The Bride’s Heart

You want to tie the knot in style and you have been looking at beautiful wedding updo hairstyles to match the wonder of the moment. All brides dream of their perfect wedding day and they imagine the wedding gown, shoes, jewelry, and cake easily enough, but when it comes to that all important, face-framing hairdo and all bets are off.

While it may seem that you have the perfect bridal updo in mind at the very beginning of your wedding plans, suddenly you get nervous and begin to change your mind. Even your favorite hairstyles suddenly seem to be all wrong.
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With so many gorgeous bridal hairstyles to choose from, where does one begin when it’s time to decide?

Start With Your Gown

wedding dress and veil

Trying to find your best choice of beautiful bridal hairstyles should begin with using the type and formality of your dress as a guideline. For modern gowns or outfits, choose, simple, sleek styles, loose curls are perfect for period-piece dresses, and the formal ball gown bridal dress would go well with any elegant updo.

Consider Your Hair’s Length

long curly hair

All brides, regardless of the length of hair, have a wide variety of interesting styles to choose from. Changing the part, using bangs, and either curling or straightening, along with adding decorative embellishments are all great choices for those with shorter hair.

Medium length or longer hair will of course have a few more options, such as these popular styles:

- Bun: Resembling the style often worn by ballerinas, a bun is a simple ponytail wrapped and rewrapped around itself on the top of the head.

hair bun

- Chignon: Chignons are tight knots at the back of the head near the base of the neck and consist of either a regular ponytail or braided hair.

bridal chignon

- Updo: The term updo is used to describe any type of upswept hairstyle, which also usually features loose curls of hair framing the entire face.

wedding updo with flowers

Remember Your Headpiece

The type of headpiece you are wearing for the wedding will also dictate the type of hairstyle you should choose. If you have a veil with an elaborate headpiece, make sure your hair will fit under it and not interfere with the barrettes or bobby pins needed to keep everything in place. Decorative combs are another option, as well as wearing a tiara as opposed to the traditional veil.

long wedding hair with veil

5 Quick Bridal Hairstyle Tips

1. Never color or perm your hair right before the wedding. Make any changes to your hair about a month in advance, to allow time for mishaps to be corrected, and to give time for a more natural look to set in.

2. Two weeks before the wedding, visit your bridal salon or a trusted stylist for a trim to tidy up any split ends, and to keep hair looking its best for the big day.

3. Timing is important when getting your hair done on your wedding day. If you get it styled too early, you risk having it come loose or look different than it was supposed to. Also, remember not to have your hair pulled back too tightly, with any type of style, or you’ll more than likely end up with a headache before the evening is over.

4. If you plan on styling your own hair for your wedding, always enlist the help of a friend or family member for an extra hand if needed, as well as for the benefits of a second opinion.

5. Remember, less is sometimes more, especially when it comes to the bride’s hairstyle on her wedding day. Although you probably want something special, or even a bit different, you’ll still want to look like your real self at the wedding, so choose a glamorous style, but one that also allows you to still be recognizable.

As you make your final choice from your favourite bridal hairstyles, just remember that the hairstyle worn by the bride on her wedding day should always complement the bridal gown, and never compete with, or overshadow it in any way.

Being asked by the bride-to-be to stand along side her at the wedding is quite a special honor. Choosing the bridesmaid hairstyles is at least as important as finding the right dresses and shoes, the coordinating accessories, jewelry, and makeup.

elegant bridesmaid updo

Bridesmaid Hairstyles for Short Hair

As you would imagine, the shorter the hair, the easier and quicker it is to style. Even though hair is short, many different styles are still possible, such as curling, straightening, changing the part, or how the bangs are parted, or even put in updos for hair that’s at least three inches or so. Also, add small, matching accessories, but be sure not to have too many so that they take away from the actual hairstyle itself.

Bridesmaid Hairstyles for Medium Length Hair

two bridesmaids

Much like longer hair, medium length hair can be styled in a variety of ways. Using a large barreled curling iron or medium to large hot rollers, curl the hair to get big, tumbling curls that look soft and natural. The hair can also be pulled up toward the back of the head, while loose ringlets that are also curled can be used to daintily frame the face.

Bridesmaid Hairstyles for Long Hair

Curly hair never goes out of style, and with longer hair, the options for creating interesting hairdos are endless. Curly hair can also be left to cascade down over the shoulders, pulled into an updo, or gathered at the nape of the neck.

bridesmaid updo hairstyle

For long, straight hair, consider a chignon or French knot complemented by sparkling hair clips, barrettes, flowers, or matching headpieces for all the bridesmaids. Using a flat iron or straightening iron on hair that’s already straight will just make it look extra shiny and smooth, and also help to keep any unruly strands under control.

natural curly hair updo

All types of bridesmaid hairstyles should be finished with a hairspray that provides plenty of control, but one that isn’t heavy or tacky, weighing down the hair, and ultimately, ruining the style.

bridesmaid with long hair

5 Helpful Hints to Remember

1. If you’re the bride, although you should give direction and offer suggestions as to what you would like in regards to your bridesmaid’s hairstyles, just remember that after all, it is their hair and your maids should at least have a say about how they would like to have it styled.
2. If you’re a bridesmaid, do try to be objective about the styles the bride has suggested. Remember, it is her big day, and after that, you’re free to style your hair any way you wish! Of course, you should still make your opinion known, but be willing to compromise if need be.
3. If every bridesmaid has a different length or type of hair, the styles don’t necessarily have to be exactly the same, as long as they’re all tied in together with coordinating accessories. Even something as simple as the same colored ribbon or flower, or solitary barrette is enough to cause an air of continuity.
4. Less is always more. See that the headpieces or hair accessories do not overshadow the actual hairstyles. Besides, the more barrettes, bobby pins, and hair clips that are used, the better the chances are that at least a few of the women are going to have trouble keeping everything in place.
5. Because there are so many spectacular types of hairdos to choose from, you’ll want to make sure none of them outshine the bride on her special day. Bridesmaid hairstyles should indeed be elegant, but always complementary to the bride’s.

curly wedding hairstyle

photo credit: Gare and Kitty