25 Beachy Bridal Hairstyles For A Wedding By The Ocean

When thinking of a romantic wedding location, it makes sense that many people would want to tie the knot on the beach. The sun, sand, and laid–back atmosphere make a perfect scene for a beautiful wedding. Of course, one of the most important details at any wedding is the bride's dress, but let's not neglect the rest of the bride's look — namely, the hair. 

At a beach wedding, there are a few extra factors that hairstylists, and the brides, have to take into account. There's likely to be lots of humidity, wind, and seawater spray from the ocean, so any bride's hairstyle has to find ways to deal with those potential problems. Ultimately, most beach hairstyles will gravitate towards the completely loose style that can be wind-whipped and still look good or towards an extremely tight style that will stay in place even after several hours of humidity and fun in the sun.

No matter what style you're going for, there's a beachy bridal hairstyle out there for you. And the good news is some of the best hairstyles can even be tweaked or modified to your style to make it perfect for you and your special day.

At her 2015 wedding to Patrick Tatopoulos, actor McKenzie Westmore accessorized her otherwise pretty simple hairdo with a diamond chain that added just the right touch of sparkle. Copy her style by gathering beach waves at the nape of the neck in a loose, low ponytail and finding your very own special hair chain to add on top. This style works well for a country-style or laid-back beach wedding. 

There are plenty of casual hairstyles for you to rock through the wedding season if you're a guest, but even a bride can go casual if she wants to. Consider the fashionable yet subdued bubble ponytail. It's endlessly customizable to your style or preference and can even save you money on a hairstylist — because it's that easy to do yourself! Up the ante on the simple hairstyle by tying extra ribbons around each hair tie, accentuating each with a brooch or clip, or even wrapping each hair tie with something sparkly.  

What's more appropriate than braids on a beach? These might have started out as old-fashioned pigtails, but they get a major modern update when you leave them loose and run them all the way down your hair. You can opt to have them separate as two distinct braids or pin them together in the middle to make it look like one giant braid. Having highlights in your hair will make these braids stand out even more. 

Beaches and mermaids are a match made in heaven, so creating this flowy braid similar to what we imagine a mermaid would wear on her own wedding day is perfect for a beach wedding. Pair your loose and flowy braid with an off-the-shoulder dress to maximize the mermaidcore style, and you're good to go. 

We mentioned flowers in the hair, but there's nothing quite as classic and beautiful as a full flower crown on loose hair. This example takes the trend one step further and uses a more fall-themed flower crown — which could also suggest that a beach wedding doesn't have to be only during the summer months. 

Wrap this beauty of a braid around your head, and you won't even need to worry about choosing the right wedding veil. You can make this braid either loose or pretty tight to keep it in place throughout your event. It's a great style to keep the hair off your neck, which can help keep you cool even when the ocean and heat raise the humidity levels.

There's only one word to describe this beautiful braid — wow. It works best for long hair (or if you get some extensions for your big day) so that you can create a long braid that is then wound around and around your head to create this intriguing spiral. 

Half-up, half-down hairstyles get the best of both worlds — you can customize an updo with sparkles, ribbons, or hairpins while displaying your beautiful hair in braids, beach waves, or curls. While this example might be simpler, you can add some hair accessories and give your hairdo a bit more oomph.

Kate Middleton's most regal looks were definitely about the clothes, but her hair brought all of the ensembles together. The princess certainly did not disappoint with this side bun that she wore on day one of Royal Ascot in 2019, and we think you should use her hair as inspo for your beachy bridal updo. This bun is made up of multiple strands of hair that are wound around and then pinned close together to make the illusion of one big bun. 

If you love the French twist but don't want to be quite so formal for your big day, consider this modern update on the classic hairstyle. By leaving some hair out at the bottom, in a ponytail fashion, you can make the usually formal hairstyle more casual. You can also choose whether you want to leave your hair loose or tighten this style up and have it cleaner. 

These gorgeous beach waves are accentuated by a beautiful hair band — all tied together in a voluminous half-up ponytail. This is a pretty simple hairstyle that will still look just as great even through hours of partying and celebrating your love with sand between your toes.

This hairstyle is truly unique and not something that you'll likely see repeated often, so it's perfect if you're searching for a hairstyle that is outside the norm. Dainty flowers are made around the top of your head to mimic a flower crown while the rest of your hair is left down. It's a good balance between up and down — plus, you can choose to go straight or curl your hair underneath the flowers.