Most of these 20 styles started life on brides, but I do just as many of them on mothers, bridesmaids and guests, usually in a quieter version. So read this list two ways. If you’re the one getting married, look at how each style holds a veil and lasts the day. If you’re a guest, look at which ones you can scale down and wear without competing with the bride. I’ve added notes on both, plus what I check before I pick up a single pin.
Bride or Guest, the Same Style Reads Differently
Many of these styles cross over between bride and guest. What changes is the decoration, not the shape. A bride’s half-up gets a veil and a jewelled comb; a guest’s gets a plain clip. A bride’s low chignon has pearls; a guest’s has a single pin or nothing.
The few rules I follow when styling guests:
- No white or ivory flower crowns, tiaras or anything that sits like a veil.
- Keep accessories smaller than the bride’s. If you don’t know what she’s wearing, keep it minimal.
- Match the formality of the dress code. Finger waves and rolled updos read black-tie; messy buns and waterfall braids read daytime and garden.
- Bridesmaids should check whether the bride wants matching hair before booking anything elaborate.
1. Half-Up Half-Down Wedding Hairstyle
Half-up, half-down is the safest bet on this list for almost anyone. The top sections are pinned back off the face while waves fall below, and a small twist, braid or clip at the crown hides the pins. For a bride it holds a veil comb if I braid a small anchor underneath. For a guest, skip the sparkly clip and use a plain one in your hair colour; it reads polished without looking bridal.
2. Low Chignon Bridal Updo
A low chignon is the updo I’d pick for a black-tie wedding where I can’t be there to touch up. It sits at the nape, smooth and compact, so nothing catches on a collar or a car seat belt. I brush it in sections with a light cream so it doesn’t look stiff, then pin it with hairpins rather than bobby pins, which grip better in a rolled shape. Pearl pins or a comb dress it up; earrings carry the rest.
3. Hollywood Waves for Brides
Hollywood waves are made with a large-barrel wand, each section curled the same way, set, then brushed into one glossy pattern. They suit long and medium hair with a deep side part and a strong lip. Of everything here, this is the style that suffers most from humidity, so I only suggest it for indoor or evening weddings. Guests wearing it should know it reads quite formal and works best with an evening dress code.
4. Messy High Bun Wedding Look
A messy high bun keeps your neck cool, which is the main reason I recommend it for summer and outdoor weddings. The trick is tying a firm ponytail first and only then roughening the bun, so it looks undone but doesn’t move. Baby’s breath or greenery can be tucked in. For guests it’s a very practical choice. For brides, think about the veil: a high bun leaves the comb with only one spot to sit, right below the bun.
5. Braided Crown Wedding Hairstyle
A braided crown circles the head like a halo and keeps every strand off the face, ideal for warm weather or a lot of dancing. A thick Dutch braid gives a bolder outline; a twisted version looks lighter. Despite what you’ll read, shorter hair usually can’t complete the circle alone, so I add a braided extension at the back. Small flowers or pearls slot into the braid easily, and it fits well with woodland wedding themes.
6. Sleek Bridal Ponytail
Ponytails are underrated at weddings. A high, glossy pony looks sharp with a structured gown; a low textured one is quieter. I tie it with two elastics stacked one below the other so it stands up instead of drooping, then wrap a strand around the base to hide them. Clip-in extensions add length if you want drama. Strong features and statement earrings both suit it, and it keeps hair completely out of the way for dancing.
7. Soft Cascading Waves Bridal Hair
Soft waves worn down show off length and movement better than any updo. A centre part keeps them symmetrical; a side part leans romantic. I’ll be direct: this is less low-maintenance than it looks. Fine hair can drop flat by the speeches, so I set waves with a texturising spray and pin each curl up to cool before brushing. Floral pins or a few clips work well with it, and it suits most venues.
8. Fishtail Braid Wedding Updo
A fishtail is woven from two sections instead of three, which gives that tight herringbone texture. Drape it over one shoulder or tuck it into a low updo. I braid it slightly tighter than the final look and then pull the edges out, because loosening as you go makes it uneven. Long, thick hair suits it best; on fine hair the pattern looks sparse once pulled, so I add a clip-in weft underneath first. Small flowers or pearl pins along the braid finish it.
9. Vintage Finger Waves Wedding Style
Vintage finger waves are pressed S-shapes set close to the head, and they’re one of the few formal looks designed for short and bob-length hair. They’re made with a setting gel, a fine comb and clips while the hair is wet, then left to dry fully, so allow real time. Done well, they last all day and suit art deco themes and vintage gowns. A jewelled comb or slim headpiece sits right in the curve of a wave.
10. Twisted Updo for Brides
A twisted updo gathers sections into twists that wrap into a sculpted shape at the back. It’s more interesting than a plain bun from the side, which matters because guests at a ceremony mostly see you from behind and the side. I pin each twist into the one before it so they lock together. A few loose pieces at the face soften it, and pearl pins or small blooms can sit between twists. Medium to long hair works best.
11. Waterfall Braid Wedding Hairstyle
The waterfall braid drops strands down through the braid as you go, so it looks like hair spilling through it. It’s a half-up style that keeps the sides off the face while the rest stays down, often over loose waves. I braid it across the back with the hair slightly dirty so it grips. It’s delicate, so it isn’t the right choice for very windy outdoor venues, but in a garden it holds well with a few pins hidden underneath.
12. Sleek Low Bun Wedding Updo
A sleek low bun is minimal, so it relies on flawless prep. I blow-dry the hair dead straight, brush it back with gel or a smoothing balm, tie it, and then wrap and pin. A centre part looks symmetrical; any bump or flyaway shows. It stays put through dancing and photos, and it’s a good choice for city ceremonies and structured gowns. On a guest it can look severe in daylight, so I usually soften the hairline slightly.
13. Boho Braided Half-Up Wedding Hair
The braided half-up mixes fishtails, Dutch braids or simple plaits across the top while waves fall below. Loose, face-framing tendrils soften the edges. I braid each side, pin them where they meet at the back, and hide the join under a small flower or clip. It keeps hair manageable outdoors and works with flower crowns and greenery. For guests, a single braid on each side is enough; two or three per side starts to look bridal.
14. Curly Wedding Hairstyle Down
Natural curls worn down are the most personal style on this list. My first rule for curly brides: don’t try to reset your curls with a curling iron. I define your own pattern with a curl cream, diffuse or air-dry, and leave it alone. Pinning back the sides softens the frame. A clip, a few flowers or a headband can add detail. Humidity tends to make curls bigger, which is fine, but bring a little product for the evening.
15. Side-Swept Wedding Hairstyle
A side-swept style gathers everything over one shoulder, whether that’s curls, waves or a loose braid. I pick the side that shows the earring you care about and that faces guests during the ceremony. With asymmetrical gowns, sweep the hair towards the bare shoulder. The pins at the back of the neck must be hidden well, because they show the moment you turn. It works on long and medium hair.
16. Pearl-Accented Bridal Updo
Pearl pins or strands woven through a soft bun or twisted updo add a quiet shine. I place pearls where the light will catch them, along the edge of the bun or the line of a braid, not buried in the middle. Too many and it looks busy; I’d usually use five to nine pins. It suits formal weddings and matches pearl jewellery. For guests it’s a smart choice, since a few pearls feel dressy without echoing the bride.
17. Curtain Bangs Wedding Hairstyle
Curtain bangs frame the eyes and cheekbones and soften updos, waves and half-up styles. They suit most face shapes. My one firm warning: don’t cut them in the last two weeks before the wedding. Fresh bangs need time to settle, and you’ll want to know how they behave with your styling. I blow-dry them away from the face with a round brush so they curve outward rather than sitting flat on the forehead.
18. Floral Crown Wedding Hairstyle
A floral crown wraps fresh or dried flowers around the head over loose waves, braids or a half-up style. It suits garden, beach and woodland weddings, and matching the blooms to the bouquet ties it together. Ask your florist to wire each stem and choose sturdy flowers, because delicate petals wilt quickly away from water. I pin crowns into two small braids at the sides so they stay put. Guests should skip white crowns entirely; if you dream of an ethereal, enchanted celebration, that’s the bride’s role.
19. Sleek Straight Wedding Hair
Sleek straight hair looks simple in a photo and needs careful work in person: a thorough blow-dry, a flat iron in small sections, and a shine serum on the ends. A centre part reads editorial; a deep side part adds drama. It suits minimalist gowns and bold accessories. Very straight hair shows every frizz in humidity, so if the venue is outdoors in summer I’d consider a sleek low bun instead.
20. Rolled Vintage Updo Wedding Style
The rolled vintage updo is built from sculpted rolls at the back of the head, inspired by 1940s and 50s glamour. I set the hair in hot rollers first so it has body, then roll and pin each section over a finger. It holds for hours and keeps hair off the face, which helps in warm weather. A jewelled comb, pearls or fresh flowers dress the rolls well. It suits vintage themes and old-Hollywood gowns.
Five You Can Pin Yourself Without a Stylist
Not every guest has a stylist booked, and some brides do their own hair for a small ceremony. From this list, these are the ones I’d trust to a reasonably confident pair of hands:
- Half-up, half-down. Practise the pinning once; the waves can be as simple as a large wand.
- Messy high bun. Firm ponytail first, then loosen. Hard to get wrong.
- Low chignon with a few hairpins. Watch a tutorial for the twist and do it twice before the day.
- Ponytail with a wrapped base. The two-elastic trick does most of the work.
- Side-swept curls, pinned behind the ear with crossed bobby pins.
I’d leave finger waves, fishtails, waterfall braids and rolled updos to a professional or a practised friend. They take skill and time, and they’re the hardest to fix if something goes wrong in a hurry.
A Small Hair Kit for the Day
Whoever does your hair, put a few things in a small bag: bobby pins in your hair colour, a few hairpins, a travel hairspray, a tiny comb, a hair tie, and blotting papers for an oily hairline. Most mid-day emergencies are a slipping pin or a fallen curl, and these cover nearly all of them.
If a curl drops, don’t brush it. Twist it around a finger, pin it flat against the head for ten minutes, then release it. If an updo loosens at the back, push a hairpin in at an angle towards the base of the bun rather than straight down; it catches the hair already holding the shape and tightens it in place.
The Style You Forget You’re Wearing
Start with your outfit and the venue, then pick two or three styles that suit both. Brides should book a trial and bring the veil and accessories; guests can test a style at home a week before and take a photo of the back. From sleek chignons and Hollywood waves to boho braids and floral crowns, the right one is the style you forget you’re wearing by the time dinner is served.
You'll Like These Ideas:
Leave a Reply