Wedding Hairstyles

We all have 'bad hair days' but the last thing you'd want is for that to happen on your wedding day! Whether or not you are wearing a veil, your 'do' just has to be perfect.

Wedding hairstyles have changed so much through the decades, which gives the modern bride plenty of inspiration.

You have to feel a bit sorry for brides of the Roman Empire. They were expected to wear a pretty elaborate up-do, held in place by a bent iron spear, to ward off evil spirits. That's one style we can do without.

Modern Bridal Hairstyles

In the Middle Ages it didn't really matter what your hair looked like, as your head was all wrapped up in veils, wimples, hats and hoods. The earliest sources of inspiration for modern bridal hairstyles probably came from the Renaissance period.

The noble women of the late 1400s wore the most amazing braids and headpieces, decorated with precious gems and pearls. Just exquisite.

The up-do can be traced back to Europe's upper classes, between 1700 and 1800. Actually, up-do is a bit of an understatement. We're talking really big and tall creations studded with all manner of decorations, including feathers and fruit. Occasionally, they even added model ships!

From Bobs to Waves

From bobs in the 1920s to Finger Waves in the 30s and the Victory Roll of the 40s, wedding hairstyles went through massive changes. One thing all those variations had in common was that they were quite structured.

Whilst brides could look very glamorous sporting these styles, you have to wonder how comfortable they were to wear.

We didn't really let our hair down until the 1970s. All of a sudden bridal hairstyles were loose and cascading, decorated with flowers and much more indicative of many of the styles we see today.

Bridal Braids

The best piece of advice is to do whatever makes you feel happy. Who cares what tradition says; it's better to feel confident and comfortable with your hair on the day.

If your locks are medium to long one of the prettiest, most feminine wedding hairstyles is braids. We're not talking cornrows here - although you could if you wanted. We're talking about partial braids, like the Cascade Waterfall or Fairytale braid.

These are so gorgeous and can be dressed up with ribbons, flowers, beads and combs. The loose hair can be left straight, or softly curled.

Beach Weddings

Many brides choose to leave their hair loose and free-flowing. This is a really good look for a beach wedding. The funny thing is, achieving that 'I just got out of bed looking like this' style takes lots of work.

There is definitely a knack to making long loose hair look good, especially on a windy day.

Many brides absolutely rock short hair on their wedding day. There is still so much you can do with it when it comes to cut and colour. You can add flowers or sparkling gems, or spike it up for a chic city look.

Hair Extensions

If your plan was to grow your hair for your wedding, and it just didn't happen, don't despair. There's an easy solution and that's hair extensions. You can go from short to long in one appointment, and nobody will know the difference.

If you are planning to use hair extensions, it could be worth a trial run beforehand, just to make sure you feel comfortable with them.

The best advice for brides is to source your salon well ahead of time and go in for a chat. Professional stylists have plenty of ideas to share and can advise on what would work best for your hair type. It's worth taking a picture of your dress with you, too. While you're there, ask about the salon's hair and makeup bridal packages.