Wedding Hair Pieces: Headbands, Combs, Tiaras, Veils and More

Wedding hair pieces are the headbands, clips, combs, tiaras, ribbons and veils worn to dress up a bridal style, and they start at about $15.

The right one depends on your hairstyle: satin suits a simple updo, while pearls and crystals show best on hair worn down. A French lace trimmed silk tulle veil runs $544.95.

Bridal Headbands

Headbands work with almost any bridal hairstyle: a loose updo, hair worn down over the shoulders, or something in between.

They also keep hair off your face, which matters more than you’d think during a long day of photos and hugging.

Satin is the quiet choice. The Satin White bridal headband suits sleek styles and low buns, where you want polish without extra sparkle.

Pearls and gemstones do the opposite. The 3D Flower Ribbon-Tie Headband with Pearls, from DB Studio, sits best against soft waves or a half-up style, and the ribbon tie lets you adjust the fit at the back.

I’d pick satin for a simple updo and pearls or crystals for hair worn down, where the detail has room to show.

Barrettes and Clips

Small clips and pins are the easiest way to add sparkle without taking over a hairstyle.

A few jeweled pieces tucked into an updo or along a side braid catch the light and then fade back into the hair, which a large headpiece can’t do.

They suit anyone wearing a veil or a bold necklace, since nothing competes.

I like sets better than single pieces. The Crystal Leaf Hair Pin Set, with prices starting around $15, gives you several small leaves to scatter or cluster, so you control how much shine shows up.

Place them in an odd-numbered group, spaced unevenly, and they look grown into the hair instead of stuck on.

For a daytime wedding, a fabric flower claw clip or jaw clip is a softer option. Crystal and pearl bobby pins also work well for holding a loose section in place while adding a little glint.

Combs and Pins

Combs and pins give an updo an Old World feel without adding bulk.

A comb slides into a chignon and stays put, and pins can be scattered through curls or a braid. Both sit quietly in the hair instead of taking it over.

The freshwater handmade pearl and opal hair comb suits a low bun, where the opal catches light against a plain backdrop.

The Ivory and Co Silver Shimmer Dainty Crystal and Pearl Hair Comb is smaller and sparkles more, so I’d choose it for curls or a half-up style.

Pins work best as a group.

Twigs & Honey sells sets of 2 and 5, and a set of 5 pins spaced unevenly looks more natural than one large piece. Both are easy to add or swap at the last minute.

Tiaras

A tiara is the most obvious way to get a regal look, and it’s less common than it used to be, which is part of the appeal.

A modern one tends to read as a statement piece rather than a costume. Jennifer Behr’s Mignonette tiara is a good example of the newer, more refined style.

I’d treat a tiara as the one loud thing in your look. Keep the rest of your hair simple so the piece doesn’t compete with a busy updo or a second accessory.

It also isn’t a lifetime commitment on the day.

You can take it off once you’ve had your fill of regality, or put it on just for photos. Some bridal pieces, from other designers, have been worn lightly by celebrities, though that shouldn’t drive your choice.

Ribbons

Ribbons bring a soft, romantic feel to loose hair and ponytails, and they work best when the rest of the style stays simple.

A ribbon tied around a low ponytail looks sweet against straight or wavy hair, and it gives a plain style some shape.

On loose waves, a ribbon worn as a band keeps strands off your face without the stiffness of a hard headband.

Ties can loosen or slip during a long night of dancing, which is why I’d pick a bow-bedecked barrette or headband in silk or satin over a ribbon you tie yourself.

Match the color to your dress. Fine, slippery hair is where a hand-tied ribbon fails first, so go with the fixed bow.

Ribbons suit garden, boho and vintage themes best. For a formal ballroom wedding, I’d choose something with more sparkle.

Veils

Veils are the classic touch: the Romans popularized them as a shield from evil spirits, and today’s versions are smaller and easier to manage.

Most are a nod to the original rather than a full recreation, and many come attached to a delicate headband, so you can slip one on for the ceremony or just for a few pictures.

That detachable quality is why I like a veil as a second piece rather than the only one.

Pair it with a headband, or wear it over a sleek chignon, then take it off and let a comb or a cluster of pearlescent pins carry the reception look.

I’d skip stacking a veil with a tiara unless you want a very traditional look. Try your veil with your own hair type and style before the day, since how it sits depends a lot on both.

Material Quality

Silk, crystals and pearls are the three materials I’d look for first, and each one earns its place.

Silk tulle and silk trims drape softly and photograph well, which is why even a $544.95 (€544,95) veil, like the French lace trimmed silk tulle train style, is built on it.

Pearls, including freshwater ones, give a quiet shine that suits almost any gown.

Crystals handle the sparkle. Genuine Swarovski crystals are what custom designs use, and they come in many colors plus iridescent AB finishes, so the glitter reads as light rather than glare.

Check the wiring too. Gold or silver wire holds crystal and pearl clusters together, so a piece with neat, secure wirework will outlast one that’s merely glued.

Customizing Your Piece

Many sellers will let you choose the color and the design of a hair piece, and that’s the easiest way to make one match your wedding theme.

Most of the choices are simple: ivory or white, a gold or silver or rose gold finish, pearls or crystals, a bigger or smaller spray of flowers.

Handmade shops are usually the most flexible, since the maker builds each piece to order.

Some sellers also offer custom work with genuine Swarovski crystals. If your dress has crystal beading, send the seller a swatch or a clear photo of the fabric so the shade and sparkle line up.

Ivory and white can look surprisingly different side by side, and I’d rather settle that before ordering than after.

Allow extra time for made-to-order pieces, and confirm the return policy first. Custom items often can’t be sent back.

What Hair Pieces Cost

Wedding hair pieces start as low as $15, which gets you a simple clip, comb or headband that does the job on the day.

From there the range climbs steadily, and the price usually follows how much detail the piece carries and how large it is.

Plain, small accessories sit at the bottom. Heavily beaded, large or layered pieces sit higher, and a statement piece can cost many times what a simple comb does.

I’d spend more on the one piece people will actually see in photos, usually whatever sits at the front or crown of your style.

A $15 piece can look just as good as a pricey one if the style is simple and it suits your hair and neckline. Buy early enough to return it if it doesn’t sit right.

Frequently Asked Questions