When to lift the veil at Nuptial Mass?

[Augustinian82]

Hi everybody,

I was wondering when it is the right time for the bride to have her veil lifted in a Nuptial Mass? I will not have my dad walking me down the aisle, so I will be doing it alone. I have seen many people who don’t lift the veil until the groom has to kiss the bride. However, since we will receive communion during the Mass, I thought that perhaps the veil had to be lifted at some point prior to the communion. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Joannm]

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There is nothing in the Rite itself about the veil. Usually it is when the dad “gives” the bride to the groom. I have been to weddings where the bride did not put the veil over her face at all.

 

[lizaanne]

If you wish to wear a blusher veil, I would recommend lifting it when you meet your groom at the altar. You will want to be able to see what’s going on, will not want to fuss with it for Holy Communion, and don’t want it to be a big dramatic thing either.

When you reach the altar and are standing by him for the first time, hand your flowers to your made of honor, lift your veil, smile at your almost husband (don’t cry yet!!), and then get your flowers back.

Congratulations!!

~Liza

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

What Liza said.

Also- Catholic brides are never “given in marriage” but come freely of their will. Dad might walk the bride up the aisle, but he does not “give the bride away” even if it appears so. The rite actually calls for the bride and groom to process together, or with their parents, or with one parent, or just process alone. But a Catholic bride gives herself to her husband.

 

[ALLGIRLS]

Correct me if I’m wrong, because I didn’t have a nuptial mass (hubby & his family weren’t Catholic-he is now, though ), but isn’t the Marriage Rite done prior to Communion? Ours was done right after the homily, and we kissed at the very end of it (in Catholic weddings the Priest doesn’t say “I now pronounce you man and wife you may kiss the bride”, he just told us during the rehearsal that that’s when we would do it). So, unless you put the veil back down after you kiss, it would already be up for Communion. But I agree w/ Liz, lift it when you get to altar (my veil just went down my back, not over my face, so it wasn’t even and issue).

In Christ,

Ellen

 

[Phemie]

Correct me if I’m wrong, because I didn’t have a nuptial mass (hubby & his family weren’t Catholic-he is now, though ), but isn’t the Marriage Rite done prior to Communion?

Yes, it’s right after the homily whether during Mass or in a Liturgy of the Word.

 

[EasterJoy]

If you wish to wear a blusher veil, I would recommend lifting it when you meet your groom at the altar. You will want to be able to see what’s going on, will not want to fuss with it for Holy Communion, and don’t want it to be a big dramatic thing either.

When you reach the altar and are standing by him for the first time, hand your flowers to your made of honor, lift your veil, smile at your almost husband (don’t cry yet!!), and then get your flowers back.

Congratulations!!

~Liza

I’d second this method.

 

[benedictgal]

Down here, both parents accompany the bride up the aisle. Sometimes, both parents will accompany the groom. When this happens, the mother lifts the brides veil and then the father takes his daughter by the hand and places her hand into her groom’s.

I have an alternative for you: Why not meet your groom at the back of the Church (right before the last pew). Have him lift up your veil and then process up to the altar together? Or, better still, have the celebrant join your hands and have your groom lift up the veil, and then process up?

It may look rather odd, but, as OutChgBurbs points out, that is how the normal rite is supposed to be.