Hair for Bridal Occasions(2)
In addition, bridesmaids' hairstyles should ideally have some element of uniformity, such as the same type of up-do or accessories, although in many cases, this is not easily achieved. There is some allowable variance for the maid or matron of honor. The maid of honor's hairstyle can be slightly more elaborate than the other bridesmaids' styles but should never outshine the bride under any circumstances.
Tips for Choosing Hairstyles:
A couple of summers ago, a childhood friend got married in a lovely afternoon garden wedding. The hairstyles worn by the bride and her party are a good example of what I'm trying to describe. The bride wore her hair in a braided circlet at the crown of her head, with a cascade of spiral curls flowing from inside the circlet and wispy curls at her temples. The braid provided a secure anchor point for her tiara of pearl-beaded flowers and veil.
As you can see, the bride's style was by far the most elaborate. The maid of honor and bridesmaids all wore similar styles, with the maid of honor's style being slightly more intricate. Another point to note is that the bridesmaids' hair was all of different lengths, but all were long enough to create a French braid.
Now that we've determined the hierarchy of the hairstyle designs for the bridal party, we should address the issue of what type of style is appropriate for different wedding settings.
Nighttime/Evening weddings or Fall/Winter weddings are generally the more formal affairs. Styles for an 'after-dark' wedding or for a wedding held in the fall/winter months call for sleek and sophisticated or more elaborate hairstyles. For these occasions, an up-style is almost always called for, though an afternoon/daytime wedding in the fall/winter months would allow for wearing the hair down, especially if the wedding is outdoors.
Daytime/Afternoon weddings or Spring/Summer weddings allow for a more casual atmosphere in celebrating marriage. Many spring/summer weddings are held outdoors with a garden party atmosphere. Softer, more romantic styles suit these weddings well. Long curly falls or partial up-styles look lovely without appearing overdressed.
The mother of the bride and the groom's mother are usually honored in some special way as part of the ceremony. Many brides choose to include two single long-stemmed roses as part of the flowers they carry down the aisle and will stop briefly to gift both mothers with a rose. Aside from this gesture, neither the bride's nor the groom's mothers have any active part in the ceremony. It's important on this special occasion for the two women to look their best, but their choices of hairstyle don't need to correlate with the bridal party's.
Extra Note: Few people realize that many modern wedding ceremony traditions have long-standing historical significance. The list of these is far too long to include here, but a few are pertinent to our discussion. The act of paying homage to the mother of the bride and the future mother-in-law comes from the fact that in ages past, the only time there was a big celebration was at the wedding of noble (if not royal) individuals. These were the only people whose families could afford to throw such lavish celebrations.
The bride, often likened to a princess, would honor her mother (akin to a queen) for raising her and then extend that honor to her mother-in-law, who, in many cases, would also hold a royal-like status. Not to delve into politics, but historically, women, even those in the highest ranks like princesses, were often treated as little more than property unless they reached the pinnacle of their possible social positions (queen). In today's weddings, the bridal party represents the bride's ladies-in-waiting. These women would have been integral parts of her household, serving as both servants and companions for the princess, as her social interactions and opportunities to make friends would have been limited.
The most senior of these women would have acted as her maid of honor and traditionally would have accompanied the princess to her new life, along with one or more other bridesmaids. In modern times, brides often bestow the role of maid of honor upon a sister or cherished friend, as few women today have handmaidens or ladies-in-waiting.
This historical context sheds light on the significance of each detail in the wedding preparations and the hierarchy represented within.
See also:
Photos of updos
Wedding hair tips
How to wear flowers in your hair