30 Wedding Hair Updo Ideas for Every Bride and Venue

Your dress neckline and venue pick the updo before anything else does, since pulling hair back puts your neck and shoulders on view.

The styles here run from a sleek low bun with no accessories to a curly updo carrying pins, a headband and a tulle veil, so the range in effort and fuss is wide.

A strapless or off-the-shoulder gown pairs well with a High Bun or a Vintage Finger Wave Updo, and a formal ceremony can handle a more heavily pinned style like the Embellished Chignon than a relaxed outdoor wedding would.

A heavily detailed bodice usually looks best with something smooth, like the Sleek Bun or the Low Bun.

1. Embellished Chignon

A classic chignon with decorative clips is about the easiest way to make a simple updo feel like a wedding style. The clips do the dressing up, so the hair underneath can stay smooth and classic.

I’d pick clips with a finish that matches your jewelry, so hair and accessories read as one set. Placing them along one side of the knot keeps it from looking crowded.

2. Braided Tucked-In Style

Braids that look intricate but end up tucked into a low bun give you detail without a long, loose tail of hair to manage. Because the braid is deconstructed, it reads as soft and a little undone rather than tight.

This one suits you if you want texture and volume at the nape. I’d ask a stylist to practice it at a trial run, since the tucking is where it either holds or slips.

3. Bun Updo with Loose Curls

Loose curling tendrils left out of a high bun give a romantic finish, and they pair well with a strapless dress.

With a bare neckline and shoulders, a bun with loose curls frames your face and keeps the top half of the outfit from looking empty.

I like keeping the tendrils few and soft, so the bun still looks like the main event. Curl them well before pinning, then leave them alone.

4. High Chignon with Tiara

Curls worked into a high chignon, finished with a delicate tiara, take a classic shape and make it more personal. The curls add texture, and the tiara adds the bridal signal without needing a veil.

I’d choose a slim, fine tiara over a wide one so it sits with the curls instead of fighting them. Place it just in front of the chignon.

5. Pearl-Embellished Style

Pearls on an updo give you shine without much color, which makes them an easy match for most dresses. An asymmetrical shape with curls keeps the look from feeling stiff.

Because the hairpiece sits to one side, I’d keep your earrings simple. One statement spot is plenty.

6. Looped and Twisted ‘Do

Looped and twisted sections give an updo that sophisticated but effortless feel, like it came together in minutes even when it didn’t. The shapes do the work, so you can skip heavy accessories.

I’d wear this with a simple top or neckline, since long earrings stand out against an open back of hair. Ask your stylist to loosen the loops slightly for a softer finish.

7. Low Bun

A low bun sits at the nape and keeps everything soft. A little texture in the knot makes it feel romantic instead of severe, and it works with a simple strap neckline like the one visible here.

I’d keep the texture loose and the shape low, so the bun stays in proportion with your shoulders. It’s a good pick if you want something calm that still reads as bridal.

8. Sleek Bun

Smooth hair twisted into a low, sleek bun is a classic for a reason: it lets the hair itself be the focus. Shine and a clean line matter more here than any added piece.

With so little going on, I’d pair it with a dress or top that has some detail, like embroidery or a rich fabric. Then the hair frames the outfit instead of competing with it.

9. Rose-Shaped Bun

A rose-shaped bun coils the hair into layered petals, so the updo itself becomes the decoration. It’s a good choice if you’d rather skip clips and flowers altogether.

I’d have your stylist practice it at a trial, since the shape depends on neat, even coiling. Simple styling everywhere else lets the rose be the focus.

10. Woven Updo with Loose Strands

Woven sections gathered into a low bun give thick hair somewhere to go. The weaving shows off the volume instead of hiding it, and a few loose strands soften the whole thing.

I like a small sparkling floral pin placed near the weave, nothing larger. With a satin dress, one shimmer point is enough.

11. Twisted Hairdo with Braid

Twists and a braid worked into a low bun make a simple updo feel dressed up. Each section adds detail, so the hair looks finished before any accessory goes in.

A small accessory works best with this style, and I’d place it at the side where the braid meets the twist. An off-the-shoulder neckline suits this well, since the back of the hair is on view.

12. Big Messy Side Bun

A big, messy bun worn low and to one side leaves one shoulder bare and puts the volume where you can see it. A couple of curls left loose near your cheeks and temples keep it relaxed.

I’d go full and a little undone rather than neat. It’s a good fit if you want to show off your shoulders and collarbones, and gold jewelry sits nicely against it.

13. Embellished Twisted Bun

A low twisted bun with small white flowers and green leaves tucked in gives you a messy shape from the back and a tidy line from the front.

That mix works well with lace, since the hair adds softness without competing with the pattern.

I’d keep the flowers small and spread them through the twists instead of clustering them in one spot. Leaves help them look grown into the hair.

14. Spiraled Updo with Side Twists

Twists at the sides, leading into a spiral at the nape, add detail without needing any accessory.

If you can’t decide between twisting methods, ask your stylist at the trial to do a different technique on each side. This bride did exactly that, so she could compare them before the wedding.

I’d pick the side you like more and have it done on both. Matching sides look calmer in photos.

15. Updo with Side Dutch Braid

A thick Dutch braid running down one side and into a low bun adds texture to an updo that might otherwise feel plain. Because Dutch braids sit on top of the hair, the braid stands out instead of blending in.

I’d keep the braid chunky and slightly loosened rather than tight. A small stud or a thin drop earring is enough with a side Dutch braid, since the braid already gives the look its texture and shape.

16. High Curled Bun with Combover Bangs

Side-swept bangs soften a high curled bun, so the look reads sophisticated but not stiff. It suits an off-the-shoulder neckline, where the high bun lengthens your neck and shows the line of your shoulders.

If you don’t already have bangs, I’d ask a stylist whether yours can be styled to sweep sideways before you cut anything. Keep the curls in the bun loose so the shape stays modern.

17. Vintage Finger Wave Updo

Finger waves are sculpted in rows close to the head, then lead into a low bun. Structured and unmistakably vintage, a finger wave updo pairs well with off-the-shoulder gowns and pearl earrings.

I’d treat the waves as the whole statement and skip extra hair accessories. Book a trial, since crisp, even waves depend on a stylist who has done them before.

18. Curly Updo with Veil

A voluminous curly updo can carry sparkling pins, a delicate headband and a tulle veil together, as long as everything stays small and silver. Each piece catches light differently, so the hair looks full and finished from behind.

I’d place the veil under the curls so it falls from the back of the updo. Keep the dress and earrings simple, because the hair is already doing plenty.

For her Portofino, Italy, wedding Kourtney Kardashian selected a veil-bedecked updo defined by tightly swept back hair so you could focus on the joy in her face.

— Vogue

19. High Bun with Veil

A high bun with a sheer veil is a polished, traditional pairing, and it works because the bun gives the veil a clear spot to sit. Beaded fabric already has plenty of sparkle, so the hair can stay smooth.

Pin the veil’s comb right under the base of the bun, and the tulle will drape down your back instead of bunching at the crown. Keep earrings small, since the bodice and the veil are already busy.

20. Floral High Bun

Small white flowers pinned across a voluminous high bun give you a floral look without a crown or a full wreath. Spread the pins around the curve of the bun, and the flowers read as part of the shape.

I’d choose pins in a size that matches your earrings. A matching floral pair ties it together, though plain studs are the calmer route if you’d rather keep the focus on the bun.

21. Triple Twisted Bun with Braids

Scalp braids that run into 3 twisted buns across the crown give you structure and detail without any added pieces. The braiding does the decorating, so the hair is finished on its own.

I’d ask your stylist for a trial, since the 3 buns need to look evenly sized and spaced. Gold hoops and a simple chain, or similar jewelry, suit the warm look of this style.

22. Textured Low Braided Bun

Layered twists gathered into a low braided bun give dark hair depth and fullness at the back. The texture catches light, so it looks rich without any shine product doing extra work.

I’d keep the shape low and full, and let the twists stay slightly loose. It’s a good pick with a lace garment, since the lace detail sits on the back and the hair frames it without competing.

23. Low Updo with Tiara

A large silver crystal tiara on a textured low updo puts the sparkle on top and keeps the hair soft below. The low shape gives the tiara room to be the focal point.

I’d set the tiara a little ahead of the updo so both are visible from behind and from the side.

A tiara this detailed already carries the look, so I’d go with small studs or bare ears and skip the statement necklace.

24. Updo with Crystal Hairpiece

A voluminous updo with one rhinestone accessory is a simple way to add shine without covering the hair in pins. The fullness gives the piece something to sit against.

I’d choose a single piece and place it where the hair is thickest, so it looks anchored. If you like sparkle, keep your earrings plain and let the hairpiece be the one bright spot.

25. Floral Curly Updo

Curls pinned up with small white flowers look soft and bridal without needing a veil or a tiara. The curls give the flowers something to nestle into, so they read as part of the hair.

I’d scatter the flowers through the curls instead of lining them up in one row. Keep everything else simple, and a robe-to-dress change won’t fight with the hair.

26. Baby’s Breath Low Updo

Baby’s breath worked around a textured low updo gives you a light, airy crown that’s easy to wear. The sprigs are delicate, so they add detail without weighing down the hair.

I’d weave the sprigs in evenly around the curve of the updo. Texture matters here: soft, slightly rough curls hold the flowers better than smooth hair would, and a plain neckline lets the back of your head be seen.

27. High Braided Updo

Braids wound into a high updo look intricate, and the shape stays tidy from every angle. Because the braiding is the decoration, you can wear a necklace and earrings and skip hair pieces.

Ask your stylist for a trial, since tight, even braids take practice. I’d pick jewelry that’s polished but not oversized, so the braids stay the main detail.

28. High Voluminous Updo

A high, full updo with one polished curl swept to the side gives you height and a little softness in the same look.

The single curl is the whole accent, so I’d leave the rest of the hair smooth and shaped.

It suits a high neckline or bare collarbones equally well. Keep the necklace thin, and let the volume do the talking.

29. Updo with Face-Framing Bangs

Front bangs with an updo and a few loose curls frame your face and soften a pulled-back shape. It’s a good fit if you like a romantic finish but want your hairline to look intentional.

Bangs only work if they sit well with your face, so I’d ask your stylist to style them before any cutting happens. A high-neck dress pairs nicely, since the updo stays visible and the curls add the soft touch.

30. Textured Messy Updo

A messy updo with real texture looks relaxed, like you pinned it up on a warm afternoon. Blonde hair shows that texture well, since the layers catch light and look dimensional.

I’d ask for a lived-in finish, not a perfect one, with pieces left loose at the nape. A simple strap top or dress keeps the focus on the hair.

Choosing the Right Stylist

Updos aren’t a one-size skill. A stylist who does great color or cuts may not be the person you want pinning up a full wedding style, so ask directly how many updos they do in a typical month.

Look through their portfolio for work that resembles what you want, in your hair type and length. Thick, fine, curly and straight hair all behave differently under pins.

If you’re leaning toward doing it yourself, keep the style simple.

A few simple updos are realistic to pull off yourself if you practice ahead of time, and a pack of bobby pins, a firm-hold spray and a little smoothing serum for shine will get you most of the way.

A low bun is a good one to rehearse, and an accessory can carry the rest.

Trial Runs Are Essential

Book the trial a few weeks before the wedding, so there’s still time to adjust if something doesn’t work.

Wash your hair the way you will on the day, and bring your veil, headpiece or clips so the stylist can build around them.

Take photos of the style from the back, front and both sides. Then wear it for several hours, because that’s when you learn whether it holds, itches or loosens.

A trial is also where you find out if you get along with your stylist. You’ll be sitting with this person on a busy morning, so you want someone who listens and tells you honestly what will and won’t work.

Consider Your Dress and Venue

Start with the neckline of your dress, since an updo puts your neck and shoulders on view. Pulling hair back lengthens the neck and frames whatever shape the gown has.

Then think about where you’re getting married. A formal or evening ceremony suits an updo well, while a casual beach or outdoor wedding may call for something looser and less pinned.

Weather matters too.

An updo keeps hair off your neck in hot, humid months, and it stays put through dancing. Outdoors, it also holds up better in wind than loose hair, so ask your stylist what hold they’d use for the conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions