Veils were not always made of tulle. They used to be made of a heavier cloth so that if any other man was in love with her he wouldn’t try to kidnap her on her wedding day, because no one could see who was under the veil.
White means purity, and also symbolizes celebration.
The tears of a bride are good luck and must be caught, hence the handkerchief. Farmers used to think that if a bride cried, there would be rain to water the crops. Also, it is said that if you cry on your wedding day, you’ll never have a reason to cry in your marriage.