Wedding Day & Formal Hairstyles

Styling your hair for a wedding day is a one-off occasion that you'll want to get right.

Creating the right formal hairstyle will take some preparation and probably include a visit to your hair stylist for some professional assistance.

The bridal party are likely to be having formal styles such as an updo or half updo style .

Although the bridesmaids and matron of honor often have a very different style to their normal look, for guests and other members of the bridal party, this is probably not the time to make big changes to your hair style.  

For flower girls there's some pretty updo style to create if they have long hair, or a little wave or curl to add if their hair is short .

Feeling confident and happy is important.  If you do opt for tweaking your current image, make sure that you have a clear idea of what you want and go to your regular hairstylist who knows you hair and is used to styling it.

If possible, take pictures that you've cut out from wedding or women's magazines to show what sort of look and effect you want to create.

One really lovely idea is for the bride and bridesmaids to go to the same hair salon on the wedding morning to have their hair styled - this can be fun as well as ensuring that your looks work well together.  Just ask whether your hair stylist is OK to work for wedding parties.

A classic look is to have small flowers woven or place in the hair, and this is certainly a romantic look that will look great in your wedding photo album.

Mother of the Bride Hair Styles

The mother of the bride or groom, tend to have well groomed, often shorter hair, which may be easier to style.

Once you've chosen your dress or wedding outfit, you are in a position to put the whole outfit together.  This will include shoes or sandals, necklace and earrings, as well as the final touch - your hairstyle.

Traditional hairstyles for a wedding are softer and more feminine that hairdos for everyday. 

For longer hairstyles an appropriate look may be a half updo - a more formal style with the hair swept up, leaving a few fronds around the face. 

However, as long as it will stay in place, wearing long hair down around your shoulders is a fabulous look too.  Creating a few sculpted curls can create a softer, more feminine, look.

If you're wearing a hat, you'll need to add product or accessories to your hair to hold it in place and help it bounce back when you remove your hat at the reception. 

This can also help if it's likely to be a windy day and you don't want to have to run into the powder room every 15 minutes to check how you look.

Whatever you choose, have a practice run a fortnight or so before the actual wedding day, to check that you're happy with your whole look and haven't forgotten anything.

Have a great day!

Recommended Resources

Fashions for the Mother of the Bride - evening wear and party dress styles