Bridal Club Magazine

Bridal Hair-Style & Accessory Tips

Remember, the style you love, may not suit your face shape. So be realistic about choosing the style and ultimately, a good hairdresser will know the right shape and colour to make the most of your unique beauty. We provide some information on choosing a medium-length hairstyle for your wedding, plus the right veil length to suit the occasion for any bride-to-be.

Wear it up or down?

• Round face shapes can be slimmed by hair worn elegantly up while a longer face simply shines when given width at the ears.
  
• Think about whether you are used to wearing your hair up and if you will feel too exposed if you have been used to hiding behind falling hair. If your dress is low-cut or off the shoulder, a high hair-do will leave plenty of exposed flesh in public - great if you are not the shy-type! This has been known to make brides with great posture, stoop a little to compensate.
• Hair pulled straight back from the face can be quite harsh, even to the most delicate bone structure. Wispy bits framing your face will soften this. Go for some hair up - some hair down.
• Make sure you practise before the day, to find out what you can tolerate yourself in while still remaining comfortable.
• Keep in mind the tips from last month - proportion, balance and sillouhette.
• Try and reflect your personality in your hairdo. Above all, don't be a fashion victim - you may regret it with that wedding photo hanging in your wall in ten, twenty, thirty plus years to come.

Tiaras and headpieces
These should enhance your hairstyle and not over power it. They should generally be in proportion to your dress and similar styling.

• Simple floral wreaths - these can open up your face and are suitable for semi-formal dress.
• Wreaths with pearls and flowers - with a pouf on the back of your head are the perfect compliment to a formal dress.
• Tiaras are always elegant. The jewellery and colour of your gown need to be considered with your choice of tiara. Remember to keep your warm and cool tones consistent. Jewellery settings generally come in four colours, shiny and antique gold, also shiny and antique (rhodium) Silver.
• Headbands - these are very effective for short/high hairstyles, made in the same lace, pearls or sequins as the dress.
• Floral Clusters - use these on combs or barrettes. These are stunning for pulling hair off your face, especially for long or upswept hair.

The Right Veil Length for the Occasion
The veil length was traditionally chosen by the formality of your wedding and the decoration on the back of your gown. Veils can be made detachable, worn long for the formality of the wedding ceremony and shorter or none at all for the fun of the reception. Your bridal veil should celebrate your individuality, and make you look and feel beautiful. These guidelines may help you, but remember, this is your wedding and you should have the veil of your dreams.

• Blusher/Shoulder Length is usually combined with other lengths and is used for both formal and semi-formal weddings.
• Elbow Length is used for short (no train) gowns, and shows off any detailing at the waist of the gown.
• Fingertip Length is used for formal and semi-formal weddings.
• Chapel Length falls to the floor and is usually combined with other shorter layers.
• Cathedral Length is used for formal weddings when the gown has a cathedral length train, the veil will extend one foot or more onto the floor.
  

Thankyou to Naisey from the NZ Wedding Planner Discussion Forum. Her request for more hair-tips for mid-length hair inspired this article.