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An Evening in Florence

Blending Parisian-chic with timeless appeal, elevate a modern chignon wedding updo with carefully chosen bridal accessories.

For lovers of wedding hairstyles, you can’t go pass the chignon wedding updo. The chignon is a classic wedding hairstyle that exudes elegance and sophistication. Over the years, this timeless updo has been reinvented with modern twists, making it a favourite among contemporary brides. The modern chignon is versatile, chic and suitable for various wedding themes, from classic and traditional to bohemian and modern.

We love to accessorise a bridal chignon with intricate and detailed hair pieces that will instantly elevate your bridal look. Whether it’s a wedding headpiece or a bridal veil, a chignon is the perfect foundation to secure a beautiful heirloom piece.

What is a chignon?

A chignon (pronounced “shee-nyon”) is a hairstyle where the hair is pinned into a knot or bun at the nape of the neck or the back of the head. The word ‘chignon’ comes from the French phrase “chignon du cou” which means “nape of the neck”. This elegant hairstyle is perfect for brides who want a sophisticated and polished look.

Photo credits:  1 | 2 | 3

Our favourite bridal chignons

Combining the classic chignon shape with an undone—almost messy—aesthetic, a relaxed bridal chignon is the ultimate in bohemian bridal styling. This look can take you to the red carpet, wedding aisle or your engagement party.  The look feels effortless, is anything but polished and can be styled with structured wedding gowns through to soft and billowy dresses.

Whether you have long, short, thick or fine hair – this relaxed hairstyle will work for you. The messy structure can be formed with the help of texturizers and hair extensions to add volume and thickness to the bun.

Photo credits:  1 | 2 | 3

How to accessorise a bridal chignon

The low set structure of a chignon is the perfect foundation for bridal hair accessories

1. Choose an upwards facing headpiece to frame your hairstyle

A headpiece positioned at the back centre of your chignon will create the perfect focal point as you walk down the aisle. This look is beautiful for wedding gowns with low V backs, long sleeves or off-the-shoulder necklines as it will draw attention upwards, frame your shoulders and elongate your silhouette.

The beauty of an upwards facing headpiece is it will accentuate the natural shape and curves of your hairstyle. We all know how long it can take to choose the perfect hairstyle for your wedding day so why not put it on full display.

2. Choose a headpiece that curves around or down to frame the bun

A headpiece that curves downwards will direct the eye down towards the shoulders and frame your veil. There’s a feeling of effortlessness with this look as it curves around and down the contours of your chignon.

This look is beautiful with smaller earrings and suits both refined or relaxed bridal updos.

3. A side hair comb will feel effortless

For a look that’s more relaxed, position a hair piece or pins to the side of your updo. This asymmetrical look feels at home with bohemian inspired hairstyles with loose tendrils around the face.

If you like the idea of smaller pins and a minimalist aesthetic, simple pearls scattered along your chignon can create an equally beautiful finish.

4. A wedding crown will frame your face

Depending on your face shape and the size of your chignon, a crown will frame your face and provide balance to your overall bridal look. This is a beautiful way to style high necklines, long sleeves or covered backs as it will draw attention forwards.

5. Add a classic wedding veil

Just because you love a bridal headpiece, it doesn’t mean you can’t wear it with a veil. We adore the chignon for its versatility which allows you to easily style it with a simple wedding veil. For a touch of the traditional, choose a mid to long wedding veil, with or without a blusher layer. Simply position your veil comb to the top of your chignon and then position your headpiece into place.

Need personalised styling advice?

Feel free to send us an email with photos of your wedding dress and bridal hairstyle and we would be happy to send you recommendations and ideas via email.

Every wedding gown and bride is different and the perfect accessories for you will not only depend on your gown but your personal style, vision, height and hairstyle. We love to work with our brides to create the perfect veil that you will love to keep as an heirloom after your wedding day. We are based in Australia and ship worldwide.

Messy wedding updos are beloved for their soft, romantic appearance. They give the impression of effortless beauty while providing a secure and long-lasting hairstyle for your wedding day.

It’s no wonder messy wedding updos are so popular. Their relaxed and textured nature is contrasted perfectly by a contemporary, sophisticated and infinitely stylish feel.

While messy wedding hairstyles feel effortless, this doesn’t mean they lack formal elegance. These relaxed hairstyles embody bohemian luxe appeal with romantic and whimsical undertones. Looser buns, tousled curls and soft waves around the face can beautifully frame cheek bones, jaw lines and draw attention to the eyes in the most effortless way.

The inherent uniqueness is also part of the appeal. It’s impossible to replicate a messy updo exactly. So much depends on your hair texture, length, colour, and of course, the experience and expertise of your hairstylist.

To ensure you get the look that’s right for you, we recommend organising a hair trial before your wedding day to ensure your hairstylist is able to capture the style you love. It can sometimes take a few attempts to find the perfect messy hairstyle (or even the perfect hairstylist) for you that captures your vision.

You can never have too much hair inspiration and we’ve pulled together below our favourite 24 messy wedding updos that you’ll love.

Shop New Arrivals: Bridal Headpieces, Veils & Hair Accessories
Explore this season's latest accessories for modern brides

How To Style A Messy Wedding Updo

Our recommendations for styling a messy updo? We love to style messy hairstyles with hairpieces that feature delicate details that accentuate the organic nature of the updo.  Nature-inspired details blend effortlessly with the soft waves and twists of a messy hairstyle and the end result is harmonious, beautiful and elegant.

Wedding crowns, backwards facing headpieces and scattered hair pins style perfectly with messy hairstyles. The key is to think proportions and to choose a piece which picks up the colours and textures in your hair.

1. Romantic low bun

The romantic low bun is a timeless choice that combines the elegance of a bun with the relaxed feel of loose, textured hair. This style is perfect for brides seeking a soft and sophisticated look.

How to accessorise a low bun

  • Accessorise the bun with small, delicate floral hair pins for a romantic, garden-inspired look. We recommend smaller hair pins such as the BRIAR-ROSE, LAURETTE or WHISPER hair pins scattered across your hair.
  • Add sparkle and shimmer with pearl or crystal hair pins, placing them strategically around the bun.
  • Finish your look with a minimalist veil on a small comb or for ultra luxurious look, style a lace veil across the top of your bun for added romance and drama.

2. Elegant twisted updo

The twisted updo is an elegant and sophisticated option that combines twists and knots to create a beautiful, textured hairstyle. This style is perfect for brides who want a classic look with a modern twist.

How to accessorise a twisted updo

  • Let the twists remain the focus of your look with simple accessorises such as pearl hair pins or dainty floral pins.
  • Statement drop earrings such as pearl bridal earrings or floral earrings will frame your face.
  • A sheer minimalist wedding veil will let the hairstyle remain the focus. We love to pair these hairstyles with the CALLA LILY or AUDREY minimalist wedding veils.
  • Finish the look with a statement wedding crown to frame your face. For a more regal look, a delicate crown such as the FLORES, BLANCHETT, FLEUR or REINA are the perfect pieces to frame the front section of your hairstyle and face.

3. Relaxed chignon

This hairstyle involves loosely gathering the hair at the nape of the neck and securing it into a bun with bobby pins, allowing soft tendrils to fall naturally around the face and neck. A messy chignon effortlessly complements various wedding themes, from rustic and bohemian to chic and classic.

How to accessorise a messy chignon

  • A messy chignon with soft wispy tendrils pairs beautifully with backwards facing headpieces to mimic and frame the gentle curves. Our favourite combinations include the CHERRY BLOSSOM, LYRIC, MARION or VERSAILLES headpiece.
  • Pair your headpiece with a veil to frame back of your dress. Opt for a minimalist veil which will offer transparency and an ethereal touch to your look.
  • A birdcage veil will add a touch of relaxed drama to your look, perfect for garden or small and intimate weddings.

Need personalised styling advice?

Need styling advice to bring together your bridal look? Get in touch with photos of your wedding gown and your favourite pieces from the collection. We would love to offer ideas and recommendations on pieces to suit, including how our pieces can be customised to suit you.

Shop New Arrivals: Bridal Headpieces, Veils & Hair Accessories
Explore this season's latest accessories for modern brides
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