28 Vintage Wedding Hairstyles for Retro-Loving Brides

laughing bride with retro curly lob and red lipstick — Photo by Liz Fogarty Photography

Vintage wedding hairstyles are always a popular choice for brides who love the classic, elevated looks first made famous by silver-screen legends like Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Brigitte Bardot. Styles like big, voluminous Old Hollywood waves, victory rolls, and dramatic updos adorned with old-fashioned pins and barrettes are the perfect choice for weddings because they’ve truly stood the test of time. Even if these styles are different from what you typically do on a day-to-day basis, they'll feel more special and forma on the big day.

If you’re a retro-loving bride, chances are your wedding already has a few timeless touches that pay homage to your favorite decade, whether that’s the roaring '20s or the swinging '60s. A classic wedding hairstyle completes the vintage vision, along with romantic, period-appropriate makeup details.

From bouffants to finger waves, we've rounded up the best vintage-inspired wedding hairstyles for the retro-loving bride.

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A Heritage Headpiece

brunette bride with low chignon and art deco tiara looking down at bouquet — Photo by Sally Pinera

Jazz up an updo by adding a sparkling headpiece over top, like this Art Deco-inspired accessory above. The flowing face-framing pieces of hair add a modern touch to this bridal look, creating the perfect mix of old and new.

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Soft, Shiny Waves

bride with blunt lob styled in soft waves holding out veil around her — Photo by Chi-Chi Ari

Short, shoulder-length hairstyles were once all the rage. Add some body to your lob with a few soft waves, which you can achieve by curling the hair with a large-barrel curling wand or sleeping overnight in large rollers. Brush out to create that cascading wave of curls.

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Classic Barrel Curls

Smiling brunette bride with soft barrel curls and red lipstick in lace long sleeve wedding dress — Photo by Erich McVey

Few wedding hairstyles can compete with the glitz and glamour of Old Hollywood waves. Made famous by movie stars like Veronica Lake, these sleek, retro waves can be achieved with a large-barrel curling iron, curling the hair all the way down the ends. Set the curls by pinning them and allowing them to completely cool before brushing through with your fingers.

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Chic Center Part

groom in white dinner jacket holding train of brunette bride with center parted waves in long sleeve, applique wedding dress — Photo by Gianny Campos

These soft, loose curls and a chic center part scream of bygone glamour. A pair of long pearl earrings elevate the retro aesthetic for maximum impact.

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Veiled Coif

smiling bride in vintage lace dress and veil with posie of babys breath in updo — Photo by Jillian Mitchell

Inspired by the Harlem renaissance, this Brooklyn couple wanted their wedding day to reflect their love of 1930s style. This Jazz Age-inspired updo, topped with an embroidered veil from New York Vintage, fits the bill flawlessly.

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Bodacious Beehive Bun

Bride in beehive bun and french fringe holding hands with smiling groom in navy suit — Photo by Lydia Jane Photography

This voluminous bridal bun is part beehive, part ballerina, and entirely retro. The fun fringe feels very '60s and goes perfectly with the neckline of the dress.

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Bombshell Ringlets

Brunette bride in lace robe having curls set by hair stylist — Photo by Natura Collective

A modern take on Old Hollywood waves, these tight, glossy curls will complement any vintage wedding aesthetic. The style also pairs well with bombshell makeup and a contemporary nude lip.

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Cascading Waves

brunette bride with soft waves in ruffled blush wedding dress — Photo by Abby Jiu Photography

We love everything about this stunning bridal look, which feels both timeless and of the moment. The soft, cascading waves frame the bride's gorgeous features while complementing the playful volume of the wedding dress.

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Pearl-Studded Headband

Bride with slicked-back bun in long sleeve wedding dress, veil, and pearl tiara holding white floral bouquet — Photo by Alicia Mink Photography

This oversized pearl headband adds a pop of glossy texture, which is important to consider when wearing a long-sleeved wedding dress. A slicked-back bun and muted eye composition enhance the classic, sophisticated aesthetic.

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A Touch of Baby's Breath

Laughing bride in off-the-shoulder wedding dress with babys breath in curly lob — Photo by Clean Plate Pictures

We love a sprig of freshness in a bridal hairstyle. This gorgeous bride accented her voluminous coils with a posie of sweet baby's breath to complement the organic bouquet.

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Crowning Glory

Smiling brunette bride with double-row rhinestone headband and loose curls with smiling groom in tux — Photo by Eileen Meny Photography

Hairpins and accessories make for the perfect "something borrowed" in a vintage wedding. This double-row headband adds elegance to any bridal look, upgrading the simple bridal hairstyle.

Brush volume throughout the crown before sliding on a headpiece to introduce some additional height to the look.

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Bouncy, Soft Waves

Bride in red lipstick and matching lehenga and bouncy hairstyle being hugged by smiling groom — Photo by Jenn Smith & Co

This soft, romantic look never goes out of style. For a fluffy, voluminous style, brush out your curls with a paddle brush.

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Long and Sleek

Brunette bride with long, pinned back waves kissing groom's forehead — Photo by Jami Laree Jeskey

These long, glamorous waves are red-carpet-ready. Lean into the retro silhouette by pinning the first inch or two of hair back behind the ears to show off the volume at the crown.

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Minimalist Knot

For the modern vintage-loving bride, try this sweet and simple updo. The low looped bun is the perfect combination of retro and contemporary minimalism.

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Roaring '20's Curly Bob

This bride proves that having short hair doesn't mean you can't rock a curly bridal look. Use a small-barrel curling iron and work in manageable sections to add tons of volume and get that effortless feel. Pull one side back to show off a pair of statement earrings.

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Hidden Jewels

Brunette bride with long curls and glamorous headpiece smiling up at groom in all black tuxedo — PHOTO BY LARISSA CLEVELAND PHOTOGRAPHY

This rhinestone floral headpiece goes underneath the hair instead of on top, which keeps the style from looking too over-the-top. The glamorous wave of jewels sparkles in the side profile while remaining subtle from the front.

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Vintage Chic

Laughing bride in swppping vintage bob and beaded cap-sleeve wedding dress holding hands with laughing groom and flower girls — Photo by Sean Money + Elizabeth Fay

This Gatsby-inspired bridal style is giving us all the retro inspiration. The sweetly swooping shape of the hair paired with a silver-embroidered, cap-sleeve gown and Juliet veil completes the glam 1920s look.

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Behind-the-Ear Candy

Bride in beaded cap-sleeve wedding dress with romantic chignon and sparkly headpiece — Photo by Treebird Photography

Brushed over and pinned into a vintage low bun, this relaxed updo is accented with a beautiful brooch tucked just behind the ear. The matching gemstone earrings and that exquisitely beaded dress transport this bride's wedding look into another era.

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Bangin' Bob

Brunette bride in lace wedding dress with curly lob and bangs looking back as she walks with groom down urban street — Photo by Ready Luck

The bride's short bangs give her hairstyle a sophisticated yet trendy nature. Defined waves add plenty of movement and a dark lip pulls the whole composition together for a bit of edge.

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Show-Stopping Curls

Bride with curly lob and roses tucked into coils smiling as groom kisses her on the forehead — Photo by Two Twenty by Chi Chi

This look is all about texture and shape. Show off your natural curls and separate the front pieces to frame the face. Tuck a flower (or two) behind the ear, pinning it down with bobby pins, for a pop of color.

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Voluminous Vintage Pony

Bride in lace long-sleeve dress and romantic, voluminous ponytail and bridesmaid in silk robe holding wedding dress train — Photo by The Curries

The key to achieving the perfect voluminous ponytail is teasing. (Lots and lots of teasing!) This not only adds volume and softens up the coif, but it also makes the pony more secure, so it'll stay perky all night long.

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Bedazzled Band

Brunette bride in plunging neckline long-sleeve wedding dress and glittery headband holding hands with bridesmaid in purple dress — Photo by David Bastianoni

Add some sparkle to a simple updo with a headpiece. The bride pictured here went with a Maria Elena headpiece accented with blue topaz earrings sourced from Colombia as her something blue.

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Embellished Hijab

Smiling bride in white hijab and headpiece being helped by mom in blush embellished dress and matching hijab — Photo by The Hendricks

Accessorize your bridal hijab with a headpiece, like this 1920s-inspired jeweled option featuring a large gemstone in the center. The design drapes neatly along the hairline and towards the crown complementing the folds of the fabric while balancing out the bride's large bun.

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Bardot Bangs

Brunette bride with bangs and black-and-white tiered dress holding hands with groom in all black — Photo by Paul O'Reilly

Brigitte Bardot curtain bangs are the epitome of a romantic bridal hairstyle. The free-flowing waves feel very vintage—stylish yet effortless. No accessories are needed for this chic style, but we love how this bride tied the rest of her hair back with a piece of ribbon.

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Barely-There Crinkle

Brunette bride with crinkled lob and lace dress kneeling with flower girl and ring bearer — Photo by Kelly Anne Berry

Another way to style a lob is to add just a hint of a wave through the hair. You can do this with a straightener or a small-barrel curling wand and leave the ends straight for a modern twist on the classic style. We love how the soft crinkle looks under the stunning lace veil.

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Bouffant-Inspired Bun

Brunette bride with low chignon in black and beige ruffled dress smiling at groom and holding bouquet of olive leaves — Photo by Michael Stephens Photography

This voluminous bridal bun oozes '60s glamour. The retro feeling comes from the shape and height of the bun—the bigger and taller, the better. Let a few face-framing layers loose to modernize this timeless style.

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Floral Accent

Bride in lace dress and floral adorned half-up, half-down hairstyle being zipped into dress by mom — Photo by Carlie Statsky

Reminiscent of the flower-child era, this effortless half-up, half-down style featuring loose curls and fresh flowers is a lovely '60s-inspired 'do that never disappoints. We love how the wispy, wiggly stems and leaves mimic the drape of the hair so prettily.

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Elegant Bob

Brunette bride in veil-adorned retro bob and red lipstick wearing henna design on hand and holding bright bouquet — Photo by MEGHANN CHAPMAN

This cheekbone-grazing bob is made more romantic with just the ends curled up around the bride's stunning face. A pop of red lipstick adds to the overall nostalgic feel.

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