The Sisterhood of a Beautiful Wedding Veil
One of my brides, Christina Benvenuti, recently sent me some photos of her sister wearing her veil for her December wedding in New Jersey. I thought this would make a beautiful Instagram post, but then I found out her brother’s fiancée wore it too for her wedding day. It made me wonder how common sharing or borrowing a wedding veil is.
“I borrowed my sister’s veil. I was thrilled to wear it. It was my “something borrowed.” I don’t remember if it was common, but it was important to me to wear something from the family. My sister designed and made my wedding dress for me—all lace. It was an act of love. The veil was another gift from her.”
Eve married in 1988, wearing her sister’s wedding veil.
The Family Wedding Veil
Wedding Photography by Maggie Yurachek
GOWN / Pronovias VENUE / The Bernards Inn WEDDING VEIL / Headpiece.com BEAUTY / J. Walker FLORIST / Carousel of Flowers
Christina chose our Brittany style veil, with a modification to the pattern at the hem. Her fabric choice was a soft and supple imported luxury net.
“Christina married in December 2018. She and her sister Teresa went to school with my daughters. I was honored that she came to me to design her bridal veil. Christina was ahead of fashion trends, choosing a minimalist gown with classic lines.”
Christina, getting ready on her wedding day with her maid of honor and sister, Teresa.
“I loved that my veil was timeless, classic, graceful, elegant, and made with so much love and attention to detail. I did not intend to share my veil with Teresa initially, but the minute she saw it, she decided that she was going to wear it as well.”
This beautiful, classic wedding veil continued to celebrate two more family weddings in five years. I asked Christina why it was so loved.
“I think it was sentimentality, but the design was also so perfect and worked for all three of us. It would be hard to find a veil that could match the one that you made.”
The Borrowed Wedding Veil
Wedding Photography by Through Victoria Lens
VENUE / Riverwood Mansion WEDDING VEIL / Headpiece.com BEAUTY / One 10 Beauty FLORIST / The Enchanted Florist
Christina’s brother, Michael, married Shannon in 2022, and she offered her wedding veil to her sister-in-law-to-be.
“When I picked my dress, we realized that Christina’s veil would fit perfectly with it.”
“I liked the length and the simplicity of Christina’s veil. It is so classy and elegant.”
Wearing My Sister’s Wedding Veil
Wedding Photography by Maggie Yurachek
GOWN / Pronovias VENUE / The Madison Hotel VEIL / Headpiece.com HAIR / JC Hair MUA / Beauty on Location FLOWERS / Conroy’s Florist
“My mom was thrilled that my “something borrowed” would be the wedding veil.”
Bride, Teresa, with sister and matron of honor, Christina, and mother, Eve.
“I absolutely loved how Christina’s veil looked at her wedding, and she so kindly offered it for me to borrow. When I tried it on with my dress, it was a perfect match for my dress as well.”
Teresa married five years later, almost to the day of her sister Christina. Her bridesmaids also wore a festive red to align with the Christmas season.
“I loved how elegant and sophisticated the veil was and how perfectly it would catch the wind in photos.”
The veil I designed for Christina gracefully made its way down the aisle to celebrate love again…and again. However, as a designer and restorer of vintage veils, I can only imagine the possibility of damage to the veil while it was borrowed. I wondered how Christina felt and if her borrowers were worried.
“I knew both of them were going to take care of it. Plus, it was special to be able to share that with both of them. I would much rather see them become the most beautiful bride on their special day than to have the veil only be worn once.”
“After each wedding, it was cleaned and pressed by a specialist and then kept in a box in a dark closet. When it came out of the box each time, it was almost as good as new. I loved that it was enjoyed three separate times at three of the best weddings I’ve been to! Right now, it is back in the box in the closet, waiting for the next opportunity to be enjoyed.”
“Your veil was beautiful, simple, elegant, classic, and expertly made with a perfect finished edge. It also carried an extra level of magic/significance in that a friend’s mother created a special veil specifically for Christina. The veil looked exquisite on each daughter. Yet it also looked unique on each one, as each daughter had a different and magnificent gown. The shared veil was a symbol of family and love, and I was thrilled that they all wore it. It reminded me of sharing my sister’s veil.”
Christina, Teresa, Eve, and Shannon.
See you next month on the Fourteenth