Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Weddings Wedding Beauty & Wellness Bridal Hairstyles 37 Half-Up, Half-Down Wedding Hairstyles We Love From understated elegance to modern romance, these half-up, half-down hairstyles are picture perfect. By Chloe Gorman Chloe Gorman Chloe is a digital editorial assistant for Martha Stewart Weddings. She graduated from Southern Connecticut State University and currently resides in Connecticut. Editorial Guidelines and Wendy Rose Gould Wendy Rose Gould Wendy Rose Gould is a veteran freelance lifestyle reporter based in Phoenix, Ariz. with over 10 years of experience. She covers home, wellness, beauty, and travel for outlets such as Martha Stewart, Real Simple, Insider, TODAY, Bustle, TripSavvy, The Zoe Report, and others. Whether ruminating about interior design with the influential leaders in the industry, on the ground at NYFW talking trends with beauty and fashion pros, or venturing to a new corner of the world, she’s always eager to report on the latest and greatest. Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 7, 2023 Close Photo: Amy & Stuart Photography Pinning down the best wedding hairstyle for your big day is akin to plucking the perfect dress or nailing down the playlist. After all, there are so many options to choose from and you want to make sure you get it just right. To help narrow down your bridal hairstyle options, consider starting with a tried-and-true classic worn by many women of the hour: the half-up, half-down wedding hairstyle. It's a twist on the all-out updo—which may not feel entirely "you"—but feels more special than everyday beach waves. Quite versatile, this look can read glamorous, simple, or chic, and is the perfect choice for many hair types. There are also a lot of ways to make it your very own. For a bit of inspiration ahead of your nuptials, peruse our favorite half-up, half-down wedding hairstyles that real brides wore on their big days. 20 Wedding Hairstyles With Flowers 01 of 37 Vintage '40s Glam Sophie Epton This half-up, half-down wedding hairstyle, created by Amanda Thorne, hearkens back to the glamour of the 1940s. Soft retro-inspired curls and hair gently pulled from the face—complete with a face-framing sweep on one side—make this a classic look that'll stand the test of time. 02 of 37 Delicate Floral Hairpiece Michelle Lange Photography Lean into the romance of your big day by having your hairstylist incorporate real or faux flowers into your half-up, half-down wedding hairstyle. For this look, stylist JC Hair Design incorporated a floral hair piece from Erin Rhyne. She also wove floral details into the bridesmaids' hair. 03 of 37 Twists and Headpieces KR Moreno Photo Accentuate your half-up, half-down hairstyle with a twist—like M.O. Hair and Beauty did for this bride—with a sparkly, leaf-like hairpiece. 04 of 37 Big Glam Shanell Photography To create this glamorous hairstyle, Brides by Sette gave this bride's bouncy waves dimension by pulling half of her hair up. She added a little height on top, while allowing two front pieces to frame the bride's face. 05 of 37 Elegant Middle Part Rachel Havel Here's how to rock the half-up, half-down look if you're wearing a veil: When creating this look, stylist Sarah Al-adwani of Ceron Salon divided two pieces in the front to create a middle part, added soft waves at the ends, and formed a petite bun at the crown (so the veil's comb had something to grip onto). 06 of 37 Beautiful Boufant Ryan Ray Looking for a wedding hairstyle that's formal and elegant? We found it. Here, Team Hair and Makeup created a half-up, half-down hairstyle with volume and height that was in complete balance with this bride's ball gown. 07 of 37 Twists With a Veil Mailys Fortune For this outdoor wedding, twists of the bride's naturally wavy hair was artfully arranged by Sinem Yavsaner. She tucked a long veil just underneath the twists for the ceremony (so the woman of the hour could easily remove it for the reception). 08 of 37 Organic and Natural Amy Arrington Photography A strategically placed veil is a classic way to emphasize this hairstyle. The Hair and Makeup Collective anchored this bride's traditional lace accessory right into the "up" section of her hair. 09 of 37 Perfect Pairing Stephanie Brauer Photography This colorful Monique Lhuillier wedding dress, complete with floral and butterfly embroidery, needed a hairstyle that was just as dreamy. This half-up, half-down style by Willow House Beauty—with face-framing pieces falling into loose waves—perfectly complemented this bride's whimsical look. 10 of 37 Braided Natashia Nicole Photography For a relaxed take on this classic look, try adding a milkmaid braid. This bride's pretty hairstyle would be perfect at a backyard wedding. 11 of 37 Summer Simplicity Ryan Ray A California summer wedding calls for a fuss-free half-up, half-down hairstyle that's simple, yet elegant. Edin Carpenter styled this bride's hair with subtle waves and a side part that dipped midway down and was pinned off her face. 12 of 37 Ponytail Charla Storey Photography Not sold on a full half-up hairdo? Consider a modified version, like this one by Fringe Studio. The look came together by creating a low ponytail on the lower half of the bride's hair. 13 of 37 Headband Adrian Jon Photography If you're looking to add a little glamour to your half-up, half-down hairstyle, make like Design Visage and pair the hairstyle with a sparkly headband. We also suggest mimicking this bride and wearing minimal jewelry to bring attention to the statement accessory. 14 of 37 Top Knot Elias Kordelakos For a contemporary ceremony, put an of-the-moment twist on this classic hairdo with a trendy top knot. Giulia Cresci was responsible for this bride's hair. 15 of 37 Gold Leaf Kayla Yestal Even the smallest accessories can make an impact on your half-up, half-down hairstyle. This gold leaf clip from Sara's Boutique gave this bride's Devotion Studio hairstyle a Grecian touch. 16 of 37 Effortless Waves Jessica Claire Photography Showcase your wedding dress' beauty by keeping your hair simple. Janet Zeitoun ditched accessories for this bride's look to ensure all eyes were on her Vera Wang ensemble. Simple Wedding Hairstyles That Prove Less Is More 17 of 37 Flowy Waves The Ganeys If you like the idea of wearing your hair down, but don't want it in your face or overpowering your look, this half-up, half-down style is a good compromise. Here, Hair by Amelia Renee pulled back hair from a middle part, allowing long waves to fall along the sides. 18 of 37 Traditional Jen Huang For a completely traditional look, ask your hairstylist to add a little volume to the front of your half-up, half-down hairstyle with a bouffant. Olivia Halpin executed this bride's timeless hairdo by clipping the top section back and securing it with overlapping sections. Pretty Wedding Hairstyles for Brides With Long Hair 19 of 37 Loose Twists Janine Licare Photography This bride's long wavy locks were pulled back and loosely twisted into embellished pins, while pretty pieces were left out to frame her face. This romantic hairstyle by Raven Reed worked beautifully with the bride's lace-embellished wedding dress. 20 of 37 Front Fringe Christy Wilson Photography Parlour 3 proves long bangs aren't an issue with this hairstyle. Rather than tucking them away, let them hang loose for a softer, more casual feel. 21 of 37 Low Ponytail Jennifer Xu Photography Keep the hair off your neck for your warm-weather wedding by tying the back section into a low ponytail and letting a few strands hang in the front, like Nicole Graftner did for this bride. Wedding-Worthy Ponytails to Complete Your Bridal Beauty Look 22 of 37 Simple Twist Josh and Dana Fernandez It doesn't get any more effortless than this half-up, half-down wedding hairstyle created by Hey Lovely Makeup. The pros kept this look piece-y, which made it perfect for the bride's romantic garden wedding. 23 of 37 No Veil Maria Lamb If you're choosing to forgo a traditional veil, get creative with your half-up, half-down hairstyle. Nicolette Paige Fratto added a few gold leaf hair pins from Lia Terni to this bride's hair to ensure her look was still eye-catching. 24 of 37 Crown Laura Gordon One surefire way to elevate this type of hairstyle is with a crown. Jewel Hair Design used a tiara by Tania Maras as a regal finishing touch. Crowns That Will Make Any Bride Feel Like Royalty 25 of 37 Eucalyptus Christian Gideon Photography There are a myriad of uses for greenery on your big day, but this example by Stacey Ford from Prima Salon proves it's also a particularly pretty (and natural) addition to your half-up, half-down hairstyle. 26 of 37 Loose Tendrils Caitlin Rose Photography You can still wear this traditional hairstyle for your relaxed tropical celebration. Just opt for a loose interpretation, like this one by Garbo A Salon. This bride's waves were perfect for a breezy outdoor event. 27 of 37 Middle Part Lisa Poggi Photography Want to add a little drama to your hairstyle? Yene Damtew proves that a middle part is the way to do just that. This bride's look also featured voluminous curls. 28 of 37 Succulents Koman Photography The best part about this hairstyle? You can accessorize it with any headpiece that suits your theme or locale. Rock Me Makeup chose a succulent piece, which was an appropriate addition for the bride's desert wedding. 29 of 37 Dramatic Crown Lindsey Roman Photography With a wedding dress as unique as this one, you'll want an equally unexpected hairstyle. To match the bride's sparkly gown from One Day Bridal, Salon Ruelle chose this custom-made crown from Amaroq Design to accessorize her half-up, half-down look. 30 of 37 Curly Erin McGinn Photography If you have gorgeous, curly hair like this beauty, you don't have to do much to make this hairstyle your own. That's why Jennie Kay kept this half-up, half-down wedding hairstyle natural with the bride's tendrils framing her face. The Best Hairstyles for Every Wedding Dress Neckline 31 of 37 By the Sea Michael Radford When thinking of a hairstyle for your outdoor reception, you may have to factor in wind. If you don't want an updo, a half-up, half-down hairdo—like this bride's Melina Ruiz style—is a great way to ensure your look is secure, even on a breezy beach. 32 of 37 Classic Half-Up Hair Alison Conklin This half-up, half-down hairstyle is perfect for a black-tie wedding. Amanda D'Andrea's combination of a simple twist and full curls gave this bride a classic vibe. 33 of 37 Simple Hair Inspiration KT Merry For a laid-back celebration in the sand, a half-up, half-down look adds just the right balance of simplicity and sophistication. 34 of 37 Garden Party Perfect Hair Ace & Whim While this wedding hairstyle is a great way to keep longer hair out of your eyes, the look can also intentionally frame your face. This loose half-up, half-down hairdo by Jacqueline Villa is proof. 35 of 37 Braided Back Crown Erich McVey A braided back crown puts a unique and trendy spin on this classic hairstyle—as evidenced by this look that Amy Clarke created. 36 of 37 Pink Veil Rylee Hitchner Wearing a unique veil like this bride's flower crown iteration? You may also want to bookmark her hairdo; Green Pea Salon keep her style minimal so it wouldn't compete with her statement headpiece. 37 of 37 Sophisticated Style Judy Pak Here's proof that a simple half-up, half-down hairstyle can still feel glamorous. Although Marie Robinson Salon decided against accessories, this bride's look still felt elevated. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit