The version you choose changes everything. Slicked and sculpted reads formal and modern. Loose and tousled with a few fresh flowers leans romantic. A braided base adds texture and the kind of staying power that gets you from the first look to the last dance, and a jeweled band or a veil tucked underneath turns the same bun into something black-tie.
Whether you’re after a sleek topknot, a soft floral updo, or a braided bun that holds all night, we’ve gathered our favorite high bun wedding hairstyles from real brides to inspire your own. And if you fall in love with any of these looks, click through to see the full wedding! For even more inspiration, browse our Real Weddings directory.
Our Favorite High Bun Wedding Hairstyles
First up: high bun looks spotted on real L&L weddings and styled shoots. Click any link to see the full day. Scroll further for shoppable pieces to recreate the look.
Curly High Bun with a Gold Vine and Berries
Natural curls swept up and piled high, then crowned with a gold vine, a few pinecones, and clusters of red winterberries. It’s the kind of high bun that works with your texture instead of fighting it, so you get height and shape without an hour of smoothing.
Against the bold red lip and soft blush eyeshadow, the whole look reads festive without tipping into costume. The cold-weather palette from this Winter Park, Florida shoot does a lot of the heavy lifting.
See this Frozen-Inspired Styled Shoot →
Twisted High Bun Worn With a Veil
A twisted, braided bun set high on the crown, with a soft veil tucked in underneath so the hair still gets to be the headline. This is the move if you want an updo that photographs cleanly from the front and keeps your neckline bare for a thin-strap gown.
On a Bora Bora morning, the last thing you want is hair stuck to your neck. A high bun solves the humidity problem and looks intentional doing it.
See Tara and Matt’s Bora Bora Wedding →
Polished Braided High Bun
A polished braided bun set high and tight, the kind that survives a full church-to-reception day without a single re-pin. Olivia said her hair was one of the things that added so much to the day, and from the front you can see why.
Worn outdoors in a green field with an illusion-neckline gown, it’s proof a high bun reads just as well in wide shots as it does up close.
See Olivia and Jacob’s Purple and Mint Wedding →
Tousled Floral High Bun
Loose, tousled, and deliberately undone, with fresh lilac and a single cream bloom tucked where the twist meets the crown. Real flowers in a high bun age fast, so this is a look you build day-of and photograph early.
The soft, lived-in texture keeps it from looking too precious, which suits the bright, garden-leaning palette of this waterfront May Day shoot.
See this Romantic May Day Styled Shoot →
Sleek High Bun with a Jeweled Band
Smooth, sculpted, and wrapped with a delicate jeweled band, this is the high bun at its most formal. The clean lines pair with a winter fur stole and bare shoulders, drawing the eye straight to the jewelry and the neckline.
For an evening wedding at an Italian villa in the Veneto countryside, anything looser would have looked underdressed.
See Anna and Alessandro’s Christmas Wedding in Italy →
Slicked-Back High Topknot
Slicked back into a high, glossy topknot with not a strand out of place, shown from behind so you get the full shape against a sunny marina backdrop. Jade Ward from Lure Salon built this one to show off the bride’s neckline and the sheer back of her gown.
If your dress has a detail worth seeing from behind, a clean topknot like this gets out of the way and lets it do the talking.
See this Whimsical Vancouver Styled Shoot →
Braided Donut High Bun
Here’s the back view everyone actually wants to study: an upside-down braid running up the head and disappearing into a tall, rounded bun. It’s a sock-bun shape with a braided twist, and it photographs beautifully from behind, which matters more than brides expect once the ceremony starts.
A smart, sturdy choice for a homemade Orcas Island wedding where the hair had to last all day with no touch-ups.
See Tyler and Anika’s Orcas Island Wedding →
FAQs
Is a high bun a good choice for a wedding?
If you want your neckline, your earrings, and the back of your dress fully on display, yes. A high bun is one of the few styles that photographs cleanly from every angle and won’t fall into your face during the reception. It also handles heat and humidity better than loose waves, which matters more than you’d think for an outdoor or destination day.
Does a high bun work with a veil?
Beautifully. A high bun gives the veil a secure anchor point, and you can set the comb just below the bun so the hair stays the focal point. When you take the veil off after the ceremony, the style underneath still looks finished, no re-styling required.
How do I keep a high bun from falling out?
A braided base is your friend here. Braiding the hair before coiling it into the bun gives the pins something to grip, which is why so many of the longest-lasting looks above start with a braid. Plenty of pins, a little texture spray, and a hair trial before the big day will save you from mid-reception repairs.
Can I wear fresh flowers in a high bun?
You can, with one caveat: real blooms wilt. Tuck them in day-of, photograph them early, and ask your florist for sturdy varieties like ranunculus or small roses rather than anything delicate. If you want the look to last all night, silk flowers or a jeweled hairpiece give you the same effect without the droop.
Does a high bun suit curly or textured hair?
It might be the best style for it. Curls and coils add natural volume and shape to a high bun, so you get height and interest without much manipulation. Lean into your texture instead of smoothing it out, add a hairpiece if you want a little sparkle, and let the bun work with what your hair already does.
Don’t forget to pin this to your Wedding Hair Board for later!
