Wedding Hair Style — Achieve The Perfect Look, Beautiful But Formal

With formal hairstyling trends backing off from the rigidly crafted styles of yesterday, today's wedding hair styles are free, natural and seriously less of a hassle than they were a few years ago.

Even so, your bridal hairstyle is probably the most important style you're going to choose for quite a while, so it makes sense to invest in a little research before the big day.

Because on that day, hundreds of eyes will be glued to you. And your bridal hair style can either complete the picture, or take the gloss off. That's why it's so important to choose the perfect hairstyle well in advance, so you and your stylist can get it right, and tweak as necessary for your hair's individual texture, strengths and quirks. Nothing's worse than a hastily crafted coif you decided on only minutes before the ceremony — out of desperation!

So where to start your search for the perfect bridal and bridesmaids styles? Browse through style books and web sites that highlight formal updos and popular wedding 'dos. While looking, keep in mind the design details of your event, like the style, era and cut of your dress, and setting ... beach casual, or evening formal? The same goes for your bridesmaids.

Another important thing to consider when choosing hair styles for your girls: the length and texture of their hair. So if almost every member of the bridal party has short, sporty hair, asking them to show up in a French Twist wouldn't be very practical.

Still, you don't have to go for a matchy-match look. Long-haired 'maids can sport the French Twist while the rest of the party does something else. Just hunt for hair styles that complement each individual woman, keeping in mind their facial structure, hair and personality.

In fact, you're best off letting your wedding party members have a say in these styles: they know their hair better than you do. But if you're concerned about consistency, set some practical guidelines, like whether the hair should be braided or no, pinned up off the neck, or allowed to flow freely down the back.

Then, coordinate the hair styles by providing matching hair accessories for each bridesmaid. (Of course, these pointers apply to the bridal party: the bride's hair style should set her apart, being more intricate and — dare we say! — beautiful than the others.)

Once you've settled on all the styles, do a practice run with everyone at the same salon. Let your wedding day stylists have a crack at crafting the intricate wedding hair styles you had in mind. While planning and practicing ahead of time might cost a bit, it's also bound to save a big headache on your big day.