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1 Wedding, 3 Hairstyles: Ceremony, Reception, and Brunch

How to Change Your Hair For Your Wedding

1 Wedding, 3 Hairstyles: Ceremony, Reception, and Brunch

How to Change Your Hair For Your Wedding

Brides-to-be often buy multiple outfits for their big weekend: a gown, a shorter party dress, and slew of frocks for the rehearsal dinner, morning-after brunch, and on. And you should change up your hair, too! We enlisted Pierre Michel hairstylist Jerome Lordet to show us three looks to take us from dusk to dawn. Whether you're going to have a pro help you or do it yourself, we promise anyone can re-create these 'dos (they look more complicated than they are). Ahead, we present a gorgeous style for under a veil, a half updo, and a braided chignon. Scroll through to see the amazing transformation.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

Step One: Beach Waves Under a Veil For the Ceremony

Step One: Beach Waves Under a Veil For the Ceremony

Wash your hair and blow-dry it using your fingers (instead of a brush), so that you don’t take any of the body out of it. Then brush it around your face to smooth out any fuzzy pieces. Hold an inch-size curling iron at a vertical angle, and the wrap the hair around it. "Every time I go around, I'm not twisting the hair, so that it stays flat on the iron," explained Lordet. "This creates a smoother wave."

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Two: Beach Waves Under a Veil For the Ceremony

Step Two: Beach Waves Under a Veil For the Ceremony

As the curl is cooling down, cup it. This helps the shape stay intact. "You can even blow on it," Lordet added.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Three: Beach Waves Under a Veil For the Ceremony

Step Three: Beach Waves Under a Veil For the Ceremony

Once the curls are set, rake through them with your fingers to break up the twists and make them look more natural.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Four: Beach Waves Under a Veil For the Ceremony

Step Four: Beach Waves Under a Veil For the Ceremony

This is what your beach waves will look like after you run your fingers through the curls.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Five: Beach Waves Under a Veil For the Ceremony

Step Five: Beach Waves Under a Veil For the Ceremony

To apply the veil at the crown, you'll want to tease the roots. This gives the bobby pins that will secure the veil something to grab on to. Take a piece of hair, and comb it back and forth about three to four inches from your roots to create texture. Spritz hair spray on just the roots to give it extra holding powers.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Six: Beach Waves Under a Veil For the Ceremony

Step Six: Beach Waves Under a Veil For the Ceremony

"You also don't want to have the front part of the head to be to flat," noted Lordet. His trick? Pinch the two pieces right next to the front of your part, tease that area, and add hair spray.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Seven: Beach Waves Under a Veil For the Ceremony

Step Seven: Beach Waves Under a Veil For the Ceremony

Place the veil a few inches back on your crown, and secure the headband in place with bobby pins. The pins will grip onto the teased, hair-sprayed strands from step five.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Eight: Beach Waves Under a Veil For the Ceremony

Step Eight: Beach Waves Under a Veil For the Ceremony

Brush out your curls to make them look even softer and more romantic. Then smile for photos!

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step One: Half-Back Hair For the Reception

Step One: Half-Back Hair For the Reception

You'll want to pull some locks back once it's party time. Because dancing = sweating. And no one wants wilted strands! To section your hair off, Lordet advised to make a triangle shape between both of your eyes.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Two: Half-Back Hair For the Reception

Step Two: Half-Back Hair For the Reception

Tease it on the top and underneath because you will be putting bobby pins there and they need some texture to grab onto.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Three: Half-Back Hair For the Reception

Step Three: Half-Back Hair For the Reception

Take two sections and crisscross them to make a knot shape. "You twist them however you feel like," noted Lordet. "It's really all about how you feel about it. It can even be a bun."

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Four: Half-Back Hair For the Reception

Step Four: Half-Back Hair For the Reception

Hold it in place by securing pins to the first ones you laid down in step two (smart, huh?).

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Five: Half-Back Hair For the Reception

Step Five: Half-Back Hair For the Reception

Smooth out the front, but make sure it has some volume. This is why you tease the hair in step two. You can also get the front higher by wiggling the knot and pushing it against your head with pins.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Six: Half-Back Hair For the Reception

Step Six: Half-Back Hair For the Reception

Break up your curls with your fingers if you want them even beachier. Mist with hair spray, and go join your band on the dance floor!

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Seven: Half-Back Hair For the Reception

Step Seven: Half-Back Hair For the Reception

Here's the finished look from the back.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step One: Braided Chignon For Brunch

Step One: Braided Chignon For Brunch

The morning after, your hair may be a bit dirty, but that doesn't mean you can't look totally chic! This plaited updo may appear complicated, but it's actually super easy to DIY. "Braids make the chignon more up-to-date," said Lordet. Start by simply making two French braids.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Two: Braided Chignon For Brunch

Step Two: Braided Chignon For Brunch

Make one French braid and repeat it on the other side. Brush up on how to do a French braid here.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Three: Braided Chignon For Brunch

Step Three: Braided Chignon For Brunch

Cross the French braids in the back, at the nape of your neck.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Four: Braided Chignon For Brunch

Step Four: Braided Chignon For Brunch

Tuck the braids under each other to create the chignon. Again, there's no rule on how to do this, according to Lordet.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Five: Braided Chignon For Brunch

Step Five: Braided Chignon For Brunch

Add bobby pins to secure the braids to each other. Lordet suggested used bigger-size pins.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Six: Braided Chignon For Brunch

Step Six: Braided Chignon For Brunch

Massage or very lightly pull on the braids to give them a loose look.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Seven: Braided Chignon For Brunch

Step Seven: Braided Chignon For Brunch

Finish with hair spray, go greet your day-after guests, and finally break that wedding diet.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Eight: Braided Chignon For Brunch

Step Eight: Braided Chignon For Brunch

Here's the easy, breezy look from the side.

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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Step Nine: Braided Chignon For Brunch

Step Nine: Braided Chignon For Brunch

See the stunning style from the back. Happy wedding weekend!

Photo: Caroline Voagen Nelson

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