Bridal Headpieces from Simple to Elaborate

From simple beaded combs to elaborate crystal tiaras, bridal headpieces come in an awesome variety. You can spend just a couple of dollars or upwards of a thousand dollars on your head-dress alone! Many brides wear veils and they need to be secured to the bride’s head or hair with something, and usually the headpiece is chosen for its appropriateness for this task. Still, some are purely for bling, and who could blame a bride for wanting to sparkle on her special day?

Combs

The simplest bridal headpiece of all, a comb or pair of combs is a great idea for brides who really don’t like a lot of fuss or too much detail in what they wear. Combs can hold her hair in an upstyle or just pull bangs back so her face is more visible. They can be beaded, encrusted with diamantes or covered with velvet or silk.

Headbands

A step up from a comb in simplicity, headbands arch from one ear to the other. They are used simply but can be stunningly decorated with beads, silk flowers, pearls or other embellishments. Worn with or without a veil, headbands make very easy to wear bridal headpieces. They also help to keep hair from falling over the bride’s face, allowing her natural beauty to shine through.

Top or back of head

Bridal headpieces that are affixed to the top or the back of the bride’s head can be used to secure a veil or worn alone purely for decoration or to hold the hairstyle in place. Some are lovely items handmade to match the lace or adornments on the dress and can be created entirely out of fabric, or they can be festooned with strands of fake pearls that look like a fireworks display.

Hair rings and wreaths

Brides who choose to wear their hair in a bun favor hair rings and wreaths. They are circular bridal headpieces that open up and wrap around the hair and are sometimes secured with a comb. Some can appear like a band of starched vintage lace, while others are bejeweled and sparkle like diamonds.

Hats

Bridal hats seem to be favored by older brides these days but were popular in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Usually decorated with silk or satin fabrics and embellished with lace or beads or even feathers, these are bridal headpieces that should be worn by confident women who are accustomed to wearing hats for special occasions. They come in pillbox style with netting, broad brimmed styles or designs that might look more at home worn by a 1920’s flapper.

Brow bands

Another 1980’s throwback is the brow band, which rests gently on the bride’s brow or forehead. It is secured with a comb at the back and sometimes requires pinning at the sides. Not as popular today but who knows when it will make a comeback as a contemporary bridal headpiece?

Aside from the above examples of bridal headpieces, there are many other ways to decorate the bride’s hair for her walk down the aisle. Fresh flowers, crystal beads threaded through the hair, and ribbons entwined through braids are all beautiful ideas. At the other end of the scale is hair jewelry which is incorporated into the bride’s hairstyle and which sparkles and glints at every turn of the head.

You really can spend as much or as little as you can afford on bridal headpieces. You can buy them, rent them or even borrow one from your Mom or Grandma.