wedding hair & accessories

Wedding Hair

It may not be a connection that you would obviously consider, but how your hair is styled can greatly effect your photographs and the timing of your day.

Completely recreating the look of your hair can be tempting; however this is not only costly, it could also be a lengthy and painful process. Creating curls where there were none before, or straightening hair that is naturally curly are hair treatments that may not last the distance and could very well see you running late. Hair straightening can also involve lengthy and painful combing on the day and is much more successful if straightened permanently 1-2 weeks prior.

A style that enhances your hair's natural qualities usually works best and while your hair stylist will be the best person to advise you of the possibilities there are a few things worth considering. Hair should be gently lifted away from the face, as heavy fringes or sweeping hair that falls forward can shade your face, or conceal it from the camera's view altogether. Ballerina-like styles that are tightly coiffed can often look severe, causing ears to appear prominent and faces broad, however this type of style may be suggested by hairdressers as it will stay perfectly put for hours.

It is important to have a trial so that you can test run the style as well as check on the time that it takes to arrange. This is a good opportunity to see how the hair and make-up will look together and to determine how your hair style will stand up to the activities of your day. The best styles are usually slightly soft and do not conceal the face, but fall elegantly as you run, jump and enjoy yourself.

Accessories

One of the most important things to consider when thinking about the hairstyle you'll be choosing for your wedding day is how you intend on decorating your hair. Flowers are a popular choice, but we at Serendipity Photography can't go past a long flowing veil that lengthens your figure and can be thrown into the wind for gorgeous, dynamic photos.

The dress you choose will have the biggest impact on the type of hairstyle you'd like. It's commonly understood, for example, that brides wearing a halter-neck dress won't opt to have their hair out, because it will likely lessen the impact of the style. A strapless dress will work with any hair-style, but a single-strap dress deserves some consideration, and the rules are not entirely set, though it pays to show off your single strap with a hairstyle that sits over the opposite shoulder. Dressmakers have a big influence over the hair, a dress designer naturally wants to make sure the hairstyle and veil continue the flow of the design of the bridal gown.

Fascinators and diamontes can really enhance a bridal hairstyle and help to complete a total fashion look. It is worth buying quite a variety and it can be a really fun evening to try out accessories and styles with the girls to help shape an initial direction. A combination of flowers and plaits can be enchantingly romantic, but remember plaits require skill in the making to keep a beautiful shape and not show patches of scalp. It is worth considering hair extensions for some plaited styles; and diamontes, headpieces and fascinators can add direction and edge.

Your veil either goes above or below the bun where it can be smoothed over after the kiss. It worth considering this very carefully, lower placed veils are currently more fashionable than the stiffly upthrust ruff of the 60s style veil placed just behind the tiara.

A word on pins and bobby pins. Bobby pins are used to create basic security, they are much stronger holding the hairstyle in place. French pins are more discrete and are better for last minute touch-ups, and are less visible for holding in curls.