This doesn’t seem like the kind of question that could cause a bride that much grief. Obviously, Cinderella wore a fussy updo with her full-skirted ballgown-style wedding dress. How hard can it be?
But then you realize you don’t want a huge fluffy Cinderella gown. And worse yet, you get: INPUT. The fiancé is almost always going to vote for wearing your hair down, and although this is your special day together, you’re going to have to take his wishes with a grain of salt, because when you’re creating the flawless ensemble with that one special gown and the perfect headpiece and veil to top it off, you’re going to need the right hairstyle to make everything come together. And when it all works seamlessly and he lays eyes on the whole package, there’s no way it’s going to be wrong–especially if he sees you with your hair down most of the time anyway. Most grooms love to be pleasantly surprised on their wedding day.
Finger waves–this bombshell retro look for long hair worn down is both ladylike and sexy at the same time. This is ideal for today’s closer-to-the body gowns. This is also the ideal hairstyle for tucking one beautiful blossom above an ear (choose silk to keep your body heat from wilting it.) The flower can be bridal ivory or white, or a color to coordinate with your bridesmaids’ gowns and florals, or to provide a counterpoint to all that white in your dress. This is also a lovely style if you’re wearing a mantilla-style veil that just lays lightly over the hair rather being fluffy. Not every stylist knows how to create finger waves (or a finger-waved look) that will last through the reception, so call around–and be sure to have a trial-run to make sure it’s the style for you, and that you’re comfortable that it has the staying power to last for the whole celebration.
For the Grecian-goddess style gowns that are also very in, a swirling, ornate updo is the perfect touch, perhaps with a simple “crown” of dainty silk ivy and Stephanotis, or with ribbon interwoven among the curls. Short hair can mimic an updo with a high arrangement of large curls at the crown, giving the impression of long hair pulled up and arranged.
Ringlets that really stay for the duration of the ceremony–done with flatirons that are technically made to straighten hair! This is great for the no-frills bride who favors a natural look in her makeup and usually wears her hair down or pulled back, but has chosen a formal wedding gown in a minimalistic A-line style. It’s different from her everyday look (and VERY “girlie”), and is still “down”–but it looks “styled” enough to be a change from her everyday look and complement the wedding gown–while contrasting with and takes the sharp edge off the simplicity of the style.
However, to accentuate the minimalist look, pull the hair back into a ballerina-style chignon. Since this stark look is not flattering to every face, and teasing has recently been welcomed back from the 60’s, the same general look can be achieved in a softer way by teasing in some well-smoothed-over height from the forehead through the crown area.
Birdcage veils have a retro look, and are fabulous with a retro-but-timeless French roll, or a sleek bob (à la Victoria Beckham) that harks from the 1920’s and is back in style today. This is a fairly bold, fashion-forward look that complements long, close-fitting, simple gowns with little ornamentation–perhaps plain, beautifully-draping satin as in the 1930’s; a dressy wedding suit for City Hall or a second wedding; or a 50’s-style informal gown with a wide boat neck, three-quarter sleeves, just below the knee or the slightly longer waltz length.
Maternity wedding gown? Even this has been thought of, with a hairdo so special and attention-getting that draws the eye away from a sometimes less-than-flattering “bay window” up front. Every bride wants to feel beautiful, and while pregnancy is a beautiful thing, sometimes that belly bump is not the accessory we’d always dreamed of for our wedding day. A professional hairstylist and contributor here on this Factoidz site generously shares her “recipe” for a complex updo so special, it’s (literally) designed to draw the eye, in addition to some facts about pregnancy and hair that not every bride knows–and why she should put her hair in the hands of a professional on her Big Day: factoidz.com/wedding-hairstyle-ideas-for-pregnant-bride-or-bridemaid/.
These ideas deal strictly with the idea of “what hair for what dress?” and don’t take into account different body styles that may impact what is most flattering to each person’s total look. If you’re happy and self-confident in your combination of dress, hairstyle and veil, then you’ll know you’ve made the right choice.
