Weddings are a great excuse to dress up and look polished, and choosing the right hairstyle will complete your look perfectly.
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Here we bring you a selection of different wedding guest hairstyles that are easy to achieve at home, with minimal effort, and suit a variety of venues and dress codes. So why not grab a mirror and get practicing!
1. Sleek Low Ponytail
A low ponytail looks great, proving your hair is in tip-top condition, so start pampering your hair well in advance so that it looks shiny and well-nourished. Give your hair a really good brush and fasten your hair into a low ponytail with a coated elastic band.
If you feel you need more volume at the crown, you can gently tease the hair, and to hide the elastic band, why not wrap a few strands of hair around it and fasten these underneath the band with a hairpin.
2. Two-Twist Half-Up Style
If you prefer to wear your hair down, this hairstyle is easy to do, but the result looks polished. Brush your hair really well and then simply take a small section of hair from each side of your head and pin them in the center at the back, at the point where your head naturally curves. If you prefer, you can hold the hair in place with a pretty hairslide or use a small coated elastic band in a color that matches your outfit.
To elevate your style, use pearl clips or a velvet bow and add a pair of glamorous earrings.
3. Side-Pinned Loose Waves
If you can add waves to your hair easily, then make them look really chic by gently brushing the hair to one side and clipping it in place behind the exposed ear. The clips you choose can blend with your hair, but slim, ornate ones look lovely too.
Don't forget to add some lovely earrings, as it is a special occasion.
4. Braided Headband
A braided headband is a flattering style for all ages. It is romantic and ideal for country and boho weddings. A narrow braid of hair is passed from behind one ear and passes over the crown and fastened behind the other ear.
It is important to keep the braid nice and slim so that it lies flat.
5. Rope-Braid Low Bun
A sleek low bun is ideal for medium-length hair and is a clever way to keep your hair in place all day long. The rope braid adds interest to this style. The trick is to secure the braid before coiling it into place, as this will prevent it from unraveling.
6. Claw-Clip French Roll
This elegant chignon hairstyle is a perfect choice for a black-tie wedding. This hairstyle takes a little practice and is good for medium and long hair. It is important to buy the right size claw clip to match your hair color, and how you anchor it will be important too.
Gather your hair low at the back of your head as though you were making a low ponytail. Smooth the hair into place gently and leave the hair on the crown looser to look more relaxed. Gently roll your hair vertically at the back of your head, with the final roll ending in the center, and anchor the roll in place with the claw clip placed vertically and close to the head.
If you would like more info, there are several YouTube videos available.
7. Bubble Ponytail
If you would like to add a fun and trendy style to your low ponytail, why not choose a bubble ponytail? This style uses hair elastics all the way down the length of the ponytail to form pretty puffy 'bubbles'.
Place small coated elastic bands every few inches down your ponytail and ensure that they are at regular intervals. To create the bubbles, you very gently pull and puff out the hair between each elastic to form the bubbles. Finish with a light spray of medium hairspray to keep everything in place and looking good.
8. Elastic Headband Tuck
If you need an elegant updo to complete your look, an elastic headband tuck could be perfect! It is also called the 'tuck and Cover' as well as a 'Gibson's Tuck,' and the great news is that it can be used on all hair lengths.
Sections of hair are tucked into a thin headband to form a low bun. Try to make your bun look fuller and fluffy; if it is a rustic-style wedding, a messier style will look more natural and in keeping.
9. Curly High Puff
This fun hairstyle is perfect for natural or curly hair and dates from the 18th century, when it was worn by Marie Antoinette and the ladies of her court. I saw a great revival in the 1960s and am enjoying another one now!
All the hair is gathered into a high ponytail on the crown and forms a round cloud of hair – also known as a 'puff'. It is a clever way to add height if you are short, and it is the perfect way to show off a beautiful back on your wedding outfit.
10. Tucked Chin-Length Bob
The chin-length bob is one of the most popular short haircuts because it is both timeless and versatile. This type of haircut is perfect for long and oval faces. The hair is simply tucked under at the ends, and to keep it in place, use a very small amount of flexible hold just on the ends.
If you have some snazzy earrings, why not clip the hair back behind the ears on each side with a simple bar clip in a matching metal color?
11. Two-Strand Twist Crown
This pretty hairstyle is achieved by taking two sections of hair, one from each side of your head, twisting each of them, and wrapping them around your head like a halo. For a neat finish, pin the ends underneath the opposite twist.
12. Middle-Part Low Knot
This is a lovely understated style. Simply make a crisp center parting in your hair. Tie your hair into a low ponytail and then coil the hair around to form the knot.
Hold the hair in place with pins.
If you would like to add some decoration, a flower can be secured into the center of the knot, or a ring of tiny flowers can be placed around the knot and pinned into place.
13. Braided Low Ponytail
A braided low ponytail looks really smart and, of course, keeps hair well under control all day long, even when dancing! Brush your hair well and then divide it into three equal sections. Braid the hair loosely to give the braid volume, and once at the end of the braid, secure it firmly with a coated elastic band.
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14. Mini Top Knot for Short Hair
An easy way to add glamour to a short hairstyle is to sweep the front and sides into a mini top knot. Gather the hair gently and don't strain the sides. Fasten in place with a covered elastic band.
This style looks great decorated with some small pretty clips on each side or some flowers at the front of the top knot.
15. One-Side Pin-Back Coils
Curly hair is given the celeb treatment with this easy style. Brush the hair gently, then sweep it back to one side and clip it well behind your ear, under the curls, ensuring that the hair that is swept back is beautifully smooth.
16. Three-Pin Side Sweep
Add glamour to wavy hair. Brush your hair well, and then, on one side, brush the hair back behind your ear. Fasten securely with a same-color hair pin, and then carefully add three stylish and matching bar hairslides at an angle and equidistant from each other.
Add dramatic earrings if you would like.
17. Looped Low Ponytail
Create interest in a simple low ponytail by adding a simple loop on each side. Loosen the ponytail a little so that it doesn't pull, and disguise the elastic band by wrapping it with a few strands of hair that can be secured with a clip under the ponytail.
18. Half-Up Claw Clip
Invest in a medium-size claw clip, and you have the perfect hairstyle at your fingertips! This style is ideal for medium and long hair, especially wavy hair. Brush your hair really well, then take a section of hair from each side and clip it with the claw clip in the middle of your head at the back.
To add interest, create a few wavy tendrils at the front to frame your face.
19. Scarf-Wrapped Low Bun
Add style to a low bun by adding a narrow scarf. The scarf should match your outfit in color, or if it is a patterned scarf, the color of your outfit should be the main color in the scarf. Don't choose a patterned scarf if your outfit is patterned.
Once you have made your hair bun, simply wrap the scarf around the bun to hide the elastic. Tuck the ends of the scarf underneath the bun and hold in place with a couple of hair clips.
20. Easy Side Rope Braid
If you haven't tried braiding your hair, you will love having a go at the two-section rope braid as it is so quick and easy to do. This is a lovely relaxed style that holds the hair in place, so it is good for beach weddings as well as those with a rustic theme.
It sounds complicated to do, but it is not! Divide your hair into two sections. Twist each section in the same direction and then wrap the sections around each other, going in opposite directions.
The result is a thicker and more rounded cord than achieved with a three-strand braid.
This style holds more easily on day-old rather than freshly washed hair.
21. Pinned-Under Faux Bob
If you would like to have a completely different style for the wedding day, without cutting your hair, this is one that has recently gained great popularity – almost as much as when it first appeared in the 1920s!
To achieve the look you put your hair into a low ponytail and then tuck your hair under and secure in place with hair clips or bobby pins. Use hairspray lightly to hold your hair in place.
22. Double Mini Twist Pin-Back
This style is a lovely way to keep the hair off your face and to give the sides volume. A twist is made from a section of hair from the temples on each side of the face. These are taken to the center back of the head, where they are clipped together.
23. Low Knot with a Side Part
Change the style of a low knot while still using the same method. Secure the knot well in place before smoothing your part and refining how you look at the front.
24. Quick Curly Pony with Wrapped Base
Curly hair looks lovely in this style of ponytail. Brush your hair gently before drawing it into a medium-height ponytail. Do not pull the hair too tightly so that the waves in it remain.
Define an outer curl on each side to frame your face beautifully.
25. Ear-Tucked Waves with Two Pins
Award yourself a film star look that requires little effort. This is perfect for short and medium-length wavy hair that has been cut in a bob. Brush your hair well, then, on one side, smooth the hair back behind your ear and secure it with two identical bar hairclips.
The opposite side stays loose. Pretty earrings finish this appealing look.
26. Stacked Mini-Pony Half-Up
Add an element of fun to your hair with two tiny ponytails. Brush your hair well and then take a small section of hair from the center of your crown and fix it with an elastic band. Take two section os hair from each side of your head, above your ears, and draw them back, forming a second ponytail with the hair from the first.
Secure this ponytail with an elastic band. Gently loosen the hair between the two elastic bands for a softer result.
Make sure the elastic bands match your dress or choose some sparkly alternatives to add interest. This is another hairstyle that demands statement earrings!
27. Center-Part Sock Bun
Turn a basic ponytail into a glamorous bun with the help of a foam hair donut. Simply slide the donut onto the base of your ponytail and then spread your hair over the donut to fully cover it. Tuck the ends of your hair underneath the donut and secure with hair clips.
Hopefully, we have given you some lovely carefree hairstyles to think about for when you will be a wedding guest. Practice your chosen hairstyle well in advance and think about whether it is the best choice given the style of wedding, the location and the weather.
Don't forget, a travel-sized hairspray and some spare hair clips are essential items in your handbag to cope with emergencies – have a fantastic time!
