Brides continue to choose the updo in record numbers

Whether the setting is formal, with satin gowns, veils pinned with diamond-accented hairclips and bowers of roses, or a Las Vegas chapel and blue jeans, you can be sure of one thing: Paparazzi will be swarming and cameras will record every nanosecond of a celebrity wedding. No detail will escape scrutiny, including the bride’s hairstyle, which will be uploaded, published, downloaded and copied worldwide.

Hair is a critical consideration for celebrity brides—women who know they will be critiqued relentlessly because society knows they can afford the very best. Based on their decisions, new trends will arise—or fashion editors will diss pictures in upcoming issues of their magazines.

Three recent brides who opted for upswept hair are Jennifer Lopez (married singer Marc Anthony), Showgirls actress Elizabeth Berkley (married artist Greg Lauren) and Angel star Amy Acker (married Felicity semi-regular James Carpinello). Lopez’s updo featured a crown of loose curls gathered under a three-quarter-length veil that was fastened to her hair by diamond-studded hairclips—a lovely accoutrement for her ivory lace gown. Berkley’s was elegantly casual, blending nicely with her pale lime silk sheath dress. And Acker’s curly updo, with one loose tendril flowing down her back, was accented with red roses—a glamorous touch appropriate for a garden wedding, where the bride wore a form-fitting sheath gown.

Brides continue to choose the updo in record numbers, letting their hair down for the reception afterward. If you have long or medium-length hair, your may select from several variations on the theme:

Before choosing an updo, consider the shape of your face. If it’s round, a clean, tightly pulled-back look will prove slenderizing. By contrast, if your face is narrow, you’ll want to add some volume with wisps, curls or a half-up style. (Angie Harmon of Law & Order went this route when she married New York Giants football player Jason Sehorn in a strapless white satin Vera Wang. From the front, her hair appeared to be completely up; a look at the back revealed tendrils of loose hair.)

Updos work best with formal gowns and evening affairs. If your wedding will be more casual or held during the daytime, you may want to wear your hair loose, curled for extra body (as everyone’s best Friend Jennifer Aniston did).

Wedding hair must also be resilient, capable of making it through hours of champagne toasts, dancing, hugs and tears. If you’re planning an outdoor wedding, choose a style that won’t budge in the event of errant breezes.

If your hair is too short for an updo, it’s still not out of the question: Select an elegant hairpiece, and have your stylist create the illusion. Otherwise, she can layer your hair, create soft curls with a curling iron and add just the right hair ornament. You can also go avant-garde and slick back your hair.

Regardless of length, spray a little glitter into the hair. You—and your special day—will be dazzling. Decide How You Will Look