"Traditional," "elegant," do these words describe you? If so you'll probably end up wearing a classic wedding gown, with simple, clean lines and not a lot of embroidery or embellishment. The necklines for this style typically follow the collarbone, like a Bateau, or show a bit more skin on top with a Queen Anne or portrait neckline (think Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday). Grmolyes says a bride who selects this dress type should wear her hair up and off of her face, either swept into a simple bun or timeless French twist. Because this dress type is usually simple, she also recommends adding a hair accessory to your style. Her one warning: Get many opinions from others (and take plenty of test photos) to make sure the accessory looks right before deciding to wear it.
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The Classic Gown: Bateau Neckline
Kate Bosworth's sleek high bun is the perfect complement to a classic gown and it lets your face take center stage. "A bride has to remember that pictures start as soon as she gets ready and continue 'till the last dance and that there will be lots of hugs and touching," says Grmolyes. So a style that will stay in place flawlessly throughout the day and night, like Bosworth's, is an ideal choice for a polished, ladylike look. If your dress doesn't have any embellishments on it, try adding a jeweled clip onto the side of the bun, or slip on a simple headband to up the elegance factor.
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The Classic Gown: Queen Anne or Portrait Neckline
For the classic royal neckline, Jennifer Love Hewitt channels her inner-Audrey with a French twist. However, she keeps the style in this century by adding a bit of texture to the top of her hair while keeping the rest off of her face and neck. One note: If your dress is lacey or jeweled, go easy on the jewelry around your face -- opt for simple diamond studs like Hewitt's to keep the look classic and never overdone.
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The Romantic Gown
Consider these gowns poetry in dress form. Flowy flourishes, soft, billowing fabrics, tulle, ruffles, lace --sound good? If so, keep in mind that the necklines tend to show some skin, either via a sweetheart or scoop neckline, and most importantly, if you choose to wear a dress like this, it should garner all of the attention. That's why Grmolyes suggests keeping your hair simple. "The idea is to look dreamy, with hair loose or to choose a style that is soft and sweet," she says. "Too much hairstyling can quickly take away from your dress," and if you've chosen a dress like this, you want it to steal the show.
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Romantic Gown: Sweetheart or Strapless Neckline
Bare shoulders allow you to let your hair flow free like Thandie Newton's, if you so choose. Her messy curls are effortlessly gorgeous and because they fall above her neckline, they show off her pretty collarbones and draw your eyes straight to her bust line and dress. Grmolyes says the most important thing is to be comfortable on your big day, and choosing a style you've worn many times before will prevent you from worrying about your hair. The other great thing about choosing a style you wear often? You can do it yourself! Not having to rely on a stylist will save you cash (a nice perk for any bride on a budget). Check out other wedding day hairstyles you can do yourself here.
True story: One of our editors watched a beautiful bride walk down the aisle to "Ave Maria" wearing a gorgeous princess gown � with her hair in "fancy" pigtails. Huh? I guess her Vera Wang dress didn't get the memo that her wedding hairstyle was going to a hoedown.
That hair mishap is definitely an extreme example, but it shows the make-or-break role that wedding hairstyles play on your special day. Sure, your gown can be breathtaking and your makeup flawless, but the wrong wedding hairstyle can make your entire look seem a little � off. Just like you wouldn't serve ribs at a black tie dinner, you probably shouldn't pair pigtails with a couture gown.
Since you choose your gown first, wedding hairstyles should be carefully selected to mesh with the design and cut of your dress. This may seem like common sense, but it's hard to be objective when you fall in love with a hairstyle that just doesn't quite suit your gown. But considering your wedding day will include hundreds (if not thousands) of photographs, you don't want to look back at your pictures and wonder, "What was I thinking?!"
To help, we sat down with celebrity hairstylist Ange Grmolyes from Hairroin Salon in Los Angeles, who has styled Molly Sims, Kristen Bell, and numerous brides-to-be. Here she explains which wedding hairstyles best complement all different dress types, so that you can decide which look is best for you -- and your wedding gown.
