Space buns get a raised eyebrow from some brides when I suggest them, then a grin when they see the trial photos. Done well, two buns read as a deliberate bridal style, not a festival leftover. What makes the difference is intent: a clean part, matched placement, secure pinning and one or two refined accents such as pearls or tiny flowers. That turns double buns into something you can wear down an aisle. They suit garden and beach weddings, courthouse outfits and relaxed receptions best, and they adapt to most hair lengths and textures. Here are fifteen versions, with what I’ve learned about making each one hold.
Why Mismatched Buns Show Up in Every Photo
With one bun, a little asymmetry passes unnoticed. With two, the camera compares them in every front-facing shot. Most of my time on space buns goes into making them match, and this is the order I work in:
- Find the true centre part using the nose and the middle of the brows, not the hair’s natural parting, which is often off to one side.
- Clip one side away completely before working the other, so no hair crosses the part.
- Mark the bun position on each side with a small elastic, measuring from the top of each ear so both sit at the same height.
- Make both buns from the same amount of hair. If one side is thinner, I add a small filler there rather than making that bun smaller.
- Check from straight ahead and from behind with a phone camera before any accessories go in.
Natural cowlicks and a heavier side are common, so expect a few adjustments. Fixing it at this stage takes minutes; fixing it after the pearls are pinned in means starting again.
1. Half Up Space Buns Wedding Hair
Half up is the gentlest way into this trend, and the one I suggest most to brides who are unsure. I split the top section into two soft buns and leave the rest in loose waves or curls, so there’s height at the crown and movement below. Strapless, square and off-shoulder necklines all suit it, since the loose length fills the bare shoulders. A smooth centre part, a lightly teased crown and tiny pearl pins around each bun dress it up. I leave two soft pieces by the face so the buns don’t look stuck on.
2. Messy Space Buns Wedding Hair
Messy is the hardest version to get right, because the line between relaxed and unfinished is thin. I prep with texture spray, pin each bun firmly, then pull it apart gently afterwards. Building the mess onto a solid base is what keeps it looking intentional at hour eight. The buns can sit high on the crown or lower toward the back. Loose pieces around the hairline soften it in photos. Outdoor weddings, boho dresses and flowing sleeves suit it, and small floral pins or pearls make it bridal.
3. Braided Space Buns Wedding Hair
Adding braids gives the double bun detail and real staying power. They can start at the front hairline, run along the part or wrap around each bun. On thick hair this is my first choice, because the braids carry the weight and keep volume under control. Bridesmaids suit it too, since it looks good from the side and back. I keep the braids slightly loose so the look stays soft, and a few curled tendrils by the face take the edge off. Strong pins go deep into each bun, angled toward the scalp.
4. Low Space Buns Wedding Hair
Dropping the buns to the nape or just behind the ears turns a playful style into something much closer to a romantic low updo. It’s the version I’d suggest for a formal wedding. The placement leaves room for a veil, a comb or delicate earrings. A centred or slightly off-centre part both work. Keep the front smooth and the buns lightly textured. One practical point: low buns press into a chair back, so I pin them a little flatter than high ones and they stay rounded through dinner.
5. Curly Space Buns Wedding Hair
Natural or styled curls give the buns a rounded shape with plenty of texture on their own, so this version needs very few accessories. The curls should be moisturised, defined and gathered gently with fingers rather than brushed flat, or you lose the pattern and get frizz. Go high for fun or lower for softness. Leave a few curls at the temples, nape or cheekbones. Curl cream, a flexible gel and pins in your hair colour do the holding. A tiny flower tucked into each bun is all the decoration it needs.
6. Sleek Space Buns Wedding Hair
The sleek version is all about shine and precision. I part sharply down the centre, smooth the hair flat to the scalp and twist it into two neat buns. Minimalist gowns, structured suits, simple veils and bold earrings all suit it. Prep with smoothing cream and finish with a light gloss spray, controlling flyaways at the hairline. Don’t scrape it too tight, though, because pulled-back sleek styles start to ache by the reception. A pair of pearl pins or metallic bridal clips softens the hard lines.
7. Space Buns With Veil Wedding Hair
Yes, you can wear a veil with space buns. The comb goes beneath the buns, between them or lower at the back of the head, so the double shape stays visible. High buns keep it playful, low buns make it more formal. Choose a lightweight veil. Heavy tulle pulls on the comb, and with two buns there’s less solid hair to anchor it into. I always test the veil at the trial, and a few pearl pins around the buns help the comb blend in.
8. Space Buns With Flowers Wedding Hair
Garden ceremonies, spring weddings and outdoor settings are where flowers make the most sense. Tuck them around each bun, along the part, or through the loose lengths of a half-up version. Small blooms keep the buns readable; a big flower on each side just looks like two corsages. Baby’s breath, mini daisies, wax flowers and spray roses all hold up well out of water. Match them to the bouquet. I secure the buns completely first, then add the flowers last with small pins or floral wire.
9. Space Buns With Pearls Wedding Hair
Pearls are the quickest way to make this style read as bridal rather than playful. Use them as pins, scattered clips, a pearl chain or tiny accents around each bun, on smooth, braided or half-up versions. Count them out evenly on each side, because a lopsided pearl pattern is very noticeable in front-on photos. With a heavily beaded dress I go for smaller pearls. With a simple dress, larger pearl pins can become the main accessory.
10. Short Hair Space Buns Wedding Hair
Short hair can manage space buns more often than people expect. The buns come out smaller but can still look full with the right prep. For bobs and shoulder-length cuts I almost always do a half-up version, leaving the lower hair softly curled. Teasing the bun sections, tiny bun fillers or a loose twist before pinning all add bulk. Shorter layers at the back are the weak point; they escape by mid-afternoon unless I set them with strong-hold spray and a few hidden pins. Pearl clips, small flowers or sparkly pins add the wedding detail.
11. Long Hair Space Buns Wedding Hair
Long hair gives you room to play: large rounded buns, flatter coiled ones, or a half-up version with the length swinging down your back. If your hair is very thick, I divide each bun into two or three sections and pin them separately. One solid coil of thick hair is heavy and loosens as it settles. Loose waves, face-framing curls and small pearls make it bridal. Finish with a flexible hairspray rather than a stiff one.
12. Wavy Space Buns Wedding Hair
Loose waves soften the double-bun look, especially when the lower half is left down. It’s a good fit for beach weddings, garden venues and bridesmaids who want something fun. Keep the buns slightly textured rather than perfectly round so they blend into the waves. A centre part keeps things balanced, and curled front pieces frame the face. Pearl pins, small crystal clips or delicate flowers add the wedding touch. At a beach, sea air will relax the waves, so I curl a little tighter than the final look we want.
13. Space Buns With Bangs Wedding Hair
Bangs and space buns together give a youthful frame that still looks polished. Curtain bangs, wispy bangs and soft bottleneck bangs all work. Style the bangs before anything else, since they set the mood for the whole look; I shape them away from the face with a round brush or a small iron. High buns lean playful, lower ones softer. Please don’t get a fresh fringe cut in the week of the wedding. It needs a couple of weeks to settle before it falls the way you expect.
14. Boho Space Buns Wedding Hair
For a free-spirited wedding look, boho space buns combine loose waves, soft braids, undone tendrils and small florals. The buns should feel lifted and airy, gently pulled apart after pinning. Lace dresses, flowing sleeves, outdoor ceremonies and natural makeup suit it. Thin braids leading into each bun, or one wrapped around the base, add detail. Keep accessories light: a few small flowers, pearl pins or a fine vine. A heavy floral crown on top of two buns makes the head look crowded.
15. Elegant Space Buns Wedding Hair
Double buns can work for a formal ceremony when the finish is refined. I place them carefully so they flatter the face and neckline, with a clean centre part, a soft shine and controlled edges. Satin gowns, simple silhouettes, pearl earrings and classic makeup pair well. Skip heavy accessories in favour of a few well-placed pins or a slim crystal comb, and leave one or two soft pieces near the cheeks. It still surprises people a little, which is half the appeal.
Will Space Buns Feel Dated in Your Album Ten Years On?
It’s a fair question, and I’d rather you ask it before the wedding than after. Space buns are clearly a style of their moment. The versions that age well are the low, smooth and half-up ones with restrained accessories, because they read as a romantic updo first and a trend second. High, very messy buns with glitter or bright clips are the ones most likely to look of their time.
I’d also be honest about settings. Under a long cathedral veil, at a very formal religious ceremony, or with a heavily structured ballgown, two buns can look out of step with everything around them.
A compromise many brides like: wear a classic style for the ceremony and switch to space buns for the reception. Converting a half-up style into two buns takes only a few minutes with pins already in place, and you get both looks in the album.
If you’re torn, look at your dress and venue photos side by side with a trial picture. When the buns look like they belong in that room, they’ll still look right years from now.
Placement Decides Whether Two Buns Read Playful or Bridal
Space buns can go playful, romantic, sleek, boho or formal, and the styling decides which. Placement, texture, accessories and the dress all play a part. High buns feel fun and young, low buns softer and more formal. Half-up versions show off length, and braids or pearls make them bridal. If you’re serious about wearing them, test them at a trial with your veil, earrings and neckline. Good pins, the right texture and a flexible spray will keep them secure from the ceremony to the last dance.
You'll Like These Ideas:
Leave a Reply