Wedding Belles

IT’S that time of year when all brides-to-be and their team of girls (and sometimes guys!) get wedding fever. Already hair trials are being booked and magazines are jam-packed with wedding hair ideas. My personal favourite type of bride-to-be is a happy medium between a bridezilla (when I manage the art of having a permanent smile glued onto my face and always carry some back-up valium!) and the one who ‘isn’t bothered’.

The problem with bridezillas – ok I’ll make that wording a little more polite - shall we say, ‘thorough brides’ amongst the world of pre-wedding planning is that they can be far too stressed to know what style can look amazing. Sometimes they want every last strand of hair in a certain place on their head and they MUST look like a certain type of bride. The plus side of this is that they know where they are going and what they want. It helps us as stylists take out the simple questions of up, down, half-and-half, loose, tight etc. However, when they are too stressed – I mean thorough! - they sometimes fail to see something which could really set off their overall look.

Then we have the ‘whatever’ bride. They don’t quite let you do what you think is best as a stylist – incorporating styles of dress, wedding, venue, theme etc because they really are too laid back. So much so they’re horizontal! It’s nice to hear a ‘wow – that’s the one’.

In the last few years I have seen bridal styles change so much. It used to be that the must-have style was almost always up, very set and perfect. Now brides are getting more adventurous, almost going back in time with the more Victorian theme of loose curls and bohemian plaits. I have to say I absolutely love it, the way the hair is left with movement and shine, it’s very flattering, classic and attractive on a bride. Even bridesmaids are given more freedom with their styles, very often brides ask me to style the maids differently. I once did a wedding with seven maids, each with different styles. However, I do think that there needs to be something marrying the bridesmaids together, whether it be hair accessories, curls, or flowers.

Another thing that has changed over the decades is bridal accessories. Gone are the days where every bride was guaranteed a veil and tiara, although there was a surge in the trend following Kate Middleton’s big day. A gorgeous look for many brides now, especially those getting married in the sun on white sandy beaches, is a more relaxed headpiece such as flowers, or fascinator. My personal favourite is flowers, the look encapsulates the tropical feel of the overall day and can be quite stunning.

The main thing to remember as a bride-to-be, whether you’re thorough or relaxed, is enjoying every minute and be the ‘Belle of the Ball’. Book trials with your hairdresser, take pictures, tell them the details and make the most of it. You want to look back at your wedding pictures fondly and be proud of your classic timeless look.

Some examples of my wedding hair:-







By Hannah Mlatem