An updo is the classic move, and for good reason. It keeps your neck cool, your face front and center, and your veil exactly where you pinned it. But updo covers a lot of ground, from a sleek center-part chignon to a tousled, flower-strewn knot that looks like you wandered out of a meadow.
Whether you’re after something sleek and timeless, soft and undone, or braided and boho, we’ve gathered our favorite wedding updos from real L&L weddings to help you find your look. Click any link to see the full day. For even more inspiration, browse our Real Weddings directory.
Classic and Timeless Wedding Updos
These are the styles that won’t make you wince at your album in twenty years. Smooth, pinned, and quietly polished, they let the dress and the details do the talking.
Sleek Center-Part Low Chignon
This is the updo that never looks back at its wedding photos with regret. A dead-center part, not a strand out of place, twisted into a low knot at the nape. It’s the black-tie move: let the dress and the lace sleeves do the talking, and keep the hair quiet and impeccable.
Worn for a timeless lakeside day on New York’s Finger Lakes, it reads as pure understated luxury.
See Rachel and Christopher’s Geneva On The Lake Wedding →
Smooth Blonde Knot With a Jeweled Pin
Smoothed back off the face, gathered low, and finished with one small crystal pin where it catches the light. Nothing fussy. The kind of timeless updo that looked right at a laid-back Georgia barn and would look just as right in a ballroom forty years from now.
See Abigail and Austin’s Georgia Barn Wedding →
High Bun With Wispy Bangs and a Crystal Band
Bangs and an updo are not mutually exclusive, and this is the proof. Hair swept up into a high bun, a crystal band tucked behind it, soft fringe left out to frame the face. Paired with a white fur stole for a Christmas wonderland wedding in the Veneto countryside, it’s old-world glamour without trying too hard.
See Anna and Alessandro’s Christmas Wedding in Italy →
Polished Low Roll With a Pearl Spray
A low roll this neat takes patience and roughly a hundred pins, and it shows. The pearl-and-crystal spray pinned to one side is the only ornament it needs. This is the timeless route for a bride who wants every hair accounted for.
See Diane and Daniel’s Stella Plantation Wedding →
Twisted Low Chignon With a Crystal Comb
Glossy, twisted, and rolled into itself at the nape, with a crystal leaf comb angled across the crown. It’s the vintage-Hollywood chignon that photographs beautifully from the back, which is exactly where everyone will be sitting during the ceremony.
See Nicole and Ben’s Mansion at Natirar Wedding →
Elegant Wedding Updos
Elegant doesn’t have to mean stiff. These updos bring softness, volume, and a little glamour without losing their composure.
Smooth Swept-Back Updo
Sometimes elegant just means clean. Hair brushed straight back off the forehead, gathered up, and left to speak for itself against a lace bodice and a tulle skirt. No accessory, no drama. Proof that a simple updo, done well, holds its own.
See Alyssa and Adam’s Sunflower Hill Farm Wedding →
Soft Waved Low Updo
Caught mid-twirl, which is the real test of an updo: does it stay put when you actually move? This one does. Loosely waved and pinned low, it has enough softness to feel romantic and enough structure to survive a full day of being spun around a mountain terrace.
See this Dreamy Mountain California Wedding →
Voluminous Wavy Low Knot
Big, soft, and full of movement, this is the updo for anyone who thinks pinned-up hair has to mean flat hair. Loose waves coiled into a low knot with plenty of volume left on top. With a low-back gown, all that texture becomes part of the dress.
See Alyssa and Adam’s Garden Wedding →
Retro Bouffant With a Beaded Band
A teased bouffant with a beaded band sitting just behind soft fringe, this one is unapologetically retro. It suited a 1960s VW and leopard-print wedding perfectly, but you don’t need a theme to pull it off. You just need to commit.
See Amy and Sam’s Retro 1960s Wedding →
Sculpted Finger-Wave Updo
Finger waves are a lost art, and this auburn updo brings them roaring back. Every wave is set and pinned into place, glossy and architectural, the kind of style that turns a side profile into a statement. Old-Hollywood glamour, fully earned.
Low Wedding Updos
Pinned low at the nape, these updos are the most versatile of the bunch. They flatter nearly everyone, sit comfortably under a veil, and pair with any neckline you throw at them.
Soft Brunette Side Chignon
Gathered low and slightly to one side, with a few soft pieces left out to frame the face. This is the getting-ready updo that looks effortless and definitely was not. Romantic, low-key, and easy to live with through a long fall-into-winter wedding day.
See Nicole and Josh’s Louisiana Wedding →
Low Updo With Tucked Blooms
Warm red hair pinned low with a cluster of cream blooms at the nape, a few tendrils left loose at the front. It’s soft, it’s classic, and it lets the flowers do the decorating instead of a heavy hairpiece.
See Nicole and Phil’s Michigan Wedding →
Smooth Low Bun With Loose Waves
Sleek over the top, gathered into a low bun, with just enough wave left to keep it from looking severe. Against a lace gown and a wild trailing bouquet, it’s the calm center of a very pretty picture. A safe bet that never reads as boring.
See Kathryn and Bryan’s Massachusetts Farm Wedding →
Waved Low Updo With a Blossom Pin
Soft waves swept back into a low updo, with a delicate pearl-and-blossom pin set where the twist begins. Made for a garden wedding, it has that just-stepped-out-of-the-greenhouse softness. Pretty from every angle, which matters more than brides expect.
See Diana and Joseph’s Garden Wedding →
Twisted Low Updo With Petite Florals
Twisted low and dotted with tiny white blooms, this updo keeps things simple and sleek without going stiff. The blush-and-coral palette of the day carries right up into the hair. Understated, and all the better for it.
See Kim and Jeremy’s Wedding →
Low Twisted Knot With a Single Bloom
A low twisted knot with one small flower tucked behind the ear, worn over a sequined jacket at a joyfully unserious safari-themed wedding. It proves a relaxed low updo can hold up next to a very bold outfit. Sometimes the hair should be the calm one.
See Laura and Parker’s Safari-Themed Wedding →
Loosely Plaited Low Updo
A soft plait wraps into the side of this low updo, with loose strands left at the front to keep it from looking too done. Backlit by a backyard sunset, it has an easy, modern softness. The kind of style that works whether your venue is a field or a ballroom.
See Ashley and Ian’s Backyard Wedding →
Messy Wedding Updos
Loose, lived-in, and a little undone, the messy updo is romance without the rigidity. The trick is that effortless almost always took a stylist and a fistful of pins.
Undone Low Chignon
This is messy done right: soft, loose, and lived-in without looking like it’s falling down. A low chignon with pieces pulled out around the face for that just-woke-up-like-this effect that, let’s be honest, took a professional. Romantic and forgiving as the day goes on.
See this Classic and Whimsical Wedding →
Textured Low Updo With a Tucked Bloom
Piled-up texture, a few escaped tendrils, and one little white bloom tucked into the side. Set against a stained-glass window, all that softness glows. This is the updo for a bride who wants romance over precision.
See this Cheerful Spring Austin Wedding →
Loose Low Updo With Baby’s Breath
Loosely gathered, a little tousled, and finished with a pearl pin and a few sprigs of baby’s breath. Worn with an illusion-lace back, it keeps the whole look soft and unfussy. Barn-wedding hair that knows it’s going to dance.
See Brittney and Jory’s Indiana Barn Wedding →
Tousled Low Updo With Pearl Pins
Tousled, romantic, and scattered with tiny pearl-flower pins and one blush rose, this updo looks like it belongs in a Tuscan villa, which is exactly where it was. The loose tendrils at the neck do half the work. Effortless in the way only Italy pulls off.
See Lauren and Tom’s Tuscany Wedding →
Soft Messy Updo With an Oversized Bloom
A soft, slightly messy updo with one oversized white bloom doing all the talking. The look is relaxed and a little undone, which suited a lakeside Tahoe day. Big flower, low-effort vibe, high-impact result.
See Kevin and Juliana’s Lake Tahoe Wedding →
Textured Bun With a Crystal Leaf Clip
Loose, textured, and pinned with a crystal leaf clip that catches every bit of light, with a veil tucked in beneath. This is the messy bun’s dressed-up cousin. Relaxed enough for an earthy fall wedding, sparkly enough for the photos.
See Elaine and Wilson’s Fall Wedding →
Curly Hair Wedding Updos
Curly hair doesn’t need to be flat-ironed into a different personality for your wedding. These updos work with the texture, not against it, and they’re all the better for it.
Defined Curls With a Pearl Hair Vine
Every curl here is defined, pinned, and left to do its thing, with a pearl-and-crystal vine threaded through the side. Naturally curly hair doesn’t need to be smoothed into submission for a wedding. This updo celebrates the texture instead of fighting it.
See Scott and Steliyana’s Walnut Grove Wedding →
Tight-Curled Low Updo
Bouncy, tight curls gathered into a low updo, worn for a kiss on the rocky Maine coast with a lighthouse in the distance. Curly-haired brides, take note: this is what happens when you lean all the way in. It holds its shape and its personality.
See Kate and Ian’s Coastal Maine Wedding →
Soft Curled Updo With Face-Framing Pieces
Soft curls swept up and back, with a few pieces left loose at the temple and crystal drops at the ears. Against a high-neck illusion gown and the Grand Tetons, it’s elegant without being stiff. Curls bring the warmth a sleek updo can’t.
See Hannah and Dan’s Grand Teton Wedding →
Curly Updo With a Vintage Comb
Loose curls piled high and pinned with a jeweled vintage comb, a few spirals left to trail down the neck. It’s romantic, a little undone, and full of movement. The lace long-sleeve gown and the comb give it a quiet old-soul feel.
See Kyler and Andrew’s Saint Louis Wedding →
Curly Updo With an Arc of Roses
A head full of curls swept up and crowned with an arc of blush and white roses. It’s the boho-romantic updo in its natural habitat, all texture and soft color. Proof that curly hair and fresh flowers were made for each other.
See this Rustic Manitoba Wedding →
Curled Low Updo With a Crystal Band
Soft curls gathered low with a crystal band laid across the crown, shown off in a back view because that’s the best seat in the house for this one. Relaxed and natural, but still very much elegant. The headpiece does the formal lifting so the curls can stay easy.
See Allegra and Todd’s Wedding →
Braided Wedding Updos
A braid turns a simple updo into something with detail and depth. From delicate wraps to graphic statement plaits, here’s how real brides worked them in.
Side Braid Into a Low Knot
A thick braid sweeps along the side of the head and wraps into a low knot, with a veil pinned in underneath. This is the braid for brides who want the detail without the full boho. Structured, romantic, and the kind of thing guests ask the stylist about.
See Katherine and James’s Wedding →
Halo Braid With Greenery Sprigs
A braid wraps the crown like a halo, tucked with little sprigs of greenery for a natural, organic finish. It’s the updo that turns I-had-braids-as-a-kid into something genuinely bridal. Perfect for a free-flowing barn day.
See Carolyn and Tommy’s Barn Wedding →
Braided Updo With a Fresh Flower Crescent
A braided updo crowned with a half-moon of fresh anemones, ranunculus, and roses, in coral and cream and ink-blue. It’s bold, it’s a little whimsical, and it fit a wedding that featured glitter dinosaurs. The braid keeps all those blooms anchored and intentional.
See Cat and Eric’s Colorado Wedding →
Voluminous Braided Updo With Woven Blooms
Big, textured, and braided through with roses and soft blooms, this updo is romance turned all the way up. Loose face-framing pieces keep it from looking too precious. The woven-in flowers mean no separate hairpiece required.
See Jessica and Adam’s Rustic Wedding →
Braid-Wrapped Low Updo With Greenery
A delicate braid wraps a low updo, tucked with white blooms and a sprig of greenery, worn with a keyhole lace back. It’s relaxed and elegant in equal measure, a nod to the Swedish-inspired, garden-touched feel of the day. The braid adds detail without shouting.
See Kelly and Jeff’s Philadelphia Wedding →
Braided Updo With an Oversized Bloom
A braided updo anchored by a dramatic white feather-and-flower fascinator with a wisp of birdcage netting. It’s part braid, part showpiece, fully boho. For the bride who wants her hair to be the accessory.
See Erin and TJ’s Ocean Institute Wedding →
Top Bun Over an Upside-Down Braid
An upside-down French braid runs up the back of the head and disappears into a high top bun. It’s the most graphic braid of the bunch, equal parts polished and playful. A standout for anyone who wants the braid to be the whole point.
See Tyler and Anika’s Orcas Island Wedding →
Wedding Bun Updos
The bun is the workhorse of bridal hair: sleek or soft, high or low, dressed up with flowers or left clean. Here are the versions worth saving.
Soft Low Bun With a Tucked Veil
A soft, slightly undone low bun pinned with a crystal piece, with the veil tucked in below it. The loose tendrils at the neck keep it romantic, the open lace back keeps it interesting. A bun that reads relaxed, not formal.
See Trelise and Alan’s New Zealand Vineyard Wedding →
Low Bun Under a Greenery Crown
A smooth low bun sitting just under a crown of fresh greenery and tiny white blooms. It’s the boho-barn bun that lets the foliage take the spotlight. Earthy, pretty, and exactly right for a summer wedding at a pond.
See Sara and Josh’s Boho Barn Wedding →
Textured Low Bun With a Succulent
A softly textured low bun with a single pale succulent tucked into the side. The succulent is an unexpected swap for the usual flower, and it works. Romantic and a little bit cowboy, in the best way.
See Meredith and Sampson’s Rustic Wedding →
Tousled Low Bun With Loose Pieces
Soft, tousled, and gathered into a low bun with plenty of pieces left loose at the neck. Against a beaded illusion back, it’s all soft elegance. The getting-ready bun that somehow makes still-being-zipped-up look like a photo op.
See Jo and Gregg’s Dallas Garden Wedding →
Curled Low Bun With Baby’s Breath
A richly textured low bun trailed with delicate baby’s breath, worn with a red-and-gold sari. The curls give the bun depth and the flowers give it softness. A gorgeous reminder that bridal hair looks beautiful in every tradition.
See Priti and Ryan’s Indian Wedding →
More Wedding Bun Hairstyles
If the buns above caught your eye, you’re in good company. The bun is a bridal go-to for a reason: it works on nearly every hair length, sits neatly under a veil, and holds through a full night of dancing. Our dedicated bun guide sorts them by type, from the low bun and the high bun to the messy and the slick, and walks you through how to choose the one that suits your dress and your face shape.
See our wedding bun hairstyles guide →
Wedding Updos With a Veil
Your updo and your veil have to get along, since they’re spending the whole day together. These pairings show how the two play off each other, from sleek chignons to loose, tendril-framed knots.
Low Updo Behind a Soft Veil
A low updo with soft pieces left at the face, worn with a simple veil along a sun-warmed Amalfi Coast wall. The veil and the updo together keep everything light and romantic. Destination-wedding hair that won’t wilt by the second photo.
See Fairleigh and Mitchell’s Amalfi Coast Wedding →
High Updo With a Sheer Veil
Hair piled high and curled, with a sheer veil framing the whole thing, worn over a slinky satin slip in Bora Bora. The height keeps it dramatic, the veil keeps it soft. For the bride who wants her updo to read from across the beach.
See Tara and Matt’s Bora Bora Wedding →
Sleek Low Chignon With a Cathedral Veil
Polished, low, and pinned to perfection, with a long veil flowing from beneath and pearl drops at the ears. This is castle-wedding hair, full stop. The sleekness lets the veil be the romance.
See Naoise and Ben’s Darver Castle Wedding →
Waved Low Updo With a Fingertip Veil
A softly waved low updo with face-framing tendrils, finished with a simple fingertip veil. Classic, fresh, and the kind of look that won’t feel dated in the album. Easy romance, no fuss.
See Lindsay and Harrison’s PEI Wedding →
Sleek Low Bun With a Veil
Smoothed back into a low bun with a veil tucked in at the crown, simple and clean. For a black-tie-and-blush Southern wedding, restraint was the whole point. Sometimes the most elegant choice is the one that doesn’t try to do too much.
See Logan and Steven’s Southern Wedding →
Low Side Updo With a Lace-Edged Veil
Swept to one side and pinned low, with a lace-edged veil catching the late light and the breeze. Worn with a sash and a soft lace gown, it has a vintage, romantic ease. The veil’s scalloped edge is the detail that makes it.
See Rhiannon and Andrew’s Paletta Mansion Wedding →
Curled Low Updo With a Long Veil
A curled, textured low updo pinned with something sparkly and trailed by a long veil. Paired with a cascading red bouquet and a sleeve tattoo, it’s romance with a little edge. Proof your updo and your veil can both have personality.
See Rachel and Isaac’s Kansas City Wedding →
Loose Low Updo With a Veil and Blooms
A loose, airy low updo with the veil pinned underneath and a few peach blooms tucked in, all glowing at golden hour. The escaped tendrils make it feel soft and real. Backyard-wedding hair that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
See Thuy and Brandon’s Backyard Wedding →
Half Up, Half Down Wedding Hair
Maybe you love the idea of an updo but can’t quite commit to pinning everything back. Half up, half down is the middle ground: hair secured at the crown for structure, the rest left loose and soft. It keeps your length on show, works with a veil, and suits brides who want their natural texture front and center. Our full guide rounds up looks for every length and texture, from classic waves and braided crowns to curly styles and veil pairings.
See our half up half down wedding hair guide →
FAQs
Should I do an updo or wear my hair down for my wedding?
It comes down to your dress, your venue, and how much you want to think about your hair after the ceremony. An updo keeps everything off your neck and shoulders, which is a gift at a summer wedding or in a gown with a detailed back you actually want people to see. Hair down is softer and more relaxed, but it needs more babysitting through hugs, wind, and a long reception. When in doubt, an updo is the lower-maintenance choice.
Do updos work for short or thin hair?
Yes, with the right approach. Shorter hair can be pinned into a low knot or a twisted style, and a few well-placed sprigs of greenery or a pretty pin disguise any gaps. For thin hair, ask your stylist about loose, textured updos rather than sleek ones, since a little tousling and volume reads as fuller hair. Extensions are also fair game and more common than brides realize.
How do I wear a veil with an updo?
The veil comb usually tucks in just above or just below the updo, depending on whether you want the veil to sit high and dramatic or low and soft. A low chignon pairs beautifully with the comb set underneath, so the veil flows out from the nape. Bring your veil to your hair trial and test it both ways. You’ll likely take the veil out for the reception, so make sure the comb can come out without dismantling the whole style.
Will my wedding updo last all day and night?
A well-built updo, set with the right products and enough pins, will easily make it from the first look to the last dance. The secret is texture: hair with a little grip holds better than freshly washed, slippery hair, so most stylists prefer you wash the day before rather than the morning of. Pack a few matching bobby pins in your clutch just in case, and you’re set.
Can I get a wedding updo with bangs or curly hair?
Both, happily. Bangs and fringe can be left soft around the face while everything else goes up, which gives you a romantic, slightly vintage feel. Curly hair is made for updos, since the natural texture gives loose, voluminous styles their shape without much help. The key with both is working with what your hair already does, rather than forcing it into something it resists by hour six.
Don’t forget to pin this to your Wedding Hair Board for later!
