How much did you pay for your veil?

[rumandbiscuits]

Just curious as to how much people paid for their veil and where they got it from?
I went for my dress fitting tonight and was quoted £140 for one which I thought was ridiculous! I have been looking online and they are a lot cheaper but it is always a risk buying online.

I also got mine for a few pounds from China on eBay. It looked nice and wasn't on for long.

I’m a bridal seamstress- £170 is a pretty good price if you’re getting a hem, side seam alterations and maybe cups? I charge more than that.

Veils, like anything you can get cheap ones or expensive, and if you know what you’re looking at you can tell the difference but if you’re just using it briefly, you’re not bothered about quality and you’ve got better things to spend your money on then buy a cheap one from eBay.

The expensive ones will be made with expensive soft tulle, might be individually made and finished by hand. Beading by hand takes a very long time.

Cheap ones will be mass produced with nasty cheap lace and rough/stiff feeling tulle/net. There may be really lovely cheap ones somewhere but I haven’t seen one yet.

I realise this sounds really snobby but I’m looking at these fabrics every day. Chances are though that none of your guests will be able to tell the difference and you’ll look lovely in whichever one you choose.

£40 for a cathedral veil with beautiful lace. From Facebook Marketplace.

The lady I bought it off had bought it the same way, so no idea where it originated. It's beautiful and must have cost someone a fortune.

I'd bought 2 cheapo ones on ebay (China) and they were rubbish.

@Brandaris that's actually really good to know and makes me feel a lot better about not being ripped off! I guess you work in the industry so know prices a lot more than I do. I am completely clueless so it's good to hear from a bridal seamstress!

I’m not bothering with one. Just another thing overpriced by the wedding industry.

£300 - I also was shocked at the price but it was so beautiful and suited my dress perfectly

Glad it helped, I just get sad when people think we are ripping them off and making a fortune for nowt. I charge around £200ish for most brides alterations and despite being fully booked for most of this year and getting bookings for 2021 already I know I won’t have a nice Christmas as I’ll struggle to make ends meet out of season.

Anyway back to veils.
There’s a difference between mass production of veils in somewhere with low wages and companies cutting costs of fabrics to make more profits, and hand made in the uk by a skilled seamstress. The seamstress is like a plumber, they’ll have the cost of materials, labour, running a business, years of training to take into account, you wouldn’t expect a plumber to do several hours work, provide parts etc for cheap or you’ll get a shoddy job done. Then the bridal shop may be upping the price a bit as you would expect in any retail sales to cover their costs.

However some shops do sell mass produced veils and charge a fortune for them when they cost the shop very little. Ask who the designer is and look them up online if you’re concerned.

Go with the fabric that feels nicest to you, and looks right with your dress. If you buy online check the colours are right- most wedding dresses are various shades of ivory so a white veil glows next to them and looks a bit cheap.

I didn’t have a veil, I couldn’t justify spending so much on something I’d wear for a couple of hours!

£400, it was a chapel veil, so trailed on the floor over my dress, and it had lace handmade in the UK sewn around the edge of it.

For smaller and more plain veils I wouldn't have paid anywhere near as much, but the veil was a statement piece really.

Bought one on eBay for £15. Was horrific. Seriously. Cheap and scratchy, wouldn’t hang right. Just looked really cheap and tacky.
Ended up buying one from the same place as my dress. Cathedral length, lace scalloped edging, pearls in the lace. Looked like it was meant to go with my dress. £395. I know it’s a lot but trust me, having seen how nasty the cheap one was, I’m so glad I went with my heart. My veil was as important as my dress

Honestly I can't remember
Lost in the huge amount spent overall

Love that a thread asking ‘how much did your veil cost?’ Attracts replies of ‘I didn’t have one.’

Is this specific to veils? Imagine the same replies on other threads...

What is your dog called? ‘I don’t have one.’

Helpful! Only on mumsnet! 😂

I think the "didn't have one" replies (including myself) are questioning if one is necessary if cost is a problem. Surely, like wedding favours and matching chair covers they are an optional expense.

I had an elbow length one from eBay for under £10. Uk seller. Looked wonderful and had lots of comments on it, someone even asked afterwards where it was from for their own wedding. It came a little wrinkled so borrowed a friends clothes steamer.

I made mine. I am NOT a crafter. It’s a giant oval made of tulle, gathered wherever you like and seen to a comb. I think mine cost well under the equivalent of £10 with crystals glued on. I left the edges raw.

Not wearing one isn't an option for me really as my dress is sleeveless

Sorry OP but do you actually understand the history of this item? I don't know why women voluntarily carry out these patriarchal symbols and "traditions" without stopping to think about it!

@Dividednation I want to wear a veil as it goes well with my dress not for traditional reasons.

@Brandaris thank you for your advice I will definitely check the fabrics and ask about the designers. The ladies in the shop are lovely so I'm sure they aren't ripping me off I'm just sensitive to money atm as I'm spending so much and on things I'm not very clued up about so hearing from you has made me feel a lot better about the prices.