Why does a bride wear a veil?
A veil means wedding; the two just go together. When you see someone with a veil, it means they are getting married. No questions asked, but why is this simple, sheer garment of clothing so important on your wedding day but unacceptable to wear on any other day? It is simply one of those wedding traditions we never think twice about; it’s just what we do.
This history of the veil has a twofold meaning and purpose. It was originally used as a deterrent to evil spirits. It was a common belief that the bride was vulnerable to evil spirits and enchantments, and the veil emerged as a way to protect her from them.
In addition to that, during the time of arranged marriages the veil hid the bride’s face from the groom, whom she had never met. This was used to make the groom wait just a little bit longer incase he didn’t like what he saw. By the time the veil was removed it would be too late to turn back and bring great embarrassment on both families.
As the veil become more and more common, it also became a symbol of humility and respect in many religious cultures, and in Victorian culture, the weight, length and quality of a bride’s veil became a symbol of status.
Today, the veil has remained a substantial part of weddings as the finishing touch, making the woman look and feel like a bride. Although some brides do choose to forego the veil, it is more common that the bride still wears a veil to some extent. Popular styles and trends have emerged that allow brides to use it as an embellishment that still fits their style.
Sources include MentalFloss.com and People.HowStuffWorks.com.
