How to Create an Heirloom Wedding Veil by Adding Vintage Touches

Your wedding day is a celebration of love, tradition, and new beginnings. One of the most meaningful ways to honor your family’s history is by incorporating heirlooms into your bridal veil (and when it's finished, IT then becomes an heirloom)! Whether it’s a piece of lace from your grandmother’s wedding dress or a vintage brooch passed down for generations, heirloom details can add a sentimental touch to your bridal look. Here are some beautiful and creative ways to weave family history into your veil design.

Progress photos of a wedding veil being created using lace from a bride's mother's wedding dress

1. Vintage Lace from a Family Wedding Dress

If your mother, grandmother, or another family member has a preserved wedding dress, consider using a portion of the lace to embellish your veil. The photo above is one example of how this can be done. Lace from the bride's mother's wedding dress was sent to me. After laying it out on the tulle, I snapped a photo of it and sent it to the bride for approval. The options for applying a treasured relative's lace to your wedding veil are endless. You can have the lace carefully appliquéd along the edges or scattered throughout the veil for a soft, romantic look. This is a beautiful way to carry a piece of your beloved relative's love story with you down the aisle.

Incorporate a vintage brooch in your wedding veil design.

2. Vintage Brooches or Hairpieces

A vintage brooch or decorative hairpin can be a stunning addition to your veil. Secure it at the comb or attach it as a decorative accent to give your veil a unique, antique-inspired look. If the heirloom piece is delicate, work with a professional bridal designer to ensure it’s properly attached without damaging the veil or the jewelry.

Paw Prints and Initials Embroidered on a Veil

Roman Numerals Embroidered on a Veil

3. Create your "Future" Heirloom using Sentimental Embroidery

For a subtle yet sentimental touch, have your family’s initials, wedding dates, or a meaningful phrase embroidered onto the veil. This could be stitched in a delicate, barely-there thread color for a hidden detail or in a bolder hue for a statement piece. I have had brides ask me to embroider fun items such as paw prints on their wedding veil since having a cat present at a wedding can be difficult (above photo, left). The bride wanted it to look like the kitty walked across the veil. Another bride asked me to embroider her wedding date on her veil (above photo, right). The groom had the date embroidered in his suit jacket and the bride wanted to surprise him by doing the same to her wedding veil. The possibilities are endless... creativity is key!

4. Using Fabric from a Vintage Heirloom Veil

If a family member has passed down a wedding veil, you can restore and modernize it while keeping its original charm. You may choose to wear it as is, add embellishments, or combine it with a new veil for a layered effect. If the fabric is too delicate, consider cutting a small piece that can be used to wrap around the comb for a hidden yet sentimental connection.

Add pearls and crystals from a cherished relative's dress to your veil's comb.

5. Adding Pearls or Beads from Family Jewelry

If you have a string of pearls or beaded jewelry from a loved one, you can incorporate these elements into your veil’s design. Vintage pearls can be hand-sewn along the edges or scattered throughout the tulle for a classic, elegant look. I can also sew the pearls or beads to your comb. This is a great option if you want to subtly incorporate a family treasure without altering the original piece.

6. A Handwritten Message in Thread

For an ultra-personal touch, consider having a handwritten note from a loved one transformed into embroidery on your veil. Whether it’s a short love note from your partner, parent, or grandparent, or a signature from a late relative, this detail adds a deeply personal element to your bridal look.

Final Thoughts

Incorporating heirlooms into your wedding veil design is a beautiful way to honor your family’s history while making your bridal ensemble uniquely yours. Whether it’s lace, jewelry, embroidery, or sentimental fabric, these meaningful details will create a one-of-a-kind keepsake that carries love and tradition into your special day.

Would you consider incorporating a family heirloom into your wedding veil? Let me know in the comments!