MY OWN WEDDING DAY

Designing Your Perfect Veil

MY WEDDING VEIL TIPS

YOUR WEDDING DAY TRULY IS ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL DAYS OF YOUR LIFE.

In 2022 I finally got my own day. It gave me such a unique perspective and here are a few things I wish I'd known before.

Having made hundreds of them, I believe there are no hard and fast rules in veils.

But there are things that will really elevate your style and give you the overall look and feel you're imagining.

01

FOCUS

Your dress is such an important part of the aesthetic, so you want a veil which is complementing and not competing. It’s all about balance - if you have a heavily detailed dress, a very simple veil gets lost. Similarly a very heavily detailed veil may be too much, and too heavy.

02

DETAILING

Often petite brides worry that they are too short for a Cathedral length veil. In truth there’s no right or wrong height - it’s about proportions, detailing and balance. Heavy detailing around the face can overwhelm petite brides, whereas more delicate edging or one that starts at finger tip height, gives the lightness without detracting.

03

HAIR STYLE

Sometimes brides are surprised at how heavy veils can be, particularly if you’re going for a statement lace style. It’s so important to have a hair style that will support the veil so you can feel truly comfortable on the day.

04

JONNY GOULDSTONE PHOTOGRAPHY

CATHEDRAL LENGTH SOPHIE VEIL

THE VEILING MOMENT

LENGTH

You can’t really go too long on a veil - think royal weddings or celeb veil vibes - but you can definitely go too short. Often brides want a veil which is the same length as their train - the downside of this is your veil will sit in a heap on your train.

GOLDEN HOUR

You may think you have to have a bun or updo - which are great for veils - but the ‘hidden plait’ is a great option for wearing your hair down. It’s the most secure technique and is much better than back combing and hair spray!

We always recommend at least 20cm longer than your dress, so the veil pulls away when you walk to create the beautiful shape. If you have a veil with lots of detailing, we recommend going at least 50cm longer. You invest so much in a veil - you want the detailing to be seen and not get lost.

05

PHOTOS

Now I want to let you in on a secret - the first photo of my own wedding day was not created by the most perfectly timed gust of wind - rather, my uncle being the official 'veil fluffer'!

JONNY GOULDSTONE PHOTOGRAPHY

Let’s face it, a big plus of a dramatic veil are those windy veil shots! It’s so helpful to compile a list of 4 or 5 must-have shots so that your photos are what you have in mind. Photographers vary hugely - some are amazing at laying your veil and train out because they know it creates the best photos - others not so much. It can be a good idea to appoint an official ‘veil fluffer’ who can arrange your dress and veil for those all important shots. However heavy your veil, you can create the windy veil shot by having something throw the veil, so don’t let this put you off your dream veil.

JONNY GOULDSTONE PHOTOGRAPHY

THIS IS BY NO MEANS A COMPREHENSIVE LIST, BUT HOPEFULLY IT STARTS TO GIVE YOU IDEAS ON HOW TO REALLY GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VEIL AND BRIDAL LOOK ON YOUR SPECIAL DAY.

When you design a bespoke veil with us we go through each element to make it truly personal, special and perfect just for you.

WANT TO START YOUR JOURNEY? I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS.

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LUXURY WITH LOVE

Our Story

THE DESIGNER

Since launching the business in 2017, Sophie Raval has become recognised for her specialism in luxury bespoke wedding veils. Sophie is renowned for her ability to bring any vision to life, pairing a meticulous eye for detail with a unique design aesthetic. She loves to work hand-in-hand with her brides, balancing personality with professionalism to turn their dream veils into reality.

I BELIEVE LUXURY DOESN'T HAVE TO COME WITH A COLD PRETENTIOUSNESS. A BIG WORD FOR ME IS AUTHENTICITY, AND THAT MEANS GIVING LUXURY WITH LOVE - THE HIGHEST QUALITY VEILS WITH A HEARTFELT PERSONAL TOUCH

SOPHIE

With over 25 years of sewing experience, Sophie's passion for perfection is combined with a genuine love for the industry. Sophie started her career at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, winning a place as the very first Costume & Footwear Technician Apprentice. During her apprenticeship, she gained a wide range of expertise working with the unparalleled quality of the ROH costumes, learning from the best makers in their field.

IN AN INDUSTRY WHERE BRIDES ARE CONSTANTLY TOLD THEY NEED TO CHANGE THEMSELVES TO BE WORTHY OF A WEDDING DAY, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU - YOU DON'T.

ON YOUR BIG DAY, YOU WILL BE MOST BEAUTIFUL WHEN YOU STAY TRUE TO WHO YOU ARE. A BESPOKE VEIL IS TAILORED TO YOU, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND

SOPHIE

After completing her apprenticeship, Sophie joined a bridal boutique in London, learning couture techniques that she continues to use today. The final stepping stone before starting her business was a position making costumes at Robert Allsopp & Associates - widely recognised as one of the leading costume-prop companies in the world. She specialised as a milliner for Disney, creating over 150 intricately beaded headdresses for stage and screen around the world.

In 2017, ‘Unveiled by Sophie’ was born out of a belief that a wedding veil should be as unique and beautiful as the bride who wears it. The business later rebranded to ‘Sophie Raval’, reflecting the primacy of a deeply personal service at the heart of the company.

In the summer of 2022, Sophie married her husband Prash, in a Civil & Hindu Ceremony. A year later, he joined the company as its Chief Bridal Officer, bringing his background in the

corporate world to ensure Sophie Raval can continue to deliver a seamless experience for brides as the business grows. Like Sophie, Prash loves taking a communicative, thorough approach to ensuring brides get exactly what they dream of.

In her spare time, Sophie loves renovating her 500-year-old thatched cottage, studying silversmithing, and playing the piano. She and Prash enjoy exploring villages in the neighbouring Cotswolds, soaking up the city vibes in London’s West End, and hiking across Europe.

AS A FORMER COSTUME-MAKER FOR DISNEY AND THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, SOPHIE SPENT YEARS HONING HER CRAFT TO BRING EVEN THE MOST DETAILED AND UNIQUE CREATIVE BRIEFS TO LIFE

EVERY PIECE IS HAND CRAFTED WITH LOVE