Hair for Bridal Occasions

The church is booked, the reception hall is reserved, florists, caterers, and a band are all on retainer, and the invitations have been sent out with responses coming in daily. Amidst all the preparations and planning involved in a wedding, the last thing you want is one more thing to be concerned about. However, sooner or later (usually later, when there's more pressure on making the decision), the topic will come up. It's best to think about it in advance and be prepared.

I'm talking about hairstyles for the bridal party. Often, this topic gets considered lightly during the planning stages, usually when trying on and selecting wedding and bridesmaids' dresses. Typically, the bride will have a general idea of what she wants, perhaps choosing a salon or stylist to 'do the bridal party's hair' on the day and leaving it at that. After making that decision, she usually puts the subject at the bottom of her 'to-do' list.

But there are factors to consider when selecting hairstyles for a bridal party. Your bridesmaids will likely be wearing the same dress, or at least very similar ones, and you wouldn't want drastically different hairstyles to detract attention from the bride or disrupt the overall aesthetic. By taking some extra time to discuss hairstyles with your bridal party and plan them out beforehand, you can mitigate the risk of disappointment with the results on the big day.

Here are some tips:

Start Wedding Hair Consultation Early:

If you're planning to have a stylist create the looks for you and your bridal party, arrange for them to meet with you and your bridesmaids as soon as possible. Invite them to your bridal showers so they can sit and discuss the desired styles with you and the bridesmaids. Generally, morning and afternoon weddings call for slightly more casual hairstyles, such as wearing hair down or in a half-up style, while evening weddings typically require more formal and sophisticated up-dos.

Additionally, it's important to discuss the current hairstyles and any planned hair services that will take place before the wedding, such as perms or coloring, for both you and your bridesmaids. If your wedding is more than six months away and you or a bridesmaid plan to grow your hair, keep in mind that significant changes in hair length can occur within six months, with potential growth of up to 3 inches. This growth can provide more styling options depending on the current length of your hair.

On the contrary, if you've envisioned all your bridesmaids sporting simple French twist updos, it could be quite surprising if, a week before the wedding, one of them shows up with a newly-cut ear-length bob or a super-short, razor-cut gamine style. Ensure that everyone understands your vision for the hairstyles, or at the very least, have a clear understanding of what each person plans to do with their hair.

A great idea is to plan a 'Girls' Night' during the week before the wedding. Gather your bridesmaids, invite your stylist, and solidify a plan for the hairstyles. You can enjoy some food and drinks, watch your favorite movies, and pamper yourselves with manicures, pedicures, and facials. Your stylist can then work with each person individually to create their hairstyle for the big day, and take photos to document the looks.

This approach ensures there are no surprises on the wedding day and gives your stylist an opportunity to provide instructions on hair care leading up to the event. Plus, it's a fun way to bond and makes for a great alternative to traditional bachelorette parties for those who prefer a more relaxed atmosphere over clubbing and wild parties.

Of course, you shouldn't expect your stylist to do all the extra work for free, but the added cost will more than pay for itself on the wedding day when everything goes much more smoothly. It's well worth spending a little extra money to have much less stress. Most stylists even offer package deals, which can save you money compared to the à la carte pricing for the same services in the salon.

We all know that the most important person at any wedding is the bride. After all, it's HER day. This should also be kept in mind when deciding on hairstyles for the bridal party. The bride's hairstyle should be the most intricate style of anyone in the wedding party. If the bride opts for a very simple hairstyle, such as a sleek and smooth bun at the nape of the neck, then her bridesmaids' hairstyles should not be more elaborate. In the case of a very simple bride's hairstyle, it would be acceptable for the bridesmaids to have the same style, but any accessories they wear should be smaller and more subdued than the bride's.

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