Have you ever wondered if there is any meaning or significance in a wedding veil? A while ago as I was attending a wedding, I realized that many brides no longer wear veils over their face as they are walking down the aisle to get married. It’s that time of the year when many couples everywhere are making that walk down the aisle to become one but what ever happened to the veil? When I attended weddings as a child, I remember the majority of people having their faces covered right up until the point where the minister said, “You may now kiss the bride.” Then the groom would remove the veil with a huge smile on his face and go in for the kiss. Afterwards, fireworks would go off in the background and they would live happily ever after as they walked into the sunset. I know…super romantic 🙂 But seriously more recently as an adult, I could probably count on my hand the number of brides I’ve seen who still wear a veil over their face. I was curious as to why this transition happened and what wearing the veil signified in the first place.

As I was reading my Bible one night I came across the story of Isaac and Rebekah. I remember being in awe of the story of Abraham and now I was reading about his son Isaac and how he was looking for a wife suitable for him.  Abraham, old in age, decided to send his servant to find a wife for his son Isaac. The servant was given specific instructions in regards to the wife he should select for Abraham’s son. After receiving directions and sealing a promise by placing his hand under Abraham’s thigh (I know…seems a bit awkward), the servant then started out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor along with ten camels and gifts (Genesis 24:10). He eventually stops at a well right outside of the city and makes the camels get on their knees. It was evening, the time of day when women came out to the well to get water and knowing this the servant turns to God and asks for favor in selecting Isaac’s wife. The young woman who came to the well and gave the servant and the camels a drink of water was supposed to be Isaac’s wife. Rebekah passed this test with flying colors and was quickly adorned with gifts. After going to the house of Rebekah’s family, the servant received permission to take Rebekah to be Isaac’s wife and she left her family to go with Abraham’s servant. Now this is the part of the story that really caught my attention,

“Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” “He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.”  (Genesis 24:62-65)

This was the first time I realized there was something in the Bible that seems to be related to a wedding veil. And then as I began trying to piece everything together, God revealed to me the bigger picture in regards to the meaning behind everything. He showed me that the veil is more than a fashion statement. It has meaning…significance…purpose. Christ’s selfless act of dying on the cross allows us to have intimacy with God because the veil of the temple that separated us from God was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). In the same way, marriage is a selfless act and once the veil is removed from the bride’s face it symbolizes that the groom is now able to be intimate with his bride. How awesome is that! What a beautiful reminder of God’s love! I absolutely love how marriage is symbolic of Christ’s relationship with the church 🙂

Prior to God’s revelation to me about the significance of the wedding veil I thought it was just an accessory. Some wear it…Some don’t. Now, the veil has new meaning and will never be viewed the same. Who knows, maybe this blog post will encourage more women everywhere to wear wedding veils again. As we continue to gather in celebration of weddings let us be reminded of God’s love that is displayed though The Veil.