Your bridal hairstyle is really the ultimate accessory to your wedding gown. In most cases, your ’do determines the style of veil you’ll wear, and even conveys your feelings about the big day. Loose curls emanate romance, while a pristine bun or French twist allows the focus to be on your dress.
What style is best for you? Marilyn Oliveira, senior editor for WeddingChannel.com has these tips for picking the perfect wedding hairstyle.
Black-Tie Wedding: The most common hairstyle for a black-tie wedding (the most formal type of event) is the updo. The updo can range from a smooth chignon, to a complicated design of braids and curls pinned and pulled together by your stylist. In general, off the shoulders is the rule, and regal elegance is the goal.
Formal Wedding: An updo works well at a formal wedding, too; in fact, the most-wanted hairstyle for the last few years was a tight, sleek bun with side-parted bangs. However, if you’d like to let your hair down, a half-up, half-down style is a beautiful compromise. Your stylist will sweep the front section of your hair back, up, or to the side, and anchor it with a pretty accessory, while letting the rest of your hair fall loose. This style is extremely versatile and the perfect middle ground between formal and casual.
Semi-Formal Wedding: The sky’s the limit for a semi-formal wedding. If you steer toward an updo, consider one that is soft and less structured. The half-up, half-down style works well, and loose hair is perfectly acceptable. If you’re leaving your hair down, however, make sure it’s a polished look; tousled doesn’t mean messy, and straight doesn’t mean flat. Think sleek pageboy, or a riot of perfectly formed curls.
Casual Wedding: A casual wedding doesn’t require a specific style, but whatever you choose should still be polished. If you want to go with your usual style, dress it up a little with some product and a professional blow dry. If you’d like an updo, consider a structured ponytail, or a loose French twist with tendrils left loose.
Beach Wedding: A beach wedding is the perfect occasion for loose, styled hair. Hair left down can easily withstand ocean breezes, and is utterly romantic when paired with bare shoulders. A casual updo like pretty curls piled on top of your head can work well sea side, too, but stay away from anything super structured.
