Wedding Belles.

Now that you’re engaged you’ll no doubt be thinking about your upcoming big day. Obviously the first thing you’ll select is THE dress, but when you’ve finally found the one, there’s another decision to make – how are you going to style your hair to complement it? There are literally thousands of different looks to choose from, but how do you know if it goes with your dress? If you need inspiration, or a little guidance then read on because we’ve picked out some blissful hair styles which will get your wedding bells a-ringing. Perhaps you’re a bridesmaid or maid of honour tasked with finding the perfect look for the squad? Maybe you’re a guest at a fancy wedding and you just want to get the look right, because let’s face it, weddings are the ideal place to meet a new beau. All those well-dressed lovelies just waiting to be met. Ding Dong. We’d better get started….

Bridal Hair

Okay, so as the bride and the star of the show you’re really going to look top notch. Your hair should complement your look rather than clash or stand out, ooze sophistication and just be completely gorgeous. You’d think after the agonising process of choosing a dress that hair would be the easy part. No way Josè. Who would’ve thought that choosing a hairstyle would influence so many decisions? No wonder you’re turning into Bridezilla.

A good starting point will be your dress so you should look to that for inspiration. Try to target a theme, are you a modern bride? Vintage inspired? Glamour-puss or classic? Ultimately you should opt for something you are comfortable with, there’s little point in choosing a funky updo if you normally wear your hair in a classic style. Just remember it’s your hair and your big day, it’s completely personal to you. The style that you choose should be just like your hubby to be – something you’re comfortable with and ultimately, you love.

Classic Elegance

If you’re a classical beauty we’d suggest a low chignon. Great for showing off low backed gowns, it’s an elegant, sophisticated style that also works well with vintage dresses. You can add fresh flowers, combs or jewelled clips for an extra twist, but we think simplicity is understatedly beautiful.

Say I do to the Up do!

There is no rule of thumb but generally, if your neckline is high an up do is your best bet. There are several ways to put your hair up, you can add pretty accessories to keep it romantic or glam it up with jewels and bling. An up-do requires some effort and if your not good at doing your own hair then maybe ask a friend, or choose a hairdresser to help you set your style for the big day. There’s nothing worse than your up-do turning into an up-don’t before the wedding photos. Add lots (and then more!) hairspray to ensure your chic hair stays in place all day.

Half Up-Half Down

Made famous by the lovely Kate Middleton when she wed Prince William in 2011, her half up half down style looked effortless, classy and beautiful.

This is a good option for thicker hair, but even if you have fine hair you can cheat and add hair extensions to get the look. It’s not too severe, especially if you are used to wearing your hair down, but it looks tidy and is a great base for veils, a tiara, hair slides or clips. Remember to backcomb at the crown for some extra height and glamour.

Braids

Perfect for wearing with simple, flowing gowns with a boho twist and great for weaving in fresh flowers, ribbons or hair gems. Think Elsa from frozen, opt for a fishtail braid for an eclectic romantic flavour. You can braid smaller sections of hair if you don’t want all of your hair away from your face, waterfall braids are perfect for finishing off curly or straight hair.

Loose

A relaxed look that is favoured by brides with longer hair that oozes romantic flair. Wearing your hair loose, in gentle curls or waves is ideal for strapless gowns or dresses with low necklines. An Alice band or tiara completes the look. Your aim for this style is to make your hair soft and touchable, without the need for lots of products. Adding hair extensions can help you achieve the length you want if your hair isn’t as long as you’d like it to be.

Bridesmaids Hair

Thankfully when you look back at photographs of a wedding it doesn’t show the blood, sweat, tears and full blown arguments that went into the wedding preparations that year. Being asked to be a bridesmaid can be a dream for some and sheer hell for others. The trick to achieving the perfect look is keeping everyone happy. Nip any cat fights or snarly looks in the bud by arranging a girlie night out to allow everyone to get to know each other. Finding a style to suit everyone is never an easy task, and be prepared for strong opinions.

The best way to start would be to have a brainstorming session EARLY on. Try to find out what your girlfriends hate and attempt to work around it. Let your bridemaids throw ideas into the pot over a glass of wine and make sure everyone is on the same page before you leave. Some people prefer the bride to select their style whereas others prefer to have an input. It’s up to you as the bride to gauge the temperature of your bridal party!

A good place to begin is with the bride’s hair. Bridesmaids should complement the bride, so keeping the looks similar will make life easier. If the bride is opting for curls, then your bridesmaids could also have curls, and connect them all using a statement hair accessory or braid. Remember that everyone will have a different hair type and length so select a style that suits most. A Good tip is to offer to pay for everyone to have their hair styled for them, most people are less likely to resent a hairstyle if they aren’t paying for it!

Wedding Guest Hair

If you’ve been invited to the wedding of the year, then you will be looking for a style that takes you from day to night whilst exuding effortless chic (and hopefully making the other female guests green with envy!).   An invitation to a wedding means you have a special responsibility to turn up looking fabulous, after all you’ll be featured in the wedding photos. Of course, you don’t want steal the bride’s thunder or anything, but you did spend a small fortune on the outfit so it would be a shame to neglect your hair.

Just as with bridal hair, you should look to your outfit for inspiration. If your neckline is high then opt for that up-do, or for lower necklines loose curls work well. You may want to add a fascinator, and with such a gorgeous range out there it would be rude not to. Simply coordinate your dress colour with your fascinator and pin into place. We like this gorgeous red fascinator by Quiz click here or this flirtatious little black number by Light In The Box, click here.

Whichever style you decide to choose for your wedding day whether you are the bride, bridesmaid or guest, we know you’ll have a day to remember. Try to make it to the church on time, but with such fabulous looking hair you’ll be forgiven if you’re fashionably late J. We’d absolutely love to see your wedding hair pics here at Bria Hair, so send some of your favourites over to info@briahair.com Meanwhile, did we hear someone say wedding cake testing…?!

info@briahair.com      www.briahair.com

Written by:  Kerry Dolan