The brides who walk into a trial most nervous are often the ones who’ve read too many rules about face shapes. Here’s what actually matters in my chair: the dress neckline, how long the day is, your hair texture and how you like to see yourself. Crown height, a few face-framing pieces and some side movement help most curvy brides, but plus size wedding hairstyles don’t follow one formula. Curls, braids, sleek buns, natural texture and short cuts can all work, and below I’ve noted how I’d build each one and what to watch for.
Your Dress Order Comes Before the Hair Trial
I see brides book a hair trial before they’ve chosen a dress, then have to redo it when the neckline changes everything. Hair is planned around the dress, so the order matters.
- Choose the dress first. The neckline decides whether hair goes up, down or half up more than anything else.
- Book the trial once the dress is ordered, usually two to four months before the wedding. Bring a photo of the dress, or wear a top with a similar neckline.
- Bring the veil, headpiece and earrings if you have them. If not, take photos so we can plan placement and buy matching pins later.
- Time the trial to fit around your colour and cut, so your hair at the trial is close to how it’ll be on the day.
- If your dress has alterations that change the neckline, mention it. A dropped strap or added sleeve can change my recommendation.
Doing it in this order means the trial is a real rehearsal rather than a guess.
1. Plus Size Wedding Half Up Half Down Hair
If a bride can’t decide, half up is usually where we end up, because it suits the most dresses. Lifting the top section opens the face; the loose length keeps it soft. I secure the top with a small hidden base so the weight of curls underneath doesn’t drag it down by evening. Face-framing pieces near the cheekbones lengthen the face in photos. Veils, pearl pins and floral clips all slot into that pinned section, and it works especially well with sweetheart or off-shoulder dresses, where the neckline stays on show.
2. Plus Size Wedding Low Bun
Low buns are practical. Nothing to fall into your face, nothing to get caught in a hug, and they sit comfortably against a chair back during dinner. I give the bun texture and size so it looks full from the side, since a small, slick bun can disappear behind a fuller face in profile. Loosen the hairline before pinning and leave two curved pieces out. It shows off detailed dress backs and keeps the focus on makeup and earrings. Ask for U-pins on thick hair; bobby pins alone tend to work loose by late afternoon.
3. Plus Size Wedding High Bun
Height draws the eye up, and a high bun is the most direct way to get it. Keep it soft: a textured, slightly loosened bun looks modern, while a tight one pulls at the temples and starts to ache after a few hours. I place it on the crown rather than the very top of the head, and leave tendrils at the temples. Put the veil underneath for a clean outline. It sits well with ball gowns and strapless dresses, where the extra height balances a full skirt.
4. Plus Size Wedding Side Swept Curls
The diagonal line of side swept curls is what makes them work, carrying the eye from one temple across to the opposite shoulder. Medium to long hair is needed, either soft waves or brushed-out Hollywood curls. The side the hair is swept away from is where it fails, so I build crossed pins in a line behind that ear before bringing the curls over. A decorative comb hides the pins. One-shoulder dresses are the obvious match, with the hair falling on the open side.
5. Plus Size Wedding Soft Waves
Loose waves are for brides who simply feel wrong with their hair up. The trick is where the waves begin. I start bending the hair below the cheekbones, so the widest part of the face isn’t framed by the widest part of the hair. Root volume keeps the top from sitting flat. A centre part looks current; a side part lifts more. Waves on hair down drop faster than curls in an updo, especially in humidity, so I set each one with a pin while it cools and only brush out right before the dress goes on.
6. Plus Size Wedding Curly Updo
Curls in an updo hold far better than smooth hair because the texture gives pins something to grip. I start with defined, fully dried curls and lift them toward the crown with large pins, leaving a few around the face on purpose. Humidity is less of a worry here, since a bit of extra frizz just blends into the texture. Detailed sleeves and embellished necklines sit well under it. The one thing I avoid is smoothing the front flat while the back stays curly; it looks like two different styles.
7. Plus Size Wedding Braided Updo
Braiding gives an updo a frame to hang everything else on. A braid across the crown adds height, one wrapped into a low bun adds detail, a side braid softens one half of the face. I pancake the braids, pulling the edges out gently, so they look full rather than tight and flat; tight braids on a fuller face can look severe. This is a good option if you want texture without hair on your shoulders all day. Tiny flowers or pearl pins tuck straight into the braid.
8. Plus Size Wedding Natural Hair Updo
Coils, curls, twist-outs, braid-outs and locs can all be shaped into an updo, and each needs its own approach. With coily hair, moisture is the base of everything, because dry hair breaks and frizzes once it’s handled for an hour. I’d use the products that already work at home rather than trying something new in the last month. A lifted crown or pinned curls on top give height without pulling the edges tight, which also protects the hairline. Gold pins or pearls add polish, and the open neckline shows off statement jewelry.
9. Plus Size Wedding Short Hair
Short hair needs direction to look bridal. A polished bob, soft pixie, curled lob or waved short cut each work when the roots are lifted and the ends are given a clear bend. A deep side part adds lift. Short hair actually balances a high neckline or a dress with dramatic shoulders well, because nothing competes with the structure. A mini comb, a slim headband or a birdcage veil makes it ceremony-ready. Get the cut refreshed about two weeks before so the shape is crisp but not just-cut.
10. Plus Size Wedding Sleek Ponytail
A sleek ponytail looks simple and is quite technical. Height changes the effect: mid or high lifts the face, low reads more refined. I smooth with a boar bristle brush and a little cream, secure with an elastic, then wrap a strand to hide it. To avoid a harsh hairline, I brush the front back softly rather than slicking it tight. It needs length and some density, so extensions are often added. A minimalist gown and bold earrings suit it; heavy beading around the neck can compete with the clean line.
11. Plus Size Wedding Hollywood Waves
Hollywood waves have a pattern of ridges that only forms if the curls are all set in the same direction and brushed out together. I sweep them to one side with a deep part, which lifts the crown and lengthens the face. The top should be smooth but not flat against the head. Let the waves start below the cheekbones. They pair especially well with strapless gowns, satin and vintage-style veils. A crystal clip at the pinned side is classic. This style needs a skilled set; done in a hurry, it falls into loose curls within hours.
12. Plus Size Wedding Messy Bun
A bridal messy bun is a careful construction. Every loose piece is placed. I texturise the hair with spray, gather it loosely, then pin it in sections, pulling out pieces at the temples, cheeks and collarbone to frame the face. Built with lift at the crown, it gives curvy brides height and softness at once. Low feels classic, mid-height feels more current. It belongs at a garden wedding with lace and a soft veil, and it forgives the wind better than a polished style.
13. Plus Size Wedding Long Hair Curls
Long curls give the fullest look, and they need the strongest set. I curl small sections, pin each one to cool, and leave them pinned while makeup is finished. Build volume at the crown and keep the width away from the cheeks; face-framing layers help the curls fall vertically. Long curls show through a sheer veil beautifully in photos. Without a proper set, though, heavy long hair straightens out by the reception, so I’d always choose a firmer hold here than you might use day to day.
14. Plus Size Wedding Shoulder Length Hair
Shoulder length is the most adaptable length I work with. It’s long enough to pin, short enough to curl quickly. A soft curled lob gives movement at the collarbone. A half up style with a lifted crown adds height. A tucked low bun or twisted back style makes it formal, though it needs a few hidden pins to catch the shorter layers at the nape. Accessories carry more weight at this length, so a pearl comb or a slim headband often finishes the look.
15. Plus Size Wedding Veil Hairstyle
The veil should support the hairstyle, not flatten it. Tucked under a bun, the veil shows off the hair and keeps the top lifted. Placed at the crown, it adds volume and drama for the walk down the aisle, but a heavy veil there will press the crown flat over the afternoon, which is why I often add a little back-brushing under the comb. Low buns, half up styles, waves and textured updos all hold a veil well. Bring the actual veil to your trial, not a sample. Weight and length change everything about placement.
Heat, Sweat and Hold Over a Long Day
Every bride gets warm on her wedding day. Layers of fabric, lights, dancing, adrenaline. Hair shows that heat in predictable places, and planning for it is part of building the style.
The nape is the first place a low bun loosens, because sweat softens hairspray and pins slip. I set low buns with U-pins pushed in against the direction of pull, and spray the nape area last. The hairline is next. Edge control and gel can turn tacky and dull in humid heat, so I use less there than you might expect and seal it with a light spray. Hair worn down will drop most at the back where it lies against warm skin.
Put together a small kit for a bridesmaid to carry:
- Six to eight pins that match your hair colour, plus two U-pins
- A travel hairspray with flexible hold
- Blotting papers for the hairline
- A small fine-tooth comb for smoothing the front
A two-minute fix before the first dance usually keeps everything looking as it did at the ceremony.
Ask How It Will Feel at Midnight
The right style is one you can stop thinking about once the photos start. Face shape matters less than people expect; your texture, your neckline, your veil, the weather and how long you’ll be on your feet matter more. Soft height, volume placed carefully, a couple of face-framing pieces and texture that suits your hair will flatter almost any bride. Low bun, half up, Hollywood waves, natural updo, sleek pony or short: book a trial, bring photos you like of yourself, and wear the style for a few hours before you decide.
You'll Like These Ideas:
Leave a Reply