Bride Guide & Party Planner

All Swept Up: Perfect hairdos for outdoor weddings

By Danielle Zerbonne - March 22, 2007

The vast majority of couples who get married on Martha's Vineyard take advantage of the Island's natural splendor by holding ceremonies on beaches, in fields, on cliffs, or at lighthouses. Having your wedding outdoors creates a special magic, but also adds a few twists, especially when it comes to your coiffure. Even so, with help from the experts, your hair can look great from the wedding procession to the final dance.

On their wedding day, most brides probably want to look like a slightly more glamorous version of themselves. Salons may have different approaches, but most agree that, however individual, there is a Vineyard style - beachy, tousled, touchable, yet sophisticated. Island brides tend to favor the natural over overly dramatic hair or heavy makeup that renders them unrecognizable. Maggie Mae, owner of Maggie's in Vineyard Haven, advises brides, "Look like yourself, but exaggerate. This will be the most formal event of your entire life; you want it to be special."

But this isn't the time to make radical alterations to your hair. If you have naturally curly hair, blowing it straight puts your style at risk of reverting after a few humid hours getting your dress on and your bridesmaids in order. According to Rhonda Morgan of Boucle in Edgartown, "If you have curly hair, have curly hair. Don't fight it." She explains that there are things you can do to enhance, not change, your natural hair, like using hair pieces to add extra volume or curls if your hair is thin or short. The pieces can be dyed to match your hair color, and be virtually impossible to detect.

If you are having a professional style your hair, the first thing to do is research salons. Many Vineyard salons begin booking for summer and fall weddings by early January. (September is the first month to go.) Choose a salon that you feel comfortable with and confident about, with stylists who can accommodate any special needs and help inform your decisions so you'll look your best and have fun getting there.

Pictures of what you like (and don't like) are always a great help for the person doing your hair. Richard Prieto at Wavelengths in Edgartown always encourages pictures, "rather than someone trying to describe what they want. Everything means something different to people - an inch might mean two inches."

Most salons recommend, even require, a consultation period before the big day, and for good reason. "It's a chance for us to get to know your personality," says Ms. Morgan. "You don't want to be frantic on the day. You want to have a game plan."

If you want certain kinds of flowers in your hair, bring them along and have your stylist pin them firmly into place so they won't fly off with a gust of wind. Some flowers will hold up to a little hairspray while others shrivel. Ms. Mae recommends asking your florist, and Ms. Morgan cautions, "You don't need 5,000 trinkets in your hair. One accent piece is enough."

Most salons prefer to place the bride's veil so that the hairstyle won't be mussed when the finishing touches are being added. An outdoor wedding adds extra consideration to the type of headpiece that's worn, if any. Gretchen Wean of A Hair Affair in Edgartown says, "Wind is a big deal around here. A lot of people want to be near the water, but no matter how nice the day is, wind is a factor."

The trend in brides' hair styles is fickle. All it takes is a starlet crossing the red carpet with a fanciful hairdo, and suddenly across the nation hair stylists are getting requests from brides for the same look. But if vows are being exchanged on the edge of the Aquinnah cliffs, the effect of a stiff breeze has to be weighed against the desire for perfect, unmovable ringlet curls. However, with the variety of products on the market today, there are few styles you can't make work on some level without looking lacquered and stiff.

Danielle Zerbonne is a member of the staff at The Martha's Vineyard Times.