Whether you enjoy crafting or just need to shave the wedding budget, assembling your own veil will save you some money. You can also recycle a family member’s veil to suit your style. Unlike hair combs, veils attached to headbands allow you to remove the veil for the reception without harming your hairstyle. Padded headbands are easiest to work with when assembling your veil, but these add a significant amount of height. Plastic headbands can be uncomfortable, but will give you a smooth, low-profile fit.

Measure the headband from end to end. Cut a piece of nylon thread or clear fishing line twice as long.

String a clear or pearl bead onto the thread.

Place both ends of the thread through the needle.

Sew a running stitch along the upper edge of the veil no more than 1/4 inch from the edge. The bead will catch on the fabric and keep the thread in place. How large or small you make your stitches determines how gathered the veil appears.

Gather the fabric tightly along the string as you sew. Once you reach the other end, string another bead on the thread and knot it so the bead stays in place.

Place a 1/2-inch piece of double-sided tape on the outside of both earpieces of the headband.

Press one end of the gathered fabric to each earpiece of the headband.

Adjust the gathering to achieve the folds desired. If you're using a padded headband, stick a pin into the center of the headband through the fabric to hold it in place while you make adjustments. Otherwise, you hold it in place with your fingers.

Secure the fabric to the headband. Either lift the fabric carefully and lay down a line of hot glue along the headband or sew the fabric into place by looping more nylon thread or fishing line around the headband and the fabric. Both methods work equally well. If the headband is padded, you can sew through the headband instead of around it.