RSVP and Race to the Salon—22 Wedding Guest Hairstyles to Complete Every Type of Outfit

As exciting as it is hearing that your loved ones are engaged, planning your look for their future nuptials is almost as exciting. From your wedding guest dress to the special-occasion glam, every detail counts—but what pulls everything together is the right hairstyle.

We looked to the red carpet to find styles befitting of the banquet hall dance floor, taking inspiration from some of our favorite celebs and tastemakers to find a slew of updos, slicked-back buns, and cascading, long styles that will fit any hair length (and neckline style). However, the professionals have a few pointers before you get set on a look.

“Know your wedding party,” says celebrity hairstylist Chuck Amos, the sculptor behind Tracee Ellis Ross's and June Ambrose’s famous locks. Understanding the couple’s style—whether they’re artistic or reserved, grandiose or minimalistic—allows you to “style your hair to complement their personality,” he explains. From simple chignons to voluminous, textured styles, these are the chicest wedding guest hairstyles to style this season.

The Best Wedding Guest Hairstyles

1. Slicked-Back, Middle-Parted Bun

The slicked-back bun that has taken over our FYPs for years at this point (thanks, Hailey Bieber!) is certainly not going anywhere—not with how functional and effortless it looks, especially for a special occasion. “I love a slicked low bun with a perfect middle part, and this allows you to have a major earring moment,” says Megan Robinson, professional wedding hairstylist and New York City salon owner. “This is also a smart idea for summer weddings if there’s a lot of humidity.”

2. Half-Up, Half-Down

“My favorite wedding guest hairstyles are half-up, half-down styles—with any texture [of] hair,” Amos quips. We’re entranced by these dreamy celeb-approved styles, with wispy bangs framing the face romantically and a bit of volume at the crown for extra body.

3. Sleek Front Pieces

A red carpet staple (and perfect wedding-attendee style) is the classic half-slicked, half-down look. If you’re not a fan of updos but you still want to keep your strands out of your face, this sophisticated style strikes a chic balance. Robinson recommends tucking “the front bits behind your ears and securing with an elastic at the nape of the neck” to make these pieces stay put all day (and night) long.

4. Natural Curls

Now, this isn’t to say that you have to do anything extravagant to your hair at all when you’re heading to a wedding. If you’re blessed with a head of luscious curls, try embracing them during this busy season—letting your natural curls shine, with a bit of oil or mousse to define and shape your waves, ringlets, or spirals. We’re convinced there’s nothing chicer than a black-tie gown paired with au naturel curls.

5. Fairytale Updo

One of Amos’s favorite formal-occasion styles is “a great updo with lots of expression”—and when we spotted this swooping, Old Hollywood–inspired updo on supermodel Elsa Hosk at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, we knew it fit the bill. Crafted by hairstylist Hyungsun Ju, this volume-boosted, effortlessly romantic style went straight into the “inspo” folder.

6. Side-Swept

One of Robinson’s rules to wedding guest hair is to play it somewhat safe. “Nothing too extravagant,” she chides. “Keep it simple and chic and in a style that complements your outfit.” This sweeping style that Bella Hadid wore (also at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival) demonstrates an easy way to wear your hair down while showing off your outfit and making your typical style feel a bit more elevated. One smooth tuck behind the ear, and you’re set.

7. Romantic Blowout

We know one thing for certain, and it’s that voluminous blowouts will never go out of style—especially during wedding season. Kaia Gerber is consistently the source of our deepest hair envy, but what can we say? She gets it from her mama. For Crawford-Gerber volume, Robinson recommends buying a pack of clip-in hair extensions: “You’ll have them forever if you don’t change your hair color drastically often,” she muses.

8. Face-Framing Fringe

If an updo calls your name for that upcoming wedding, Amos urges you to leave those face-framing pieces out for an extra layer of romance. “Light tendrils and curtain bangs can add to the demure innocence of whatever style you choose,” he explains.

9. Curtain Bangs

Speaking of curtain bangs, this retro-inspired style is still circling in hairspo orbit. If you’re interested in trying a new look before wedding season kicks into high gear, consider asking your stylist to snip some ’70s-inspired, face-framing fringe that makes any hairstyle look more flattering. Whether you style your hair up or down, these short layers will add a touch of sweetness to your look.

10. High Ponytail

Whether you choose to wear your ponytail lacquery-slick or loose and dreamy, high ponies are an easy way to keep your hair bound for a night full of dancing, and it offers even more opportunities to accessorize. Opt for oversize earrings or take a page out of Carrie Bradshaw’s—err, Sarah Jessica Parker’s—book and wear a train-like bow for a look that screams black tie (literally).

11. Mermaid Bob

Heading to a warm-weather wedding and want to style something a little more relaxed? Try this lightly tousled wave if you’re currently rocking a bob. Whether your invite calls for black-tie or beach vibes, this mermaid-inspired style looks chic with any dress code and complements all dress necklines.

12. Low Updos

If a high updo feels a bit too severe for your look, see how lower placement looks instead. Amos muses about “soft, swept-back low ponytails and buns” for weddings, which promise instant sophistication and extra romance due to the exposed neck and décolleté. Whether you choose to slick back your strands with a mix of gel, oil, and hair spray or wear it loose and breezy, low updos are classics for special occasions.

13. Bejeweled Updos

An easy way to dress up any ensemble, especially if your outfit is simple, is by threading hair jewelry into your look. “I enjoy seeing women add to their hair expression [with] some sort of complementary accessory, whether it be a beautiful silk ribbon or […] a nice jeweled hairpiece that lends sparkle to your look,” says Amos. From statement necklace–inspired barrettes to ponytail cuffs that resemble chunky bangles, there are a myriad of hair jewelry options to accessorize your strands with.

14. Effortless Chignon

There’s something about pairing an updo that’s not too slick or “perfect” with a formal dress that just feels so right. For this look, try sweeping your hair back with a bit of oil and keeping a light hand with the hair spray, no boar brushes or hair gel necessary.

15. Piecey Fringe

We’re big fans of face-framing… anything. So if you’re interested in cutting bangs before shipping off to all of your loved ones’ weddings this season, consider this carefree piecey style à la Daisy Edgar-Jones. The elongated fringe dusts her eyelashes and adds an extra-amorous look to any updo or half-up style.

16. Effortless Updos

If the aforementioned updos still feel a bit too stuffy for you, try something with a bit of personality like the voluminous style above. Twist your hair into a bun and let a few pieces spring out, styling and twisting them strategically to form somewhat of a halo-crown atop your head (and don’t forget to add a fun pair of earrings, too).

17. Old Hollywood Blowout

Still thinking about Elsa Hosk’s Hollywood starlet hair but want its equivalent sans updo? Reference the Lindsay Lohan “almond milk hair” selfie that we were rendered breathless by—which you can achieve by parting your hair on the opposite side (for extra volume) and a few hot rollers that curl your hair toward your face, not away.

18. Beachy Waves

If you want to soften your look, try embracing your natural waves for the impending event (or using a waver tool if your hair leans straight). It’s easy to achieve this mermaid-esque style by wearing your hair in two braids overnight or touching up your hair with the aforementioned hot tool—just make sure to keep the face-framing layers nice and loose.

19. Chic Scrunchie

We’ve talked about slick-backs ad nauseam, but this scrunchie-adorned style adds something undeniably chic to an otherwise classic style. Try finding an accessory that matches your outfit’s color or fabric to really complete the look (and be sure to stack good jewelry for this skin-baring style).

20. Spiral Bangs

In the spirit of sporting natural hair, try switching your style up with curly bangs the next time a high-fashion wedding rolls around. These tendrils not only make updos look straight out of a storybook, but they look downright angelic when the hair is worn unbound.

21. Sleek and Straight

Yes, curls are romantic, but don’t discount your flat iron, either. Practically any hair length can look fantastic when straightened—and this style can offer a sleek, special feel if you typically wear your hair wavy or curly, says Robinson.

22. Bouncy, Curled Bob

Bobs are the reigning cool-girl cut—there’s no doubt about it—but take it a step further for wedding season by styling it into a curly, opposite-parted coif for a look that’s extra iconic. Robinson says that switching up your part is an easy way to make your hair look “a little more special than your everyday.”

How to Choose the Right Wedding Guest Hairstyle

“No matter what hair style you choose, whether it be a huge hair statement or a simple style, my guidelines are derived from knowing this,” says Amos. Below, the hairstylist’s steadfast rules for appropriate wedding guest hairstyles.

• Embrace the face: “First, you are at a formal event with lots of family members and friends. So it’s best that your face is shown, […] so when interacting with the guests, your face and facial expressions are not fighting with your hairstyle.”
• Show some skin: “Second, this is a ‘new love’ event celebration, and there seems to be a feminine innocence that lies beneath the surface. Letting your neck and your décolleté be presented and complemented by your hairstyle expresses that.”
• Use hair perfume: “Third, your hair should smell nice. I recommend that your hair be freshly washed and clean. If you are a woman with natural hair and this is not your washday, I recommend spraying your hair with a hair refresher spray or your favorite perfume. Remember, you will be interacting with and hugging many guests, and when you hug, their faces go right into your hair.”
• Make it sleek: “As this is usually a respectable event, make sure your hairstyle is neatly styled, no flyaways and frizz.”

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This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.