Everybody loves wedding celebrations. The joy of watching two people come together to profess their love and commit to one another for life is enough to make anyone smile.
Outdoor weddings are especially popular at the moment.
According to the wedding planning website The Knot, destination weddings comprise 24% of ceremonies annually, and couples are continually searching for venues that better reflect their own unique personalities. Outdoor weddings at romantic locations like rustic bars, the beach, or plantations are on the rise.
Whether you’re a bride to be planning her big day, in a wedding party this summer or will be attending a ceremony as wedding guest, these 30 elegant outdoor wedding hairstyles are sure to give you some inspiration for how to style your locks for the occasion.
Tousled Flower Crown
The first big decision you’ll want to make about your perfect hairstyle is whether you want your hair up, down, or half up styles. This tousled flower crown pulls your hair up off your neck and back off your face, but still looks romantic and whimsical. Ask your stylist to add a few sprigs of flowers from your bouquet to perfectly coordinate with your wedding ensemble and add a fragrant touch to your braided crown look.
Half Up Fishtail Braid
@svglamour
This elegant half-up style with a fishtail braid is an excellent choice to show off your locks while also pulling your bridal hair back from your face. The fishtail braid is an intricate touch to hairstyles for outdoor weddings, and it has great staying power and will easily hold back layers or bangs if need be. You can secure your veil, a flower crown, or other hair accessories right above the braid for great versatility on the big day.
Low Loose Twist
@reneemarieacademy
This sexy twist on a classic up-do for a summer wedding pairs a low twist with a few errant strands that perfectly frame your face, neck, and shoulders. This up-do will keep you cool at your outdoor ceremony and gives your long hair great height and volume for perfect pictures of the best day of your life. Similar hairstyles for long hair with fresh flowers are also very popular wedding guest hairstyle for a beach wedding day.
Vintage Knot
@rvalutionstudios
If you’re a bride or a bridesmaid who has a distinctly vintage style, this simple low knot could be the right choice for you. The pinned-back look combines classic glamor with the effortless look of a seaside wedding. Ballerina bun-inspired, but with a twist, this sleek chignon is also a perfect heat-proof and wind-proof solution for a summer wedding. Just make sure you got a good styling cream.
Flowing Locks
@linstantbucolique
Some brides and wedding guests simply want to wear their hair up style or even just loose wavy hair for the occasion, and the results are spectacular. Here, the model opts for loose, natural-looking waves with an earth-tone leafy crown to perfectly compliment her summer wedding day in a botanical setting.
This bridal hair is distinctly bohemian, but you could straighten out your locks, or glam them up with some ringlet curls to better suit your style or venue if needed.
Wrap Around Crown Braid
@lucja.bridalstylist
Braids are both beautiful and whimsical, and this style could look perfect for a farm or beach wedding. It combines beachy waves and a crown braid that wraps around and pins to your crown. Try adding flowers, greenery, or rhinestone bobby pins to take your look up a notch and coordinate with your wedding party.
Braided Bun
@lucja.bridalstylist
In this braided bun wedding hairstyle, the bride has one section of her hair held back with a braid that incorporates into a gently curled bun for ultimate sexiness. This is an excellent choice if you have shorter front layers that need to be held back securely, or if you’re getting married somewhere particularly warm and your style will need all-day staying power.
If you don’t have hair that’s quite long enough to make this work, talk with your stylist about temporary clip-in extensions. They can match your hair color perfectly and give you extra volume or length to create the look of your dreams for just one night.
Loose Side Chignon
@lucja.bridalstylist
The low, loose side bun has a distinctly 1920’s feel complete with all the glamor of the era. This style looks beautiful with a side swept bang, and can easily incorporate some bling like a headband, tiara, or intricate veil.
Pinned Back
@svglamour
If you have shorter hair, then you can still achieve an up-do with a bohemian vibe. Ask your stylist for loose, wavy curls and then have her pin them back at the nape of your neck in a fun chignon or twist. This method will create a lot of volume up front and will show off your chic loose curls and loose waves perfectly.
Bohemian Braided Up-do
@svglamour
Ladies with longer hair can try this loose, crisscrossing braid for a simple boho feel. Ask your stylist to leave some strands to curl and let them fall loosely around your face and neck to add a romantic touch to this secure style with serious staying power. Such bridal hairstyles work magic for long hair and medium-length hair.
Curled Braided Crown
Add a little bombshell factor to your braided crown by using a medium-barrel curling iron to create big, bouncy curls that cascade down your back. Here, the model also incorporates a beautiful crystal accent into the braided style that perfectly compliments her gown. This is another method that might require clip-in hair extensions to get the length and volume just right, but the end result is so worth it.
Braided Low Side Bun
@hayleyhewlettbridalhair
This simple up-do combines a traditional braid that wraps from the front of your head all the way around to knot at your nape on the opposite side. The bun has a ballerina vibe, and is the perfect touch for the bride who is both graceful and powerful, and wants to show off the back of her dress.
Messy Braid
@lucja.bridalstylist
You might think the words “messy” and “wedding” shouldn’t go together, but one look at this easy breezy braid for your ceremony might change your mind. A great solution if you have shorter hair or layers that don’t like to stay put, the messy braid isn’t meant to be perfect.
In fact, it looks better if it’s not. Ask your stylist to curl your strands first, and then gently work them into a side braid. Incorporate a few flowers or baby’s breath if you like that vibe. If you choose this look, be sure that one of your bridesmaids has a few bobby pins on hand in case you need them for touch ups throughout the day.
Retro Waves
If you love the look of vintage glamor, try incorporating pin-up style waves into your do for the big day. You could wear the look down for a sultry style a la Jessica Rabbit, or use this model as an example and tie your glamorous curls back in a loose bun or knot.
Curled Side Ponytail
The simple ponytail is one of the easiest updos to do, and yet with a few unique romantic touches, it transforms into the perfect outdoor wedding hairstyle. This look is exquisite on brides with both short and long hair. Request that your stylist spends extra time giving your hair volume and texture before securing it in a low ponytail off to the side. Cover the elastic with strategically pinned pieces, and add a few sprigs from your bouquet for a sensational spring or summer look.
Simple Chignon with Flower Crown
If you’re a bride that likes to keep it simple, a traditional low bun might be just the way to go. This beautiful look can easily incorporate a flower crown, which is a favorite accessory of brides having outdoor weddings in gardens, farmhouses, and on the beach. Try leaving a few pieces of hair down in front around your face, and ask your stylist to give them a little curl or wave for added body and beauty.
Triple Flower Braids
If using real flowers or foliage in your hair isn’t your cup of tea, but you would still like to incorporate a floral element, these whimsical flower crown braids are an elegant solution. This half-up style is an excellent way to show off your locks, and while they look complicated, your stylist will have them pinned up perfectly in no time. This wedding hairstyle is also a wonderful choice if you opted for a dress with a simple design or an open design on the back as they will create visual interest without taking away from your beautiful ensemble.
Twisted and Pinned
Another look that’s perfect for short to medium length hair is the simple twisted and pinned design. Here your stylist will take pieces of your hair, twist them back away from your face, and pin them behind your head in various locations. You can spice this up by adding flowers like the model did in the photograph, or you could use bobby pins with fun details like rhinestones, crystals, or in butterfly or flower shapes to compliment your theme and venue.
Messy French Twist
The sleek and chic French twist has long been a favorite wedding hairstyle, but this boho take on the up-do is the perfect solution for a laid-back outdoor wedding. Don’t let the slightly messy style fool you; a French twist is designed to stay tight and secure all day long. If you’re looking for an option that will transition easily from day to night and let you shake it on the dance floor while it stays firmly in place, this is a great choice for you.
One Side Pinned Back
If you love the idea of wearing your hair down for your wedding, but want to do something to open up your face, try pinning just one side of your hair back with a decorative pin or clip. To do it, part your hair to one side and secure the side with less hair by sweeping your hair up and back away from your temple.
You could also change this up by pinning back the opposite side for a more dramatic look. This is an excellent way to show off beautiful earrings, or just let a little air get to the nape of your neck to keep you cool outdoors.
Waterfall French Braid
The waterfall French braid technique is a lovely way to pull your hair back from your face and provide a place to secure your veil while still letting your locks flow. Ask your stylist to do your hair first in whatever way you like it best.
Here, the model used a medium-barrel curling iron and curl-enhancing products to give her tresses their shiny finish with lots of hold. Then, work the waterfall French braid through your hair. You can secure it with an elastic, or use bobby pins to keep your hair in place.
Large Smooth Topknot
Sometimes, simple is better. If you have an intricate dress or want to show off some antique jewelry on your ears or neck, a large, smooth bun on your crown is the way to go. This wedding hairstyle adds volume and gives you that understated classic beauty every bride is searching for.
Flower Girl Sweet
Making sure the little angel in your wedding looks the part is important on the big day. This sweet style for your flower girl combines ringlet curls with an easy up-do that looks both darling and ethereal.
Gibson Rolls
Also known simply as the Gibson, or the Gibson tuck, modern Gibson rolls are an update on the classic 1940’s pin-up style. You can follow the example in this photo to create a mostly smooth look up front with some wispy strands to frame your face, or you could ask your stylist for more volume and curls depending on what fits best with your dress and your theme. Your veil will secure perfectly into the style, making it a great choice for your outdoor ceremony.
Loose Side Braid with Baby’s Breath
The loose side braid is a lovely choice for an outdoor wedding. Equal parts romantic and whimsical, the style will secure your strands to keep them from getting tangled or frizzy while making you look like a Disney princess. Add in some delicate sprigs of baby’s breath for a truly ethereal look.
Loose and Sideswept
Wearing your locks loosely pinned in a side-swept style is a popular choice when you’re getting married at on outdoor locale. The key to this style is to pin your hair so that it won’t get in your face and do something annoying like get stuck in your lipstick during the ceremony.
Beachy Waves
Some brides opt to wear their hair down, and they look fabulous on their big day. If you have a dress with a simple neckline or are going sleeveless or backless, this can be an elegant choice. Try styling your hair in gentle waves or curls using a large-barrel curling iron or large hot rollers. Be sure to use a shine serum and a heat protector for the best results. After you finger-comb out your waves, use hairspray to set them for all-day holding power.
Loose Dutch Braid
The Dutch braid is very similar to a French braid with one small difference. Instead of pulling hair under as you braid, with the Dutch technique you pull hair over the top. You could achieve this loosely braided style with either technique, and it’s perfect for a ceremony that’s outdoors. Ask your stylist to use a little extra product and carry a few pins with you through the event to be sure you can secure any stray strands and keep your hair looking perfect.
Whimsical Knot
Variations of the top knot and bun are beautiful traditional go-to’s for wedding stylists everywhere. In this whimsical knot, the bride has a smooth up-do that comes back to an intricate design with lovely pearls worked into it. The result is an elegant style that would be perfect on the beach front or in a rustic barn.
Elegant Side Ponytail
For another look with a boho vibe, try this exciting twist on the side ponytail. Start by giving your hair gentle waves and then sweep it over to one shoulder. Add a twist or two and then secure your tresses with pins instead of elastic for and updated version of the classic ponytail.
No matter how to you choose to wear your hair for an outdoor ceremony, one of the most important considerations will be your styling products. Take into account the weather, heat, humidity, and wind conditions to be sure that you use enough primer, gloss, and spray to give your locks the staying power they need to look picture perfect all day long.