23 Beach Wedding Hairstyle Ideas for a Seaside Celebration

Updated 10/29/20

Bride and groom walking in the sand — J Photography

Whether your wedding venue is oceanside or a classic ballroom, beach wedding hairstyles look stunning on and off the shore. Tousled waves, tiny braids, and similar beachy styles look just as good in a barn as they do at a tropical destination. In case you need proof, we found several real brides who perfected their own version of a beach wedding hairstyle for their big day.

From the classic ponytail to flower crowns, these ladies proved that beach wedding hairstyles are perfect for every bride. For the traditional bride, there are humidity-friendly updos and beautiful hair accessories to top off the look. For the boho bride, try a cool chignon or quintessential beach waves. Either way, you'll find plenty of beach wedding hairstyle ideas here.

Keep scrolling to see 23 of our favorite beach wedding hairstyles, straight from real brides.

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Tousled Waves

Classic tousled waves are the perfect match for a boho beach bride. We love how the texture of the hair emphasizes the dimension in Stephanie Hill's golden highlights.

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A Minimalist Low Ponytail

An elegant gown and chic veil call for a low ponytail. The ultimate in minimalist elegance for a no-frills bride.

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A Statement Bun

Keep it classic with a swept-back bun that shows off your killer smile. Bonus: Your hair will be off your neck when the summer sun beats down.

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Easy Braids

Bride with crown braid — Mel Barlow; Event Planning by Carole Grogan of Bright Blue Events

Embrace those beachy vibes while keeping hair off your face with a simple crown braid like model Hana Mayeda did for her rehearsal in Malibu. The easygoing 'do adds some extra pizzaz and is a great way to show off sunny highlights.

If you're not into sparkly adornments an easy braid is a great way to pull hair off your face naturally without the use of look-at-me pins and accessories.

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A Romantic Updo

Bridal portrait in cactus garden — Jamie English; Event Planning by Love Bird Events; Hair & Makeup by Grace Lin Makeup

Go for romantic with a casual, raked-back ponytail and face-framing tendrils. We love that this soft style elevates the otherwise sporty 'do to more elegant heights.

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A Flower Crown Accent

Bride with flower crown — Volvoreta; Event Planning by Kamila at Sonhos Cerimonial; Floral Design by Maria Salazar

Easy and breezy is exactly what you get when you gather your hair in a relaxed style and top it off with a flower crown. We're obsessed with how the texture of the florals mimics that of the lace dress at this beach wedding in Brazil.

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A Twist on Tousled Waves

Shanina Shaik on the beach — Sara Lobla; Event Planning by Alice Spitalny, Ben Simmons, and Charlotte Simmons of Little Island Design; Hair by Jennifer Yepez using Kevin Murphy

Tousled waves look even better when you twist back the front sections of your hair and let your radiance shine through. So effortless and natural, this half-up bun is playful and pragmatic all at once.

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Pony Up

Newlyweds holding hands in front of ocean — Stephanie Brauer; Event Planning by Papillon Weddings

Don't discount the everyday ponytail—it can make quite the beautiful wedding-day hairstyle, especially when wrapped in ribbon. Former BRIDES photo editor Brenda Armendariz shows us how it's done at her beachside nuptials in Mexico.

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A Twisted Knot

Shanina Shaik & DJ Ruckus — Sara Lobla; Event Planning by Alice Spitalny, Ben Simmons, and Charlotte Simmons of Little Island Design; Hair by Jennifer Yepez using Kevin Murphy

For the unfussy bride looking for an easy 'do to match her sandy nuptials, look no further than a low-key twisted knot. Pull out a few wisps at the front to frame that beautiful face and add a touch of femininity like model Shanina Shaik did for her wedding in the Bahamas.

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A Beachy Crop

A shorter length is just as conducive to a beachy style as long locks. This bride added loose waves to her shoulder-length hair and accessorized with a fabulous birdcage veil for her coastal nuptials.

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A Traditional Updo

First kiss — Ana Lui; Event Planning by Le Jour de Oui; Floral Design by Il Profumo Dei Fiori

If you're the type of bride who wants a beachy 'do with a traditional vibe, this beautiful updo is calling your name. Just frame the style with a halo of local flora for an instant, tropical refresh.

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An Added Accessory

Cool bridal waves look even better with a whimsical hair accessory like this one. We love how it mimics the flow of the hair's loose curls.

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Make a Statement

We're in absolute awe of this stunningly regal look. There's something so gorgeous about a modest chignon when paired with a statement hair accessory and delicate veil.

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A Cool-Girl Messy Bun

What's the difference between an elegant chignon and an impeccable messy bun perfectly placed just at the nape of the neck? Infinite amounts of California cool-girl factor. This bride nailed the look with a few loose tendrils and those earrings for her boho-chic Tulum, Mexico, wedding.

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Embellish an Undone Updo

This messy updo is quintessential beach bride—but the stunning hair accessory takes it to new heights. You can elevate an effortless, undone style with a small embellishment without taking away from that laid-back vibe you love.

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Boho Braids

Newlyweds walking down the beach — Melissa Marshall

We've said it before and we'll say it again: Adding a braid can instantly transform a simple hairstyle into a bohemian dream. A dainty braid and soft waves complement this bride's beachside venue to a tee.

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A Laid-Back Updo

Bride looking at hair in mirror — Kristen Curette; Hair by Graciela Saldivar; Makeup by Paloma Garcia

This is proof that an easygoing updo can look so elegant. We love how the added volume and wavy texture at the crown blend seamlessly into the carefully coiffed coils.

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A Twist on Tradition

This is how you infuse a traditional updo with a beachy vibe: Twist it up. This style is great for allowing those back details to be the real showstopper but isn't something to go unnoticed either. A perfect pairing!

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A Charming Flower Crown

Beach weddings and flower crowns go hand in hand. We love the lush, whimsical take that this bride wore to her wedding on the Greek island of Crete. The sweet combination of white flowers adds so much texture and dimension to her look, transforming her into a full-fledged boho Greek goddess.

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A Relaxed Ponytail

Bride zipping herself into dress — Wendy Laurel Photography; Event Planning by Couture Events; Hair & Makeup by Meili Autumn Beauty

This dreamy low ponytail is a fitting choice for this bride's Hawaiian nuptials. Loosen a few tendrils from the center part and dot with flowers to finish off the vibe.

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A Sleek Option

This look just knocked us over. The fashion-forward brides among us will appreciate a sleeker take on the beach-friendly updo, like this minimalist beauty. (Also, that dress! But we digress...)

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Mermaid Waves

It doesn't get more quintessential beach wedding hair than shiny, wind-swept waves. This swoon-worthy style is the stuff beachy bridal-hair dreams are made of.

Play with the finish of the hair, from matte to glossy, to adjust the look of these mermaid waves to better fit your style and vision.

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Tuck a Blossom in It

Bloom tucked into bun — Olivia Rae James

If you love a "girl with flowers in her hair" moment but don't want to go full Coachella vibes with a flower crown, there are other options. Adorn a sleek chignon with a floral detail to give it a tropical flair.

If you're having a destination wedding, consider using some of the local flora in your 'do to infuse some of the natural surroundings and environment into your look.