Wedding Do's and Don’ts

Darren's Hairstyle Guide for Brides to Be

Before you say “I do,” you might want to say “I don’t” to a few questions regarding your hairstyle for the big day.

The most important thing to get a handle on is the weight of expectation that is invariably placed on all the details related to your wedding day. Every woman expects her wedding day to be a once in a lifetime event, and there is tremendous pressure to make every detail absolutely perfect. There is a penchant in many cases to make the hairstyle something dramatic and spectacular, so it will be memorable.

To add to the pressure is the fact the wedding pictures will also last forever. So, that means whatever hairstyle you choose, you will be looking at it for decades to come. Will you say, “That was a classic look,” or “What the heck was I thinking?”

Before you decide on which ‘do to do, here are some tips to prevent you from making a mistake that will be enshrined in your wedding album for the rest of your life:

• Climate — In many cases, the choices made for a wedding will sometimes have an unexpected impact on other details of the day. For instance, if the happy couple decides they’ve always dreamed of being married on the beach at low tide, they will have to take into consideration the basics of the climate. Will it be humid? If so, it’s likely the hair might frizz up. Will it be windy? If so, the hairstyle must be able to accommodate that condition. If you have a summer wedding in Florida, for instance, it will likely rain at some point. Even with an indoor wedding, you’ll have to get from the car to the church and the reception hall without getting your hair wet. The hairstyle has to be compatible with all those logistics.
• Up or Down? — One of the immutable rules of the wedding hairstyle has to do with the kind of dress chosen for the bride. Some bridal gowns have a low neck or are even off the shoulder. In those cases, it’s generally recommended to use a hairstyle in which the hair is down, draping across the shoulders. Other gowns will have a high neck, which is typically better complemented by a hairstyle in which the hair is put up above the neck. This rule is not absolute, but is typically a good guideline to follow.
• Wedding Party — If you’ve ever watched Bridezillas or any of the wedding reality TV shows, you’ll know that there is always some level of focus on ensuring the members of the wedding party don’t steal attention from the bride. Managing their hairstyles in relationship to the bride’s is an important element of the process. A good rule to follow is that if the bride’s hairstyle is up, the wedding party’s should be down. Conversely, if the bride’s hair is down, the attendant’s hair should be up. Now, that’s not to the say the entire wedding party has to have the same hairstyle. They can each have their own ‘do, as long as it fits into a category (up or down) that is opposite that of the bride’s. This will make the bride’s hair a singular look that won’t be upstaged by anyone else standing at the altar or in the wedding photos.
• Trendy or Not? — Finally, the subject of trends will almost always come up. Let’s start at the beginning — a bride’s hairstyle should reflect her personal dynamic and style. From that starting point, there are a lot of options that may include styles that are trending today. The important thing to keep in mind is whether that trend reflects a more classic, timeless style, or if it may be a style that might make you cringe a decade or so down the road. This year, however, there is good news — braids are now a big trend. Hollywood has glamorized braids in recent movies, and the braid represents a more classic look that is more likely to hold up over time. Braids can also be worn down or up, which provides a wider variety of looks for new brides.

The long and short of it — or should I say the up and down of it — is that the bridal hairstyle should not be decided on look alone. Be certain to take into consideration a wider variety of factors before deciding, and you’ll be assured that your wedding photos will be a joy to behold even when you show your grandchildren.

Yours in Style,

Darren