Do brides walk down the aisle with veil over face?

Historically, a bride might walk with the veil down and have it lifted by her father or partner at the altar. This gesture is still popular in some religious ceremonies and in more traditional weddings. In other cases, the veil is kept up or pinned back from the start.

For civil ceremonies in a register office or approved venue, there is no set rule about when to lift the veil. Humanist ceremonies and other belief ceremonies also leave this to you. If your religious building has a tradition, ask the officiant or check with the place of worship beforehand.

Think about practical things too. A long veil can catch on your dress, your bouquet or your partner's hands. Some brides prefer to wear a shorter veil for the ceremony and then switch to a longer one for the photos. Others keep it simple and wear nothing over their face at all.