachel’s Getting Married!!

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