Mermaid waves, ponytails and boho braids have all been wedding hair go-tos for the past several years, but a new trend is in town: the resurgence of the once-ubiquitous bridal updo. The reason? An all-around return to glamour.
For proof, look at two recent celebrity weddings: Jennifer Lopez and Modern Family‘s Sarah Hyland. Hairstylist Chris Appleton transformed JLo’s ceremony hair into a sleek updo that paired perfectly with her two Ralph Lauren reception dresses. When Hyland married radio host Wells Adams last weekend, she wore strapless Vera Wang and upswept hair.
In a Vogue interview about Hyland’s wedding hair, her stylist Ryan Richman explained they went with a low, elegant bun with lots of texture and tendrils. “The goal was a look that was appropriate for a princess on her wedding day, but ‘make it as if the princess had just finished riding her horse through the countryside—not too perfect.’”
“We’re definitely in an era where hair is more done,” says Farhana Premji, an ambassador for Redken.”There’s more structure, more shape—even more accessories added to wedding hairstyles.” Premji traces this trend back to celebrities on the 2022 Met Gala red carpet, citing Vanessa Hudgens, Blake Lively and Kaia Gerber. “I also think it’s a reaction to the last couple of years where we’ve been toning down our looks, and we’re now ready to step it up with unforgettable, grandiose hairstyles.”
Which offers a perfect transition to highlight possibly the most elaborate bridal updo ever, which we witnessed just a few weeks ago. Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice married Luis Ruelas in a lavish wedding, that—of course—was filmed for an upcoming Bravo special. The bride wore a custom Mark Zunino mermaid gown accessorized with a bespoke veil, pearl-beaded elbow-length gloves, and towering bridal updo which reportedly cost… $10,000.
True to her more-is-more aesthetic, Giudice’s colossal bridal updo featured several layers of curls and braids topped with a glittering crown. The accessory was chosen, Giudice’s stylist Lucia Casazza told Andy Cohen, to cement her status as the queen of New Jersey. “Teresa said, ‘My hair has to be over the top,’” Casazza said. The look the two dreamed up was made of seven bundles of keratin extensions, one package of clips, and more than 1,500 bobby pins. Dismantling the epic bridal updo took over two hours.
Though Giudice’s hair was definitely a one-of-a-kind style, there are a few takeaways for modern brides. Since her hair was so stylized, Giudice kept her dress more classic. “A glamorous gown with a more structured silhouette is a perfect match for a bridal updo,” says Premji. “The wedding dress should be more on the formal side, as opposed to whimsical or bohemian—those are best paired with a natural, wavy wedding hairstyle.” A note on accessories: “Always keep in mind balance in proportions with accessories as they should complement and not compete with your hair.”
Since many brides now switch up their fashion looks throughout their wedding day, hair changes are also happening. If that’s your plan, Premji says it’s important to make sure your hairstylist is with you all day: “You definitely need a pro, so your hair can be beautifully transformed into something a little easier like a ponytail or even soft waves.”
If you don’t want to go all-in with a wedding updo, the demi-updo is a beautiful option. This involves pinning hair slightly up on the sides to create volume on top with the rest of hair worn down. Celebrity fans of wearing hair half-up, half-down include Kate Middleton who bucked royal tradition by not wearing a full bridal updo. Middleton’s stylist for the day James Pryce styled her hair into a “demi-chignon” that was a perfect match for the Cartier Halo tiara—her “something borrowed” from the Queen’s private collection. (The tiara was gifted by her father to the Queen Mother in 1936.)
Singer Ciara also opted for a unique spin on the wedding updo, wearing her hair in loose waves and partially up to say “I do” to NFL quarterback Russell when they married in 2016. The look is still totally on point for brides now, almost six years later.
Wedding Updo Accessories To Shop Now
Glittering hair combs, tiaras and whisper-light veils
Olaeda hair vine, $180, shopolaeda.com. Photo: Olaeda
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Canadian accessory brand Olaeda has a beautifully curated selection of bridal accessories. This floral and crystal hair vine is one of our favourites, partly because of its versatility. Still, we love it best paired with an intricate updo.
Blair Nadeau veil, $145, blairnadeau.com. Photo: Blair Nadeau
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This whisper-light veil has a drape that trails beautifully down the back. The Lalia is a narrow veil which means it won’t overwhelm you and is a perfect match for a statement updo. It’s also available in a variety of lengths, from fingertip to long cathedral.
Jennifer Behr chignon wrap, $1,552, jenniferbehr.com. Photo Jennifer Behr
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The Arielle chignon wrap is all vintage elegance. Wear it as a standalone piece, or pair it with a veil. Set with hundreds of Swarovski crystals, this wrap will make your wedding updo shine.
Twigs and Honey tiara, $374, twigsandhoney.com. Photo: Twigs and Honey
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This glittering tiara is set with navette and circular crystals, and delivers just the right amount of sparkle. Pair it with a soft curls or a textured updo for a regal look.
Lelet NY mini comb set, $260, leletny.com. Photo: Lelet NY
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The astrology trend continues to dominate bridal style, and one of the prettiest ways to embrace the trend is with hair adornments. This crystal and pearl mini hair comb set adds whimsy and romance.
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