27 Chic Hairstyle Ideas for the Mother of the Bride or Groom

• Choose a hairstyle that enhances your favorite features and works with your hair's natural texture.
• Consider a versatile low bun or half-up, half-down style for an elegant and effortless look.
• Don't forget to think about the weather and how long your hairstyle will need to last on the big day.

A Side Part With Voluminous Curls

Combining a side part with voluminous curls, this mother of the bride made sure that her hairstyle didn't take away from her ensemble at her daughter's Vancouver nuptials. The look worked perfectly given the length of her hair, allowing her curls to graze her shoulders—without covering her top.

Tight Shoulder-Length Waves

Unsure of what mother-of-the-bride hairstyle might work best on you? Consider using this one as inspiration. Rather than opting for dramatic curls or a sleek, straightened look, this woman landed on tight waves for her daughter's Virginia nuptials, lending a whimsical aesthetic to her violet-hued ensemble.

A Sleek Twisted Low Bun

Pulling her hair back into a low twisted bun, this mother of the bride showcased one of our favorite hairstyles while attending her daughter's wedding in France. By wrapping her hair around itself, she created an effortless-yet-chic style for the occasion.

A Low Bun With a Clip

For her daughter's wedding in Hawaii, this mother of the bride showcased an easy-yet-stunning style: a low bun pulled back with a clip. Inserting the accessory into her hair added a touch of glamour to her look, perfectly complementing the rest of her ensemble for the celebration.

Curled Face-Framing Pieces

Torn between a low bun and a head of curls? There's no rule that says you can't combine the two mother-of-the-bride hairstyles. For her daughter's nuptials in Rome, this woman opted for just that: pulling her hair back into a tight bun before pulling out (and curling!) a few face-framing pieces.

A Twisted Chignon

While a simple low bun is always timeless, if you want to take your hairstyle up a notch, consider adding in a few twists, which is what this mother of the bride did at her daughter’s botanical nuptials in Chicago. According to Sadiku, updos with twists, knots, clustered curls, and other unique shapes are a trending hairstyle that mothers of the bride and mothers of the groom have been gravitating toward.

A Playful Half-Up, Half-Down Hairstyle

To infuse a fun, playful flair into your mother-of-the-bride or mother-of-the-groom hairstyle, consider a half-up, half-down look that’s situated at the top of your head. The heightened position will make your hair look longer and thicker, especially if you incorporate loose waves.

A Wispy Crop

If you’ve always kept your hair short, there’s nothing more elegant than a cropped look with a few wispy waves, which this mother of the bride modeled at her daughter’s jewel-tone fête in New York. Integrating just a bit of texture, as opposed to curling your whole head of hair, will give your everyday look a boost—without undermining your length.

Curtain Bangs With Textured Waves

Curtain bangs are having a resurgence at the moment. If you currently have or want to try this face-framing hairstyle, choose a look that spotlights this focal feature. Wearing your hair down and curling a few strands, like this mother of the bride did for her daughter’s tented wedding in Ohio, will complement your bangs. 

A Full, No-Part Updo

A dramatic, statement-making hairstyle that’s perfect for formal affairs is a swept-back, no-part updo that’s teased at the crown (such as this mother of the bride’s chignon at her daughter’s garden affair in California). This is also a stunning option for off-the-shoulder necklines and long earrings since your hair won’t obscure your neck or shoulders.  

A Sophisticated Slick-Back

A slicked-back look is another in-demand hairstyle—for both the bride and the mother of the bride or groom. A sleek bun is the most sought-after version, but for a revamped iteration that’s still on-trend, choose a slicked-back down-style, such as the one this mother of the bride sported at her daughter’s mid-century modern wedding. Pulling the top half of your hair up will frame your face and radiate romance, no matter your hair length or texture. 

A Floral-Adorned Updo

If your child’s wedding has a garden-inspired setting or aesthetic, lean into the theme by topping off your hairstyle with a flower. For a sweet mother-daughter or mother-son moment, you can even wear the same bloom used in the bride’s bouquet or the groom’s boutonnière. Whatever you choose, just make sure it’s a seasonal pick that matches the colors of your dress. When in doubt, go with white, like this mother of the bride selected at her daughter’s California nuptials featuring a pop of navy.

Old Hollywood Glamour

For a glamorous hairstyle with a vintage touch, Old Hollywood waves are a no-fail pick. Especially for glamorous celebrations, like this one in the Dominican Republic, loose, barreling curls are effortlessly romantic. For an extra dose of drama and magnitude, part your hair to the side. 

An Effortless Updo

Pinned-back updos are undoubtedly beautiful, but they aren’t for everyone. If your personal style is more effortless, rock a loose, slightly unkempt bun. Whether you’re the mother of the bride or mother of the groom, you can even coordinate your hairstyle with one another for a photo-worthy moment, like these two women at their children's ranch wedding in California.

An Asymmetrical Look

Asymmetrical looks, like this mother of the groom’s hairstyle at her son’s romantic fall fête in Atlanta, are unexpected and eye-catching. To execute this vision, pull a curled lock out of your updo, so it frames one side of your face and cascades down your shoulder. Side parts will also give this look a bit of balance.

A Half Top Knot

A half-up, half-down hairstyle with a messy, curly top knot (seen on this mother of the bride at her daughter’s purple-themed affair in Atlanta) is perfect for fashionable mothers of the bride and groom. To match the look and feel of the high, unkempt bun, be sure to have your stylist incorporate some curls into the other half of your hair.

Brushed-Out Curls

Brushed-out curls take up space, imbuing elegance, volume, and dimension into your look—which is evident on this mother of the bride at her daughter’s colorful Indian wedding in Brooklyn. This hairstyle idea is ideal for medium or longer lengths since your stylist will have more room to work with. However, for mothers of the bride or groom who have short hair, extensions are always an option in order to make this style a reality.

An Intricate Coif

Rethink the classic chignon by including a few knotted tresses and braided pieces; the textured add-ons and embedded opulence will make your look stand out from the rest. Since your hair will be pulled back and situated at the nape of your neck, this mother-of-the-bride or mother-of-the-groom hairstyle will complement a high-neck gown with a full back.

A Kempt Perm

Perms convert your head of hair into full, voluminous curls that rival natural ones. If you’ve been rocking this hairstyle for quite some time (or you’re thinking about it), styling isn’t necessary—in fact, using heated tools with a perm isn’t advised. For your daughter or son’s wedding, you can probably get away with using a wide-tooth comb on the ends of your hair and sealing it with a hydrating product instead of visiting a salon.

A Side-Swept Style

Side-swept hairstyles are classy and effortless, making them a beautiful choice for any affair. If your hair errs on the shorter side—like this mother of the bride who’s pictured at her daughter’s timeless soirée in Atlanta—parting your hair over to one side will instantly introduce depth and dimension. For longer hair lengths, you can also incorporate waves or curls to ramp up the drama.

Loose Waves

Loose waves (which is how this mother of the bride styled her hair for her daughter’s pink-themed wedding in Alabama) will never go out of style, which is why it’s still a highly-requested mother-of-the-bride or mother-of-the-groom look. This style will look dazzling on display at a formal wedding since it gives your natural hair an extra layer of grandeur.

A Blunt Bob

A blunt, chin-grazing bob, where every strand is the same length, is an unfussy and sophisticated hairstyle for mothers of the bride or groom, whether or not you normally keep your hair short. To spotlight your even ends, choose a pin-straight style.

A Sleek Low Bun

An updo doesn’t have to mask the texture of your hair. If you want to spotlight glass-like locks, such as this mother at her daughter’s intimate nuptials in Tuscany, choose a low bun that’s neatly pinned back. On the morning of the big day, consider asking your stylist to run a flat iron through your strands before they pull your hair back to ensure everything stays in place.

A Voluminous Half-Up, Half-Down Look

Give a half-up, half-down mother-of-the-bride or mother-of-the groom hairstyle more magnitude and allure by teasing the pieces on top of your head. The end result, such as the one this mother showcased at this floral-filled weekend in California, will be a vintage-inspired look that’s reminiscent of the 1960s.

Chic Bangs

Wispy bangs that graze your forehead are delicate, soft, and whimsical. If you’re a mother of the bride or groom who has short hair (like the mom at this rainbow-hued fête in Chicago), but you want to elevate your everyday style, give these bangs a try.