Bridal headpieces are an essential finishing touch to every bridal outfit. You will want to choose the perfect piece to flatter your face and your wedding gown. But buying bridal headpieces is not something that most people do every day!
If you're not sure where to begin, we've put together a guide to help you choose the right bridal headpiece, no matter your budget or style.
Tip #1 - Choose a bridal headpiece that complements your wedding dress.
Bridal headpieces should ideally match the colour of your dress, or at least be from the same colour family, while coordinating in style and decoration.
For example, an ivory coloured wedding dress should be matched with an ivory toned bridal headpiece (this could be ivory lace fabric, ivory pearls, or a mixture), while a pure white dress would look best with a white headpiece. For white bridal gowns, bridal headpieces made out of white lace, white silk artificial flowers and bright crystals are stunning.
In terms of matching the decoration, as a rule of thumb - the more detailed the gown, the more detailed and ornate your bridal headpiece can be. Detailed wedding dresses can be coordinated with dazzling crystal headpieces, ornate lace appliques, and dramatic veils.
On the flipside, if you have a simpler or less formal wedding dress, then you should go for a more minimalistic bridal headpiece. Pared back pearl bridal hairpins, simple metallic combs and fresh flowers are ideal.
Tip #2 - Find bridal headpieces that flatter your face shape.
Not all bridal headpieces will look the same on all brides. Depending on the shape of your head and face, bridal headpieces can look markedly different!
If your face is round, you may benefit from choosing a bridal headpiece that adds height - such as a tiara style, a veil with a pouf, or you can nestle your headpiece into an up-do.
If your face is longer and more narrow, then the opposite is true. You can widen the appearance of your face with a voluminous down-style. In this case, choose a bridal headpiece that helps guide the hair outward, and which works easily with a downstyle.
Therefore, as well as the shape of your face, the length and style of your hair will play an important part in what type of bridal headpieces you should be shopping for.
#3 - Ensure your bridal headpiece fits perfectly.
After you've bought your bridal headpiece, it's time to try it on - with the help of a hairdresser. It's a great idea to take your headpiece to your hair and makeup trial to experiment with where it should be placed, and how it should be attached.
If your bridal headpiece uses a comb, then it's likely it will require extra pinning into the hairstyle. This is normal, and it's always recommended to use pins to secure the headpiece for the duration of the festivities.
If your bridal headpiece uses a clip, then you may not need to use any additional pinning. If you have opted for a loose, flowing downstyle, then bridal clips can be easier to use, although a comb (if not too heavy) is also perfectly suitable.
During the hair and makeup trial, make sure that once the bridal headpiece is in, you can move easily, and that it feels comfortable. Let the hairdresser know if it feels like it might slip off at any moment!
Tips on wearing bridal headpieces at the reception.
These days, most brides plan to wear their beautiful bridal headpiece for the full duration of the wedding - from the ceremony to the reception.
If you're planning to wear your headpiece with a veil, consider asking your hairdresser to style your hair in a way that makes removing the veil easy (leaving the bridal headpiece in place.)
