So when it comes to wedding hair you better believe that I am all about the braids. One of the best things about braids is that basically anyone can do them (with a little practice), so it can make a DIY, budget-conscious bride’s day!
You can easily do it yourself or have a bridesmaid, mom, or friend put a couple in for you!
And braids work with almost anything. A crown braid wrapped over loose waves. A fishtail down the back with a few flowers tucked in. A thick plait pinned into a low knot under a veil. Fine hair or thick, long or barely past the shoulders, there’s a version that works.
Front and center or tucked inside an updo, worn with fresh flowers or a birdcage veil, here are the braided looks we keep coming back to. Click any of them to see the full wedding. For even more, browse our Real Weddings directory.
Our Favorite Bridal Braids
First up: braids spotted on real Love & Lavender brides and their bridal parties. Click any link to see the full day.
The Halo Braid
This is the braid to bookmark if you want something polished but not stiff. A thick braid runs along the crown like a headband and disappears into a soft, low bun at the nape.
The loose pieces framing her face keep the whole thing from feeling too done.
See Hannah and Brandon’s Sweet Purples Spring Wedding →
The Milkmaid Braid
A milkmaid braid wraps all the way around the head, and it’s every bit as romantic as it sounds. It’s a great pick for an outdoor ceremony: nothing to fall, nothing to fuss with once it’s pinned.
Add a pair of statement earrings and you’re done.
See This Relaxed Upstate New York Styled Shoot →
The Braided Bun
The back of this updo is the whole story: several strands braided and coiled together into one sculptural knot. It’s intricate without tipping into fussy, and it held up to a jewel-toned, forest-green styled shoot.
Save this photo for your stylist. It’s a lot easier to point at than to describe.
See This Magical Harry Potter Styled Shoot →
The Rapunzel Plait
Michelle switched to this braid last minute to weatherproof her hair, and honestly, it’s the best kind of accident. A long, loose plait runs the length of her back, full and a little tousled instead of tight.
Think Daenerys, if Daenerys had a New Hampshire wedding.
See Michelle and Patrick’s Portsmouth Wedding →
The Undone Crown Braid
Here’s the crown braid dressed down. It wraps the top of the head, but the ends stay soft and a little messy instead of tucked away clean.
The undone ends are what keep it from looking too precious.
See This Dusty Summer Farm Styled Wedding →
The Double Crown Braid
Two braids stacked across the crown give this look more weight and structure than a single plait. Paired with a navy gown and a fur shawl, it leans a little old-world and a little regal.
A good one for a cold-weather wedding.
See Leigh and Dave’s Maryland Distillery Wedding →
The Braided Coronet With a Jeweled Comb
A crown braid gives a jeweled comb the perfect place to sit. The braid sweeps across the top and the sparkle tucks in just behind it, so the accessory looks built into the style rather than stuck on.
Elegant without trying too hard.
See Brittany and KJ’s Arizona Mountain Wedding →
The Crown Braid Threaded With Greenery
Small sprigs of greenery threaded through a crown braid, very in keeping with a natural, organic barn wedding where the bridesmaids did the same. The leaves catch the eye without a single flower in sight.
Understated, and very pretty.
See Carolyn and Tommy’s Pennsylvania Barn Wedding →
The Braided Updo With Fresh Blooms
This one is braids all the way up, coiled into a low updo with fresh blooms tucked along the back: a rose, an anemone, a coral ranunculus.
It’s the move if you love flowers in your hair but want them woven in rather than sitting on top. Soft and romantic, with a bit of a garden-party feel.
See Cat and Eric’s Colorado Wedding →
The Loose Fishtail With Autumn Leaves
A loose, tousled fishtail runs down the back here, pinned half-up with a cluster of dried autumn leaves at the crown. It’s boho without being sloppy, and it suits an outdoor fall wedding down to the ground.
The kind of braid that looks better as the day goes on.
See Laurel and Stephen’s Fall Farm Wedding →
The Flower-Woven Side Braid
If you’re going bold, this is your braid. A thick plait falls over one shoulder, studded with red and white flowers from crown to tip.
It fit the festive spirit of this wine-country fiesta, but it would suit a bohemian wedding just as well.
See This Mexican-Inspired Wine Country Wedding →
The Braided Low Bun Under a Veil
A thick braid curves along the side of the head and folds into a low bun, with a veil pinned in just above it. Proof that braids and veils aren’t an either-or.
The braid gives the veil a pretty place to anchor.
See Katherine and James’s Rustic Ranch Wedding →
The Wrapped Braid Under a Veil
Another braid-and-veil combination, this one softer and more wrapped. The braid circles the head and the veil sits underneath it, out of the way.
Softer than a full updo, and less fuss than leaving it all down.
See Hannah and Bob’s St. Petersburg Wedding →
The Undone Side Braid
A loose side braid pulled over one shoulder, deliberately undone at the edges. It’s the least fussy braid on this list and maybe the most wearable.
The kind of thing that works for a rehearsal dinner as easily as the wedding itself.
See Breanna and Matt’s Moody Blue Styled Wedding →
The Fishtail With a Birdcage Veil
A neat fishtail over the shoulder, a birdcage veil, and a bold red lip come together for a vintage look that stays soft instead of stagey.
The kind of vintage that still feels like you, not a costume rental.
See Lydia and Reed’s Styled Shoot →
The Double Braid Into a Low Knot
Two braids start at the crown and the side and meet in a low knot, with a single bloom tucked in.
A tidy, put-together take on the braided updo, and an easy one to wear with a veil or without.
See This Redeemed Farm Styled Wedding →
The Braided Crown Into Loose Waves
A braid runs from the crown down one side and then loosens into soft waves. It’s the best of both worlds if you can’t decide between an updo and wearing it down.
Half braid, half romance.
See This Rustic Chic Barn Styled Wedding →
The Half-Up Crown Braid
This is the braid for the half-up crowd. A bold crown braid holds the top section back while the rest falls in loose waves.
Polished where it counts, relaxed everywhere else. Good for a bride who wants her hair down but not entirely.
See Stephanie and Levi’s Orchard Wedding →
The Side Braid Under a Flower Crown
A soft side braid meets a full flower crown here for a properly boho look. The plait falls over the shoulder while the crown frames the face.
A lot going on, and it works for a dreamy, free-spirited day. Not for the minimalist, and that’s the point.
See Dusti and Will’s Boho Texas Wedding →
The Bridal Party Braids
Not just the bride here: the whole party braided. She wears a loose plait down the back and her bridesmaids echo it, a nice bit of cohesion from behind.
If you want your girls’ hair to feel of-a-piece with yours, this is how.
See Courtney and Luke’s Oregon Garden Wedding →
The Thick Braided Halo
A thick halo braid circles the crown and disappears into an updo, sturdy enough to last through a long day outdoors. It reads earthy and grounded rather than fussy.
Simple and sturdy, which is sometimes exactly what you want.
See Elaine and Wilson’s Earthy Fall Wedding →
FAQs
Do bridal braids work on shorter or finer hair?
They can, with a little help. Fine hair often looks fuller in a braid than out of one, and a good stylist can add a few clip-in wefts if you want more length or thickness to work with. Shorter hair leans toward crown braids and braided half-up looks rather than a long plait down the back.
Will a braided wedding hairstyle stay put all day?
That’s a big part of the appeal. A well-pinned braid tends to outlast a loose updo, which is exactly why some brides switch to one for an outdoor or rainy day. Ask your stylist to set it with pins and a flexible-hold spray and it will make it to the last dance.
Can I wear a braid with a veil?
Yes. A low braided bun or a wrapped crown braid gives a veil a secure place to anchor, and the two look lovely together. Plan to remove the veil after the ceremony, so mention to your stylist that the braid needs to still look finished once it’s out.
Do braids pair well with fresh flowers?
Beautifully. Braids give small blooms and greenery something to nestle into, so the flowers look woven in rather than perched on top. A few tucked along a crown braid or a fishtail is usually plenty — you don’t need to fill the whole thing.
Should I do a hair trial for a braided style?
Yes, especially for anything intricate. A braided updo or a flower-threaded crown braid takes time to build, and a trial lets you and your stylist sort out placement, tightness, and how it holds before the day itself. Bring a photo from this list to point at — it beats trying to describe a fishtail out loud.
Braids can be dressed up in a updo to create more of an elegant look, or they can be made messy for a laid back relaxed look.
Don’t forget to pin this to your Wedding Hair Board for later!
