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.
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Romantic Gown: Scoop Neck
If you're a sugary-sweet romantic bride, this simple, low side ponytail that Jewel is sporting has princess written all over it. It's an easy look that'll keep all eyes on what's going on below your neckline, since the long pony draws immediate attention to the dress. If your hair isn't as long as Jewel's, try adding a ponytail extension. Grmolyes suggests consulting with your stylist and trying them out before you decide on anything.
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The Modern Gown
If you love standing out in a crowd and going against the norm, a modern gown with asymmetrical lines and unique embellishments is perfect for you. These dresses tend to have strong necklines that plunge deep down the chest or high necklines with lots of detail. The best hairstyles to wear with these dresses are ones that look simple, "even though they may NOT be, they are so clean that it at least appears that way," says Grmolyes. With modern dresses, the bride can also play with mixing style eras, like coupling a retro hairstyle with a trendy gown. Feel free to break the rules if you're wearing a modern gown.
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The Modern Gown: Asymmetrical Neckline
A slicked back, long and wavy style à la Kim Kardashian looks elegant, yet stylish, especially when paired with an eye-catching neckline. If your gown has jewels, embroidery, or interest near the neckline, Grmolyes says it's best to wear your hair off your face, so you don't distract from the dress' detail. This hairstyle is also modern in that it mixes old with new -- when looking at Kardashian straight on, it may look as though her hair is simply pinned into a classic bun, but when you see her hair from the side, a bundle of tousled hair awaits.
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The Modern Gown: High Neckline
Jessica Simpson's retro-inspired bouffant takes on a whole new meaning when coupled with a modern dress with a high, detailed neckline. Because your neck is not visible in this dress style, adding height to your hair is important -- it ensures that your head doesn't look swallowed by the dress. The added inches will also elongate your body. And because adding height to your hair always calls for a lot of hairspray, Grmolyes suggests you have your maid of honor carry around a little emergency kit, complete with strong-hold spray and a ton of bobby pins. "You are going to be hugged A LOT, so make sure you're prepared for what that might do to your hair," she says.
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.
