Nearly every girl dreams of the day her prince charming will sweep her off her feet so that together, they can begin a real-life “happily ever after.” Perhaps, you too were that girl, and now the day that you’ve always dreamed of is closer than ever before. You’ve worked hard to reach this point, going through that wedding checklist. Venue, menu, invitations, guest list, and more are ready to go. Fashion, however, might take some extra effort—especially when it comes to choosing the perfect wedding hairstyles for bridesmaids. But fear not: read on to find out all that you need to know about choosing the styles that best suit each bridesmaid—and yourself!

Any Hair Length Looks Lovely

Bridesmaids, of course, are unique and come in many shapes and sizes. They may differ in hair length as well. If you want their styles to match, it’s ideal for them to all have roughly the same hair length. Extensions are always an idea, of course, but that could add to the cost of your professional stylist bill. If the bridesmaids do not showcase the same hairstyles, don’t worry! They will still appear in flawless harmony as they wear your wedding colors. Below is a helpful guide to find the right hairstyle for short, medium, or long hair.

Bridesmaid Hairstyles for Short Hair

Contrary to popular belief, short hair pairs well with several styling options. A short bob with soft curls that curtain the chin makes for a bridesmaid style both classy and cute. This hair length allows for many other cute bridesmaid hairstyles. Bridesmaids with short hair can also wear wavy curls, tight curls (also cute!), or hair down with a side part that spells stunning! Short hairstyles are often simpler than those of medium- or long-length hair, but try adding accessories such as flowered pins. In short, the right style and accessories will help short hair look stellar! (To view more bridesmaid hair ideas for this length, please visit weddingforward.com).

Bridesmaid Hairstyles for Medium Hair

Not too long, not too short—for many ladies, medium-length hair feels just right. It’s long enough to work with many styles without being cumbersome. For an elegant look, try a waterfall braid that flows into a perfect bun just above the shoulders. Half-and-half styles can look magical too, especially with waves or loose curls. Looking for an edgier medium-length look? Consider a messy updo, which features a blend of flowing strands, braids, and loose curls.

Bridesmaid Hairstyles for Long Hair

You already know: long length abounds in style possibilities. With long hair, curls and waves can appear incredibly glamorous—in fact, glam Hollywood waves are a great option at this length. Take long, flowing curls beyond typical by swooping all the hair to one side (especially gorgeous with oval-shaped faces), or adding hair accessories like a boho flower crown. Long hair also looks great in an elegant bun because the buns have enough hair for maximum body and fullness. This style is also quite elegant and easy to manage because it stays in place.

Top Five Factors to Consider

So now that we’ve explored every hair length, let’s talk about some critical factors to consider when choosing bridesmaid hairstyles.

Dress

The most important factor to consider is the dress. Much like the bride and groom, the dress and hairstyle must look good together! They must function well together. Bridesmaid updos work well if the dress has an ornate design along the back. Is the dress flowy and elegant? Loose, flowy waves or curls compliment such dresses perfectly.

Budget

Weddings are expensive—surprise! In addition to all the other expenses (like musicians, cake, and dresses to name a few), professional stylists also cost a pretty penny. If you want your bridesmaids to have matching hairstyles, then proper etiquette is to pay for their hairstyles. This could turn into a huge additional expense, but there is a way to take the same-style route without leaving your wallet starved: choose student stylists or those still training. Excellent students will produce excellent work. Expect to save about 75% in price!

Weather

This factor is especially important for outdoor weddings. On a bright, sunny day with low humidity, curls will dance along to wind’s song. On the other hand, extreme humidity will hastily hurl curls out of hair and paste the hair to sweaty backs. In general, hair-down styles work well if the weather is fair or better; updos work well in precipitation situations. The season is also important to think about. For a winter wedding, hair-down styles will help keep the body warmer. If it’s hot outside, updos could be helpful.

Face Shape

Round, oval, heart, square, or long? Identifying face shape makes choosing a hairstyle much easier. An oval face looks lovely with hair down and a part in the middle. A square face (prominent jaw bones), on the other hand, looks great in a low bun with hair around the face to help soften the chin edges.

Venue

Will the wedding take place outside in a flowery garden or inside a gorgeous cathedral? Consider the formality of the venue. Updos often appear more elegant and work well with churches and cathedrals, for example.

Which style or styles will you choose? The special day awaits, and you have the information you need—so print your guide and prepare to decide!