The guide
Veil lengths, explained with real measurements.
Veil names are not standardized. One shop's chapel is another's floor length; a 158 inch veil is sold as royal in one place and monarch in another. The inch number is the only measurement that means the same thing everywhere, so that is what we publish on every veil.
Every length below is measured from the comb, where the veil sits at the crown of your head, down to the hem.
Length, measured from the comb
How to choose in one minute
Church or cathedral ceremony: cathedral length, 118 inches. It is the length most of our brides choose, and the aisle is what it was made for.
Garden, vineyard or beach: chapel, 79 inches. Formal in photographs, forgiving on grass and sand.
City hall or a modern room: fingertip, 39 inches. Clean, architectural, out of the way at dinner.
The entrance of the year: royal at 138 to 158 inches, or monarch at 197. Bring someone to carry it; that is part of the theater.
Questions we hear
How are veil lengths measured?
From the comb at the crown of the head to the hem, in inches. A cathedral veil at 118 inches falls roughly ten feet, which is why it trails behind a standard train.
What is the most popular veil length?
Cathedral, 118 inches. In our own sales data it is the length most brides choose, across every silhouette.
What veil length should I choose for an outdoor wedding?
Chapel (79 inches) is the sweet spot outdoors: it reads formal in photographs but does not drag across grass or sand the way a cathedral length can.
Can a veil be longer than my dress train?
Yes, and it usually should be. A veil that extends past the train by a foot or more creates the layered, floating line you see in editorial photography.