Stunning wedding hair updos featuring braids are your secret weapon for keeping flyaways beautifully controlled. No matter if your strands are long, coarse, and thick or short, curly, and fine, a gorgeous braided updo or an elegant updo braid is within reach for your Big Day when you lean on the right products and techniques.
Bridal hair artist Claire Hartley from Great Britain knows exactly how to craft a flawless bridal look woven with braids, and she’s generously sharing her wisdom with our readers. But that’s not everything!
We’ve also gathered more than 40 distinctive wedding updos with braids into a single guide. Keep reading to discover the absolute best wedding updo with braids for your celebration!
Tutorial Easy Braided Updo View full Save to
Romantic And Textured Braided Updos
PRO TIPS: Getting the hair properly prepped before you start styling and braiding is seriously crucial. The right product lineup lays down an absolutely essential, workable foundation.
Every person’s hair demands a specific set of products based on its natural texture.
If your strands are dry and frizz-prone, you’ll need smoothing, moisturizing formulas, whereas someone with heavier, silky hair will reach for chalky, texturizing products. Tailoring the product selection to each person’s unique hair type makes all the difference.
Wedding Bun Hairstyles With Braids
PRO TIPS: Whether your strands are long, coarse, and thick or short, curly, and fine, a stunning bridal bun intertwined with a braid is totally achievable with the help of the right products and techniques. These looks shine especially bright as wedding updos for long hair with braids, delivering both impressive volume and reliable control.
If you’re having trouble creating fullness, extensions and hair padding jump in to save the day.
Any bride should always ask about the possibility of a particular style, no matter how impossible it might feel to pull off. Bridal stylists are absolute masters of their craft and have armed themselves with every magical technique necessary to turn the seemingly unachievable into a stunning reality.
Braided Chignon Hairstyle Ideas
PRO TIPS: Who doesn’t adore a classic bridal chignon? Timeless as it is, some might say it craves a little something extra.
Weaving a braid into the mix delivers that undeniable wow factor.
You have so many ways to work a braid into a chignon style and a wide spectrum of braid types to pick from. Just do your homework on the possibilities.
Find a braid style that makes your heart sing and then imagine exactly how you’d like it placed within your chosen look. Do you want it wrapping around one side of the head, starting lower down or higher up, or intertwined directly within the chignon itself?
The options are wonderfully endless and the choice rests entirely with you.
Bridal Updos With Braided Crown
These braided crown looks deliver sheer elegance along with solid hold. Whether you lean toward a neat braid crown hairstyle or a soft, deconstructed variation featuring curls, this look sings beautifully on both brides and bridesmaids.
PRO TIPS: Crown braids sit firmly in my favorites category and their popularity has truly leaped upward over recent years. People often ask how to build volume and texture into my styles, and my answer remains consistently the same.
Always assess the hair type first and layer in the correct smoothing or texturizing products before you even pick up a strand to braid.
Once braided, return to the hair to pinch and gently pull out sections so the braid expands. Deconstructing that braid is absolutely essential if you’re chasing after a textured, voluminous finish.
Side Braided Wedding Updos
Side braids bring a timeless touch of detail to so many braid updo hairstyles. These braided looks offer a beautiful softness near the face while anchoring everything securely in its place.
PRO TIPS: For side braided hairstyles, a fabulous trick is building the braid using tiny elastics. As you work your way down the style, these small elastic anchors lock the braid firmly so it refuses to budge.
Paired with the correct products for texture and hold, there’s zero chance those strands will come loose, giving you a secure scaffolding for a style built to last the entire day.
Bridal Pins For Updos With Braids
PRO TIPS: My absolute favorite accessories to weave into any wedding hairstyle, and especially braids, are hair pins. They slide into any style with such ease, and you can use exactly as many or as few as the design calls for.
Pins can cluster together intimately or scatter widely throughout the style, so the placement possibilities stretch into infinity.
Gorgeous hair pins crafted by immensely talented accessory designers are available to match any wedding theme you can dream up. Pearls, jewels, and flowers are ready and waiting in every imaginable shade.
Elegant Braided Updos For Wedding
PRO TIPS: Adding a braid elevates any wedding updo into something truly special. From soft braid bridesmaid hairstyles to more structured creations, wedding updos mingling braids and curls remain forever timeless and chic.
Put real thought into which braid you love and exactly where in the style you want it situated.
Braids serve not only effortless, boho vibes but also elegant and classic beauty. All stunning and all utterly timeless.
Braid Ideas For Messy Bridal Updo
PRO TIPS: If you’re dreaming of a rustic boho feel for your braid, you’ll want to gently deconstruct the style. Loose braided updos deliver that ideal rustic, undone aesthetic while still holding onto their elegance.
As you braid, pull out a few pieces so loose ends scatter naturally throughout the style. Once the braid sits securely in place, revisit specific areas and pinch and pull sections to expand the braid and dial up the texture.
I will always leave plenty of hair free from the braid along the hairline as well. That way, I can thread pieces back into the style after the braiding is finished.
Curl any loose strands for a relaxed, effortlessly undone finish.
Tender Princess-Style Bridal Braids
PRO TIPS: For those full-on Princess vibes, I’d 100% recommend incorporating clip-in extensions. You’ll want cascading waves or curls in a half-up style or a long, sweeping, elegant braid.
Extensions become absolutely essential for injecting the volume and length a jaw-dropping fairytale style demands.
Accessories also play a starring role in any princess-inspired hairstyle. You simply can’t beat a touch of sparkle for a statement moment or, if you’re after a whimsical, romantic feel, flowers work with breathtaking beauty.
Half Wedding Updos With Braids
PRO TIPS: While creating any style, you can harmonize the face shape by crafting beautiful half updos for wedding with braids that softly frame the face. For narrow face shapes, aim to create width, and for rounder face shapes, build height.
The whole idea is adjusting the hair’s silhouette to complement and balance the face shape. When you’re framing the face with loose pieces, be sure to curl them away from the face and guarantee they fall at a suitable length.
Quick And Easy Braided Updo
PRO TIPS: So many different braids are waiting for you to choose from when you’re pondering what to weave into your style. A 3 strand braid, French braid, Dutch braid, Rope braid, Pull through braid, and Fishtail braid are just a few to name.
No single type truly dominates over the others, and it’s actually quite common for me to blend a combination of braids together to build a single style.
Wedding Updos With Braids By Style
Dive into a rich variety of braided looks tailor-made to suit different bridal aesthetics, from minimal and modern to boho and deeply cultural. These updos with braids keep your hair beautifully secure while injecting personality and flair straight into your wedding day look.
Timeless Elegance: Braided Chignon With
An elegant low chignon with sleek twist braids flanking each side, dressed up with multiple silver bow pins. This classic braided updo fits flawlessly into formal weddings, especially when paired with a vintage lace gown. A wonderful pick for timeless brides chasing after polished sophistication with a soft touch of charm.
Cultural Grace: Traditional Braided Bun With Floral Kanzashi
A traditional low updo showcasing intricate braided detailing and adorned with Japanese kanzashi-style floral hairpins. Ideal for multicultural weddings or brides eager to embrace heritage through their style. This look fuses refinement and cultural symbolism into a graceful, deeply feminine expression.
Minimal Luxe: Sleek Braided Updo With Ribbon Bow
This sleek and thoroughly modern bridal look features a tight three-strand braid wrapped into a low sculptural bun and secured with a structured black satin bow. Clean, refined, and perfectly suited for minimalist brides who love strong lines and understated drama.
Boho Romance: Loose Side Braid With Wildflowers
A relaxed bohemian hairstyle built around a thick loose braid swept to one side and crowned with dainty wildflower accents. A pitch-perfect match for outdoor weddings, cottagecore vibes, or dreamy forest ceremonies tucked away in nature.
Glam Volume: Crown Braid Into Textured Bun
A glamorous updo that unites a voluminous braid sweeping across the crown with a soft, twisted bun resting at the nape. The dramatic silhouette and polished finish make it a true standout for evening celebrations or black-tie weddings
Textured Goddess: Braided High Bun on Natural Hair
A sculptural braided high bun constructed from thick box braids styled into dimensional layers. Ideal for brides rocking natural hair or protective styles. Bold, regal, and bursting with rich texture, this look joyfully celebrates volume and presence.