Andy JonesWhen any bride dreams of her wedding day, her bridal hairstyle is one of the most essential and important features to decide. There are so many beautiful choices and many wedding hairstyles combine elements from different traditional bridal hair trends, like a simply braided up-do or side-swept curls with a ton of volume. The trends for 2018 can give you so many options for a wedding hairstyle, so choosing something beautiful and awesome means picking one or two elements in order to rock the modern bridal look.
50 Awesome Wedding Hairstyles for the Modern Bride
Bridal hair isn’t the only way to give your wedding an amazing fantasy feeling that looks like the bridal party walked straight out of the magazine. Matching a bridesmaid hairstyle to the bride’s own look with different takes on the same elements creates a theme that can carry through the entire ceremony and into the reception. This makes for plenty of picture-perfect opportunities for the photographer to use while getting all those awesome pre-wedding candid shots of the bride and her bridesmaids while they get ready.
Before your big day, take pictures with you to your stylist when you’re ready to try out the looks you’re thinking of using for your wedding day. Take pictures of how each style looks and think of how it frames your face or complements your gown. Get together with your bridesmaids to build a lookbook of your favorite wedding hairstyle elements and share ideas on which ones will photograph well or be easy and simple to wear throughout the ceremony and reception.
When the trends take everything old and make it brand new again, brides can borrow from the past and turn it up a notch by playing with volume and proportion. You can take an old-fashioned up-do and give it a twist as a pretty braid that sits off-center or blows out a simple bun so it’s an elegant nest of tendrils where a dried floral arrangement can sit. The right hair idea for a wedding showcases the mood and personality of the bride herself, so what she chooses should reflect her own style and not just a stylist’s suggestion.
1. Beautiful Side-Swept Loose French Braid
Bridal hair like this beautiful up-do leaves the neck and shoulders free for featuring the details of a gown. You can balance this shoulder length hair out with intricate jewelry or leave it bare, plus get away with dangling earrings without worrying about them getting caught. Leave a chunk of bang loose for a flat-iron wave for a delicate frame around your face.
2. Simple Double-Twist Crown And Tousled Curls
An easy but elegant way to keep a wedding hairstyle from being too heavy to wear throughout your reception and ceremony is to do a half-up look like this. Textured curls give this pretty hair idea a big wow factor while the tucked-in twists from either temple keep strands out of your face.
3. Boho Crown Pull-Through Braid With Waves
This look has everything for the bohemian bridal hairstyle: forest crown, messy braid, and chunky, loose waves. Twists at the crown of the head turn into a pull-through braid that leaves gently curling pieces free to float around your shoulders like an ethereal elf princess ready to marry her dashing prince.
4. Twist And Tuck Braids And Woven Bun
Waves tuck into a big fluffy bun that looks handwoven and lovely where it sits low on the nape of the neck. Your face will have a delicate but elegant frame with the twisting goddess braids that start at the center and curve around.
5. Long Inverted French Braid With Big Volume
Dress up an easy hairstyle like this one with a lot of texture and clean, evenly proportioned sections that you can tug out just enough to give it more volume. Curling the end around at the tail adds a quirky touch. Leave it free to hang over one shoulder or weave ribbons into it for another cute touch.
6. Basket Weave Up-do With Romantic Tendrils
All this height creates long, lean lines for your neck and shoulders. The braided sections that hold the ponytail into a voluminous bun offer the best of both worlds: elegant and fun in one cute hairstyle for women who want an up-do with a whimsical twist.
7. Dutch Braids With Ladder Criss-Cross
These off-center twin braids that twist into a bun get extra cool points with the crisscrossing ladder between them. If your wedding hairstyle needs a funky, fresh look for 2018, this is the one for you. Keeping the bun messy but tight gives it a carefree feel that can last through every dance at the reception.
8. Pretty Waves Beneath A Braided Crown
With a lace-style braid that starts at the temple and winds its way around the crown of your head, this is an easy hairstyle to wear through the ceremony and the celebrations afterward. Ringlet curls that have been brushed out for a soft romantic look complete the popular dreamy bridal style.
9. Waterfall Curls For a Mermaid Bride
Huge curls that fall from a high crown with looser waves around the face are the perfect mermaid fantasy for bridal hair that flows down the shoulders and past the waistline. A poof of volume at the bang keeps everything in proportion and looks amazing when paired with a mermaid gown’s silhouette.
10. Teased Romantic Fishtail With A Tuck
Brides who want to look like they’ve stepped out of a Renaissance painting go for wispy tendrils at the temples and tucked-up buns like this teased fishtail braid. An exotic floral headpiece completes the picture perfect fantasy of bridal bliss and romantic splendor.
11. Sweet Floral Crown And Loose Waves
An all-leaf crown is the perfect contrast to hold back bangs parted at the side that fall into the fuller, brushed curls. The way the longer tresses sweep the shoulders is a soft and elegant look that could be used for the bridesmaid hairstyle, too. Smaller headpieces of all green would look just as sweet when a bride’s crown holds all the flowers.
12. Finger-Combed Twists Wrapped Into Curly Hair Bun
Striking the perfect balance between messy and collected is a sweet spot for a cute easy hairstyle like this mid-high bun with a lot of volumes. The different twists and curls blend together into a soft focus that sits just above the nape of the neck, giving you a lot of room to show off your shoulders and bridal jewelry.
13. Easy Elegant Curls In Bejeweled Side Part
Classic elegance never goes out of style, especially when a side part and ringlet curls like this are set off with a spray of jewel flowers. A bride who chooses this hairstyle can feel confident she looks her best since it suits any wedding theme and frames the face with gorgeous and demure detail.
14. Loosely Bundled Waves With Wispy Bangs
If your hair has a lot of layers, this modern hairstyle makes the most of them by curling small sections and drawing them back into a wrapped bun that sits just below the crown of your head. If you need more volume and a fastener to keep those layers secure through the ceremony, choose a large jeweled headpiece that fits comfortably around its base.
15. Cute Zig-Zag Braided Bun And Floral Accents
A pretty hairstyle like this shows off a fun personality that knows how to dress it up for the big day. Tresses from the temple tuck under a braid that starts just behind the ears and wraps itself around into a low bun, so there’s plenty of stability for a veil or jeweled accents like these foiled leaves.
16. Loosely Plaited Bangs Swept Into Braided Bun
If you need a hairstyle for rich color or chunky highlights, this look will put it all display and offer a lot of texture and control. The chunky braid starts off-center on the bangs and tucks into the braid that holds the base of the bun, leaving plenty of smaller sections to curl into soft waves for a dreamy finish.
17. Sweet Summery Waves With A Twist
Don’t let the simplicity of this look fool you–it’s as fancy as a head full of ringlets curls or inverted braids when you pair it with the right dress and headpiece. However, it’s perfect for bridesmaid hair if you want to keep it easy and breezy, too. It’s just a cute twist of strands drawn back from the temple with the looser bangs left to mask the sides.
18. Low Cross Braid And Boho Beach Tresses
The way the tease and tuck at the top of the crown blends into the braid that crosses the back make this cute hairstyle for women with a more relaxed theme look more complicated than it really is. That’s perfect if you want to plan for a look somewhere between effortless and elegant, but keep the funky feel of a more modern hairstyle.
19. Half-Up Celtic Knot With Flowers
A knotted twist surrounded by petite flowers like baby’s breath creates a sweet and dreamy wedding hairstyle fit for a princess. The longer sections of hair can be lightly curled for a wavy look or left straight to flow down past the shoulders. This is an easy look for a bridesmaid hairstyle, too.
20. Wavy Pieces Tucked Into Low Cute Bun
Sweet, soft tendrils frame the face elegantly while the rest of the gently curled tendrils are pulled back in a cute easy hairstyle for brides or bridesmaids to wear on the big day. Bejeweled accents dress it up for a wedding hairstyle that needs some glam, or you can leave them out for a cute no-fuss look.
21. Jewel Strand Tucked Into Cross-Woven Waves
Twists that start at the temples and merge together as a criss-crossed weave take cues from a medieval hairstyle for women who want to take the historical look and give it a modern twist. A jewel strand or ribbon that laces through from top to bottom adds structure while looser waves give your style volume.
22. Simple Snug And Easy Twist To One Side
A look that borrows from the flapper era in length and keeps it a romantic and pretty hairstyle with tiny flowers and a leafy strand may be the perfect answer for bridesmaid hair or the bride herself. This silhouette and the way it frames the face is one of the best options for brides with shorter layers that don’t need a lot of volumes.
23. Double Braided Crown With Baby’s Breath
With the boho chic bridal trend in full swing for 2018, this cool take on wraparound dutch braids makes you look like you’re wearing the laurel crown of a Roman goddess. Sprigs of baby’s breath soften the regal look when paired with thin tendrils that hold a slight curl.
24. Pretty French Braid Bangs And Low Side Bun
Long bangs take on a new life when swept to the side in a French braid hairstyle like this. Volume builds easily when each section gets just enough tease and then smoothed out through the plait as it cascades down one side and wraps around a neatly tucked bun.
25. Loose Waves Swept Back Into Easy Bun
Beachy waves combed back into a loosely twisted bun that leaves trails of curls down the nape of the neck is a perfect look for bridesmaid hair when the wedding hairstyle calls for simple and elegant without too much fuss. Brides can dress it up with a crowning headpiece of jewels or flowers depending on how fancy of a theme they’ve planned.
26. Mermaid Fantasy Half-Crown Fishtail Braids
Layering multiple braids like this is a beautiful blend of different trends. The best way to wear this look is with a delicate floral crown, but weaving ribbons or beads in the half-crown braid really doll it up. This works best for long hair without many layers, although mixing and matching will give it more of that boho twist.
27. Finger-Combed Twists Wrapped Around Simple Bun
Loose waves that wrap into a simple bun take the messy-chic look and turn it into a glamorous wedding hairstyle that’s picture perfect. A look like this is perfect for a sweet and romantic style that leaves your shoulders bare and showcases your bridal jewelry whether it’s ornate or delicate.
28. Glam And Sleek High Ponytail With Wraparound
An Ariana-styled topknot with a sleek and long look is everything the elegant bride could need on her special day. It’s a bold look that doesn’t take a lot of work and isn’t going to get messy easily. The wrap of hair around the ponytail’s base is a classic style trick to keep the look photo-ready.
29. Wild Thick Waves In Beautiful Long Layered Hair
Brides who want their long hair to flow can choose this style to feature their favorite asset, especially if they take just a few pieces and tuck them back with a pin or two to keep the wild mane looking windswept. Rocker-chic but glam at the same time is the perfect blend for a bride with a rowdy side.
30. Multi-Layered Twist Braids For Low Bun
This look is all about texture and volume. If you’re a bride with shorter hair and a lot of layers, you can pull this off easily with a few well-placed pins and a bit of styling product. The woven twists look more intricate than they really are, so it’s a great way to get fancy without being fussy.
31. Easy Loose Half-Crown Braided Wrap Bun
The lacing style of this braid follows the style of a French braid but only sections it out from the crown of the head, leaving a blended style that weaves into the cross-twisted bun. Loose sections that fall back from the temples and tuck behind the ears complete the dreamy, wispy wedding hairstyle.
32. Roman Jewel Crown With Gentle Half-Up Curls
A bejeweled laurel crown is all any bride needs to take a sweet and easily styled look and turn it elegant. This hints of classic features like the gentle curl that falls from the headpiece and the tendrils that frame the face are an excellent nod to the past that keeps it modern with the hammered foil of the leaves.
33. Elegant Beautiful Side Bun Woven With Ribbon
Weaving a ribbon through an interlocking bun is an excellent way to showcase the intricacy of the style without complicating the way it all fits together. Keeping the top sections loosely combed back and free from your face creates an elegant and traditional silhouette.
34. Funky-Chic Boho Twists Wrapped To One Side
The messy look is anything but when you’ve artfully tousled those curls to one side and decorated their gathering with a trailing piece of floral jewelry. A deep side part and voluminous crown add to the sculpted look of this careful arrangement.
35. Waterfall Waves From Chunky Half-Up Ponytail
Brides with a thick head of hair need a hairstyle for women prone to headaches when they wear it all piled on top, so this gives you that height and volume without all the weight. A few loosely curled bangs frame the face while the sculpted curls explode from a mid-high wrapped ponytail.
36. Princess Braids Beneath Pompadour And Curls
Adding a pompadour at the crown of your hair gives you a boost that frames your face with a different set of angles and leaves you plenty of sections to separate into layered hairstyle braids of different styles. A fishtail pairs beautifully with lace plaiting, or try inverted braids for a modern take on a classic.
37. Easy Teased Crown With Beachy Cascade Waves
The loose half-up and half-down look with this wedding hairstyle take on a dreamy fantasy when worn with a light headpiece that adds whimsy to a forest princess fantasy. With the ringlet curls brushed out to the very ends, there’s just enough texture to bring it all together perfectly.
38. Loosely Side-Swept Romantic Rope Twist Braid
Brides who love the simplicity of a rope style braid can bump up the glam factor when it starts high above one temple and cascades down and across the back of the crown. Carefully arranged bottom pieces laced through just right creates a bridal look that’s demure and soft but safely tucked back from the fact. Just a few curled wisps around the face soften the overall effect.
39. Beautiful Mini Twists Into Long Loose Ponytail
This look takes long layers and draws them back into a loose ponytail that trails in romantic waves. Leave plenty of bangs to frame the face but don’t worry about curling things too much, since this is a natural way to have an elegant look for your wedding day.
40. High Pompadour Ponytail With Teased Waves
A bushy pop at the bangs that pulls back into a clean, neat ponytail with a shaggy tail makes a lot of fun for little fuss with this look. Keeping a few chunky flyaway pieces out around the face makes sure you still have that effortless, romantic frame for the big day.
41. Pretty Pull-Through Braid And Curly Bangs
A long and sleep pull-through braid like this will last all through the ceremony and the reception without much fuss and can be worn over one shoulder or straight back. With each section secured by a band, the bride can leave out a long bang and curl it for a more romantic touch.
42. Gently Crimped Cascade Of Tucked Waves
This retro style of heat treatment that leaves hair with this crinkle-style crimp takes on a modern elegance when woven together in a cascade of bushy curls. Add a sweet little floral decoration and the glamour comes through in full force. If you have long hair but a lot of shorter layers or you can’t get rid of frizz, this helps keep it all under control.
43. Low Structured Bun With Face-Framing Curls
Thin strands with finger-combed separation hold their place when looped securely through an interlocking bun. The geometric shape created by the structure of this style makes a striking contrast for softly curled tendrils around the frame of the face. This pairs beautifully with a minimalist theme.
44. Easy Romantic Low Ponytail With Big Ringlets
Just a little back-combing is all this ponytail needs to start off with some volume and end with a sleeker, curly finish. Large ringlet curls soften with gentle brushing that then twists together to form a classic and darling appeal as it trails past the shoulders. A floral accent dressed it up nicely for an understated beauty in its ceremony.
45. Braided Crown And Bun With Floral Feature
A center part that flows into two tidy braids that wrap around the crown of the hair and blend into a bun offers a lovely and sweet look for a bride who wants a romantic and dreamy style for her wedding day. Adding long loose pieces around the base and temple with soft curls add to that feeling with an off-center floral headpiece.
46. Beautiful Layers Side-Swept Into Chunky Curls
Long hair and a lot of layers can be easily managed with a side-swept gathering of curls that flow down over a shoulder. This elegant look takes a classic style and updates it for 2018 by layering curls of different sizes and letting them cascade freely from their fastening.
47. Tucked Half-Crown Braids Over Long Waves
Two loose braids hide a twist beneath when you take sections from either temple and pin them up beneath either side. Free flowing waves weave together underneath for a look that has volume without going too high, so there’s plenty of options for how to wear a veil or a headpiece.
48. Interlocking Boho Bun Under High Pompadour
The way the side bangs are woven together from the center part on down past the temple blends in with the interwoven pieces that form the bushy bun on this look. A high pompadour adds height without a lot of weight, which balances the proportions that frame your face. Just a few strands from the bangs can be left out and gently curled to keep it dreamy and sweet.
49. Voluminous Low Bun Woven With Braids
Finger-combed twists add layers of texture from temple to nape, where the French style of pull-through braids explodes in a gorgeous array. A ribbon can be woven through it all starting at the crown or just in the elegantly styled bun to really show off the intricate way these braids tuck into each other.
50. Elegantly Rolled Twist With Smooth Finish
This glossy and neatly styled look deserves a crowning jewel that fits right where the braided temples twist together above the bun. For a bride who doesn’t want a flyaway frame and prefers a tidy, clean look of classic elegance, this is the perfect way to make sure her look lasts the entire wedding day.
50 Best Wedding Hairstyles for 2018 Bridal Bliss
Your bridal hairstyle should feel modern and beautiful no matter what kind of look a bride chooses. Most of all, though, it should be a personal choice that truly embodies the bride’s own style and one that she can be proud to look back on for years to come. Taking time to try out your top three (or four, or five!) favorite styles will help you narrow it down before the big day. There’s no such thing as being too picky when it comes to perfection on a day meant for romance, bliss, and beauty.
