Veil
A light cloth worn over a bride's head or face, with meanings of modesty, protection and the beginning of a new life.
Also: bridal veil, blusher
The bridal veil is a piece of tulle or lace worn over the head or face of a bride. In ancient Rome brides wore a flame-coloured veil, and in many Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Asian cultures the bride's face is covered until a point in the rite. The white veil became common in the West after Queen Victoria's wedding in 1840. A blusher is a short veil over the face which the groom lifts after the vows, and in some customs, such as the Ashkenazi bedeken, the groom lowers it. In Poland the removal of the veil at oczepiny marks the bride as a wife.