Can I wear a messy bun to my wedding?

Absolutely! The relaxed take on traditional bridal coifs offers a more effortless approach that's as polished and elevated as ever.

Do I need a professional hairstylist for a messy bridal updo?

Choosing between a professional or doing your own wedding hair is entirely up to your personal preferences, your budget, and your skill levels. While more relaxed bridal updos have an effortless appearance, it does take a bit of expertise to create the look and secure it for a day of activity. If you choose to do your own hair, however, we suggest taking the time to practice and perfect the technique well before the big day.

30 Messy Bun Wedding Hairstyles

blonde bride wearing an off-the-shoulder wedding dress with a low messy bun — Photo by Sean Thomas Photography

When Meghan Markle walked down the aisle of St. George's Chapel with her hair loosely done in her signature messy bun, the world—and brides—took notice. Sure, sleek and classic chignons will never truly go out of style, but we're smitten with these relaxed, cute bun hairstyles, and clearly, we're not the only ones. “I like to describe it as 'disheveled elegance,'" says New York hairstylist Nunzio Saviano. “A more polished look would be reminiscent of your mom’s wedding hair.”

But how do you actually achieve this easy-going, effortless look for a wedding? We consulted with hair professional Kelly De Serio for a few expert tips on how to pull off the perfectly imperfect. Keep reading below for all the messy bun updo inspiration you'll need, along with a few tricks for nailing the 'do yourself.

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01 of 30

A Textured, Low Messy Bun

Brunette bride with curly hair in low, messy chignon and red and orange flowers tucked in — Photo by Sally Pinera Photography

This bride's relaxed, low chignon lets the gorgeous texture of her locks take center stage. The dimension and shape of the flowers even mimic the feel of her tight curls, creating an enchanted look. We especially love how the vibrant buds inject a verve of color into the overall look.

02 of 30

A Low Undone Bun

a bride wearing a low-back wedding dress embracing her groom who's wearing a grey suit — Photo by Tracy Burch

An easy-going style looks just right in a breezy, pared-back setting. For example, this low-gathered 'do allows the sultry back of this bride's wedding dress to fully shine without competition. A pearl drop necklace and hairpins come together to create a contemporary and elegant aesthetic, to boot.

03 of 30

An Ultra-Low Side Bun

birdcage veil bride — Photo by Chi-Chi Ari Love

This bride opted for an ultra-low and carefree twisted chignon for her Brooklyn, New York wedding. The style is gathered just behind her ear, giving it visibility from more angles. The asymmetric coif seems so precariously held in place that we're in awe of the hair artistry behind it.

04 of 30

A Low Bun With Tousled Texture

Couple portrait — Photo by Katherine Ann Rose

This bride effortlessly sported a slightly tousled take on an elegant updo for her San Francisco wedding. The seemingly simple, swept-up 'do has the loveliest softness to it. What's more, the floaty style and the bride's bold hair color photograph exquisitely together.

05 of 30

A Low Bun With Face-Framing Curls

Rachel Love with natural glam wedding makeup — Photo by Stetten Wilson

Keep things soft and romantic with an easygoing low bun. This bride, in particular, allowed her shorter lengths to whimsically fall around her face and frame her stunning features. The density of the pieces also creates the sweetest look without overpowering those oh-so-glamorous bridal earrings.

06 of 30

A Relaxed Curly 'Do

We absolutely adore the relaxed, but still put-together, look of this bride's 'do. It's a fitting choice for a plunging, sweetheart neckline, and the perfect style to wear if sporting diamond drop earrings.

07 of 30

A Voluminous Messy Bun

Brunette bride with voluminous messy updo and floral lehenga smiling up at bearded groom — Photo by Loie Photography

Go big or go home, right? This bride's significant messy bun has tons of playful volume and personality. It’s totally okay if you have to cheat a little when it comes to volume, though, and De Serio likes building volume over meshy nylon strips.

08 of 30

A Relaxed French Twist With a Veil

Brunette bride with high-neck, long-sleeve lace dress wearing hair in relaxed french twist with full, graduated bangs and veil — Photo by Carmen Santorelli

The traditional French twist is by no means a deliciously disheveled style. This bride, however, lets her bangs flow freely to keep the otherwise polished updo more relaxed. De Serio explains that wearing some of your bangs down can add an effortless vibe.

09 of 30

A Low Bun With a Veil

bride and groom kissing under a tree — Photo by Donny Zavala Photography

This effortless 'do has the ability to complement any bridal style. We especially love the perfectly placed veil, which allows for the hairstyle to take center stage during a romantic windy shot.

10 of 30

A Relaxed Low Tuck With a Gold Tiara

Smiling brunette bride with hair in relaxed low tuck topped with gold tiara sitting on chair and putting on strappy nude heels — Photo by Sally Pinera

Face-framing tendrils and a dainty tiara have this lovely lady looking every bit like the princess bride. We love how the Art Deco-inspired topper beautifully emphasizes the sweep of the hair. And that gorgeous neckline? Swoon-worthy.

11 of 30

A Low Bun With Unrestrained Tendrils

a close up of a bride with blonde highlighted hair — Photo by Sean Thomas Photography

This bride kept her locks elegantly coifed with unrestrained tendrils for her garden party wedding. The bulk of her length was wrapped back in a bun that graced the nape of her neck, while the long pieces flowing freely around her face softened the look for more of a beachy vibe.

12 of 30

An Unraveling Side Bun

Newlywed portrait with bride in lace dress, back tattoo, and unraveling messy side bun with pearl and crystal hairpiece — Photo by Jenny Quicksall Photography

With a sleek side part and ornate details, this bridal style looks quite polished and sophisticated. Closer inspection, however, highlights a bevy of intentionally unfinished business. More specifically, the asymmetric side bun has an almost unraveled look with long, curly ends, all of which seductively drape down to highlight an intricate spine tattoo and flyway spirals.

13 of 30

A Relaxed, Low Chignon

Brunette bride with low-back, cape-sleeve dress and back tattoo wearing hair in relaxed, low chignon with old-world headpiece — Photo by Laurken Kendall

The addition of a crystal hair accessory elevates a relaxed loose bun to the highest of bridal ranks. We love the majestic, old-world elegance of this show-stopping headpiece, and the way it elevates the humble tuck for this bride's magical desert wedding.

14 of 30

A Perfectly Imperfect Updo With Braids

Boho bride in lace long sleeve dress holding bouquet and wearing hair in messy bun accented with loose braids and fresh buds — Photo by Feather + North

A tucked-away braid and runaway tendrils make for the ultimate romantic aesthetic. Even the little buds are nestled into this bride's hair without much plan or precision, further heightening the effortless vibe. The pumped-up volume at the crown also offers enough structure to keep the look from falling flat.

15 of 30

A Messy Bun of Curls

Brunette bride in lace dress and curly, messy bun with crystal halo hairpiece holding dusky-hued bouquet and walking down the aisle with dad — Photo by Natura Collective

This bride embellished her perfectly undone coif with a crystal-embellished halo for her rustic-chic wedding. To achieve this look, you can take your casual bun to the next level with a sparkly hairpin, suggests De Serio. “You have that balance of a soft romantic look, and the accessory elevates it,” she adds.

16 of 30

Undone Crown Braids

Smiling brunette bride in white slip dress with relaxed crown braid — Photo by HEIRLUME PHOTOGRAPHY

We've said it once and we'll say it again: Adding a braid to any hairstyle gives instant boho vibes. While there are so many braided styles to choose from, crown braids are the ultimate in laid-back fashions. Plus, they look absolutely divine with a veil.

17 of 30

A Curly Low Bun With Sunny Highlights

Blonde bride with highlighted curls in messy low bun putting on rings — Photo by Sarah Falugo

Don't fight your curls, embrace them! This bride's natural spirals add so much dimension and personality to this otherwise traditional updo. Combined with well-placed sunny highlights, the coif is positively dynamic.

18 of 30

A Twisted Messy Bun

Brunette bride showing off ring and twisted messy updo — Photo by KVC PHOTOGRAPHY

A major advantage of messy updos? They're a great way to show off the gorgeous back of your wedding dress (or lack thereof). This twisting coif speaks volumes: Skin is in.

19 of 30

A Curly Messy Bun With Floral Hairpins

Bride with curly messy bun updo and pearl embellished cape holding bouquet — Photo by Mashaida Co

This lush 'do is spilling with decadent dimension courtesy of the bride's natural curls. Instead of taming the playful tendrils into a strict style, they were delicately pinned in place and allowed to do their thing. What's more, the relaxed coif looks positively regal paired with her pearl-embellished cape and matching barrettes.

20 of 30

An Ultra-Low Messy Bun With a Ribbon

Bride in lace cape dress with low messy bun tied with ribbon — Photo by Sarah Falugo

There's something poetic about a bride with a ribbon in her hair. To achieve this bride's look, loosely tie up locks with a silk ribbon for a feminine touch. You can choose to have the strip of fabric match the rest of your bridal look, or add a contrasting pop of color instead.

Play with various textures—from quintessential bridal tulle to rustic burlap or posh velvet—to personalize the vibe to your wedding theme.

21 of 30

A Relaxed, Low Chignon With a Hairpin

Brunette bride in beaded dress with relaxed low chignon and art-deco hair pin wearing red lipstick — Photo by Treebird Photography

Who said a messy updo couldn't be glam? Just pop in a sparkly hairpiece for a bit of flash, and voilà, you've got the perfect look. However, be sure to match the size of the accessory to the hairstyle: the bigger the hair, the bigger the bling.

22 of 30

A High Messy Bun

Brunette bride with curly messy bun high atop her head touching noses with bald groom with beard — Photo by LUMA WEDDINGS

Low and loose isn't the only way to go for an effortless aesthetic. This bride piled her curls high atop her head for a very retro-glam style. Just a few coils frame her face to blend the whole look together.

23 of 30

A Dimensional Messy Bun

Bride in lace dress with hair in dimensional Messy Bun With Accent Braid and Gold Hairpins standing on balcony — Photo by Nancy Ebert

As if this bride's wedding at a French château wasn't dreamy enough, she also stunned with an effortless bun. A thick braid creates the structure here while tactful pulls and tugs give it that undone appearance. There's even a little glimmer of gold peeking out from behind the twist.

24 of 30

A Curly Chignon With a Floral Hairpiece

Brunette bride in silk long-sleeve wedding dress wearing hair in curly chignon with floral hairpins touching foreheads with groom with curly bun in black tux — Photo by Lauren Baker

This bride's style is all aglow with a jaw-dropping floral hairpiece nestled amongst her sumptuous natural curls. We love that the groom complemented his beaming bride with a matching relaxed bun.

25 of 30

A Low and Relaxed Wavy Bun With a Veil

Bride with wavy hair swept back in relaxed low bun with veil smiling at groom in tux holding bouquet — Photo by Rebecca Yale

These wavy tendrils were allowed to keep their shape as they flowed unencumbered into a simple tuck at the base of the hair. The style radiates an honest simplicity as if it just came about organically.

26 of 30

A Playfully High Messy Updo

Smiling brunette bride with white fur wrap wearing hair in high messy updo holding hands with groom in black tux — Photo by AMY LEE PHOTOGRAPHY

This bride's classic updo comes with an unexpected touch of playfulness. A few rebellious ends stuck out of the constructed coif, refusing to play by antiquated bridal hair rules. The coy style adds a vibrant touch to the polished 'do and elegant ensemble.

27 of 30

A Big Messy Bun

Brunette bride in sweetheart neckline wearing hair in big messy updo holding bouquet and hugging groom in navy suit — Photo by RACHAEL OSBORN PHOTOGRAPHY

This bride serves as inspiration for those who love drama. If you find yourself needing some extra help in the volume department, though, there's no shame in seeking a bit of help. Using extensions to pump up a bridal updo is a long-held industry secret.

Sprinkle in a bit of texturizing spray or volumizing powder for a double dose of gritty hold and added thickness.

28 of 30

An Asymmetric Woven Updo

Bridal with two-tone hair woven into asymmetric messy bun with crystal hairpin — Photo by Anya Kernes

This asymmetric updo injects some serious rocker attitude into the otherwise romantic vibe. We love the elegant hint of sparkle tucked directly into the mass of coolness. Can you spot all the braiding detail in the mix?

29 of 30

A Low Bun With Face-Framing Highlights

Brunette bride in crochet dress with hair in Low Messy Bun With Face-Framing Highlights looking in mirror and putting on earring — Photo by Katie Ruther

This bride nailed the elegant beachy look with a carefree bun, a fitting choice for her oceanside nuptials in Tulum, Mexico. What's more, caramel highlights illuminate the woven layers that create the coif.

30 of 30

A Floral Peekaboo

Want an unexpected way to rock flowers in your hair? Consider symmetrically arranged blooms. This look brings in the tiniest hint of floral adornments without completely overpowering the style.

FAQ

Can I wear a messy bun to my wedding?

Absolutely! The relaxed take on traditional bridal coifs offers a more effortless approach that's as polished and elevated as ever.
Do I need a professional hairstylist for a messy bridal updo?

Choosing between a professional or doing your own wedding hair is entirely up to your personal preferences, your budget, and your skill levels. While more relaxed bridal updos have an effortless appearance, it does take a bit of expertise to create the look and secure it for a day of activity. If you choose to do your own hair, however, we suggest taking the time to practice and perfect the technique well before the big day.