Lifting the Veil on Royal Wedding
Fashion designers say the veil is almost as important as the wedding dress.
LONDON, March 3, 2011— -- Now that ABC News has addressed the top of a bride's attire, the tiara, next up, or perhaps down, is the veil.
Fashion designers say it's almost as important as the wedding dress.
"A veil, to me, is very important," designer Lindka Cierach said. "It's sort of the finishing touches of a very beautiful day and a very beautiful dress."
Cierach knows her veils. She designed the gown and veil for Sarah Ferguson when she married Prince Andrew in 1986.
Ferguson's veil had a dusting of sequins and a lace trim of guipure flowers. Those specific flowers bear a relation to the Ferguson family tree.
Cierach says the flowers resulted in a moving moment between Ferguson and her father before she walked down the aisle. "I think he was overwhelmed at her beauty," she said. "It was a very significant and poignant moment then."
Ferguson's veil is one in a series of splendid head pieces worn by members of the royal family.
Queen Elizabeth II wore an exquisite tulle veil in 1947 when she married Prince Philip. And, in 1981, Princess Diana famously wore a veil that was almost 24-feet long.
Elizabeth Emmanuel, who designed Diana's wedding dress, says the late princess' veil had something particular about it: it was notably British.
"Even the silk should be British, which was really difficult because we tracked down a silk farm in Londingston," Emmanuel said. "They managed to squeeze out a tiny little bit of silk, which we put in the veil."
Traditional Veil Loses Favor
There is much speculation about what Kate Middleton will wear on her head come April 29.
Perhaps she will follow the lead of Camilla Barker Bowles when she married Prince Charles in 2005, and opt for a dramatic head piece.
"There is an absolute move in this country and Europe to move away from the traditional veil," milliner Vivien Sheriff said.
Sheriff has designed a number of hats for Middleton, including the feathered fascinator she wore recently during her first royal duty appearance last week.
The hat designer has also made hats for her younger sister and maid of honor, Pippa Middleton.
Sheriff predicts that Kate Middleton will stick to tradition when going down the aisle, but perhaps jazz up things for the evening.
"They're all changing in the evening we hear," the hat designer said. "Perhaps she'll be wearing something that will be a surprise to everyone, so let's hope."