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20 Elegant Mother of the Groom Hairstyles for 2024

Your son is getting married, and you couldn’t be more ecstatic for the day to come. However, there’s a lot to do before the wedding – hair, makeup, nails, and of course, an outfit.

But there’s one thing that you can’t overlook: your hair. We’ve rounded up 20 mother of the groom hairstyles you’re sure to look great in.

Searching for Mother of the Groom Hairstyles?

As we get older, we tend to go for softer, healthy, vibrant looks that perfectly complement our face shape. Most of us go for long bobs that frame the face nicely, but how are you supposed to style it for a wedding? 

Before the wedding day happens, you’ll want to test out hairstyles with your favorite hairdresser or the person who is helping you style your hair for the wedding. Don’t know where to start? With our guide, you can easily find a style that will hold up through a long event while also looking elegant in photos. 

One of the most popular hairstyles for the mother of the groom is a soft updo with curls and nice pins. But what if you keep your hair short? If your hair is too short, your hairdresser can help you throw some loose curls in it and add jewels to make it a little fancier for the occasion. In this short guide, we’ll share all of the ways you can create a stunning look with your hair, regardless of its length, for your son’s big day.

20 Mother of the Groom Hairstyles

Each of these styles will go best with many different hair types. Whether you have long, short, or medium hair, you’re sue to find something here to take back to your hairdresser as inspiration.

1. High Bun

Image of a high bun, one of the most classic mother of the groom hairstyles

frantic00/Shutterstock

If you have medium to long hair, this is a perfect look for you. Add in curls throughout the bun and leave some loose curls out of the bun to frame your face. This is one of the go-to styles for mothers of the groom, and for a good reason — it’s stylish!

2. Half Updo

Woman with a half updo looks away from the camera for a piece on mother of the groom hairstyles

Red Umbrella and Donkey/Shutterstock

Another one of the most popular hairstyles is the half updo and its limitless variations. A half updo is great for summer weddings when it’s too hot for all of your hair to be down. This style can also be worn with beautiful pins to help hold strategic curls.

3. The Low Bun

Mother of the groom hairstyle of a low bun with floral barrettes looks away from the reader but still looks elegant

PushAnn/Shutterstock

There are so many ways that buns are perfect for mother of the groom hairstyles. They hold twists and curls and look perfectly put together. You can add flowers, jewels, and pins to dazzle your hair up. This style is perfect for spring and summer weddings.

4. Elegant Bangs

Woman looking up and to the right with elegant bangs in a white lightbox room

tmcphotos/Shutterstock

If you have short hair or are attempting to go mostly natural, the next time you go to your hairstylist, ask for soft or curtain bangs. This will spruce up your look and give it a slight edge for the big day.

5. Curled and Short

Mother of the groom with a curled and short hairstyle poses in a room while appearing to be topless

Lana K/Shutterstock

Like many other women, you may have adopted shorter hair as you’ve become older. For the special day, try curling it. This style will give your hair volume and texture, and it looks fantastic in pictures.

6. Bouffant Buns

Bouffant Buns as a featured mother of the groom hairstyle on a younger euro-looking model

Olga Ekaterincheva/Shutterstock

If you have thinner but long hair, this is an excellent hairstyle. This hairstyle will add volume to your hair and make you look incredible next to your new daughter-in-law. Leave hair out in the front in soft ways to help frame your face.

7. Low French Twist

Woman with a low twist bun, a great mother of the groom hairstyle, wears a black and white patterned blouse and looks at a brick wall

frantic00/Shutterstock

Although you may confuse this with a low bun, it’s more texturized and a little fancier. You can add a clip with jewels or pearls to make it stand out a little more than average. The best news about this hairstyle is that you don’t need super long hair to do it.

8. Crown Braids

Shirtless woman with crown braids (an elegant and trending mother of the groom hairstyle), looks away from the reader and lets her thin shoulders show

YuriyZhuravov/Shutterstock

There are two ways to wear this hairstyle for a wedding. The first is to braid around your head and leave loose curls flowing at the bottom. This is an elegant and regal style. The second way is to braid all of your hair into a crown. You can add small flowers to make your braid pop. This works best if you have long hair.

9. Classic French Twist

Woman with a french twist hairstyle stands in front of a textured wall and looks over her left shoulder

Oksana.Bondar/Shutterstock

Instead of a low French twist with ribbons of curls, try out the classic French twist. Besides being a go-to look, you can create this hairstyle on your own. This twist has all the hair pulled back into a single curl at the back of the head. If you’re worried about the look, you can leave some twisting curls in the front.

10. One Strand Up

Gal in a white camisole with one strand of hair up wears an elegant mother of the groom hairstyle and stands in a studio in front of a white backdrop

Red Umbrella and Donkey/Shutterstock

If you are looking for something casual that will keep your hair from falling into your face, try pinning one strand up in a swoop. You can lightly curl the rest of your hair. This is a classic look that is easy to achieve and not over the top. It’s a perfect do that will ensure you look great in the photos but still allow your son to be the star of the show.

11. Pinned Updo

Woman with a mother of the groom hairstyle, a pinned updo, shows the photographer the back of her head in a close-up image

OlgaOsa/Shutterstock

One of the best ways to create a complete formal look when you have medium or short hair is by curling it and pinning it up. This style gives you the appearance that you have lots of long, gorgeous hair that you have styled into a perfect, elegant updo. It’s the fake it, fake it strategy. 

12. Colored Hair

Woman holding a purple flower up to the back of her head in a grey room

Studio Light and Shade/Shutterstock

Okay, maybe you aren’t into coloring your hair anymore – that’s completely understandable. However, you can tone your hair and achieve different shades with the help of your hairdresser.

If you already have gray hair, try adding extra silver tones with special shampoo and conditioner. This will help your hair feel luxurious and give it some added shine for the wedding day.

13. Tight Curls

Young woman with porcelain skin and tight mid-head curls looks straight ahead

Gromovatava/Shutterstock

There’s nothing better than tight curls hanging loosely from your head. Be sure to leave a few strands straight and weave them through your hair for mesmerizing look. If you don’t have naturally curly hair, this look will take much more time to put together. On the other hand, this may be an easy look to attain if you have curly hair. 

14. Crimped Classic

Classic crimped mother of the groom hairstyle

AnikaNes/Shutterstock

This look can be achieved with pins or a flat iron that helps crimp your hair. If you have medium-length naturally straight hair, your hairdresser can crimp each strand and pint them back in a desirable way.

15. Flower Bun

Young woman with an exposed back wears a classic floral bun while getting ready for a wedding

Vagengeim/Shutterstock

This is an easy look for mother of the groom hairstyles and works well if you have messy hair. To get this look, simply create a messy bun and top it off with a pretty flower. If this is an outside wedding, stick to a fake flower to ensure no bees are attracted to you.

16. Simple Roll

Simple rolled mother of the groom hairstyle on a retro-looking woman in red lip

VAndreas/Shutterstock

If you are looking for a simple hairstyle that also screams classic retro, two simple rolls on the side of your head are the perfect solution. Not only will it look great all day, you can also tame the rest of your hair into sleek waves for a glamorous look that will leave all of the guests in awe. Your hair will be out of your face, and it’ll look classy.

17. Single Braid

Single braided mother of the groom hairstyle being styled by a faceless woman in what appears to be a living room

dimid_86/Shutterstock

Not everyone has the time to sit at the salon for hours during the day, and we get that. There will be a lot of other things to do on the day of the wedding. A straightforward braid can be a classic look that will hold up throughout the entire event. You can add jewels or flowers into the middle to upgrade the look.

18. Braid and Bun

Classic braid and bun mother of the groom hairstyle

Scharfsinn/Shutterstock

If you’re looking for something more than a braid, you can try one fishtail surrounding a bun. This is a complex look that’s easy to achieve for a hairstylist. However, you may need a lot of hairspray and pins to keep it up all day for this look.

19. Double Braid

Double braided mother of the groom hairstyle, an elegant look on a woman in a salon

Bunbomi/Shutterstock

Two braids on the side of your head can be a fun way to keep your hair out of your face but also still look put together. You can add two buns in the back and shape them whichever way you want. If you have thinner hair, they can be spread out to achieve a fuller look.

20. Bows

For a featured mother of the groom hairstyle, a woman tied her hair into a bow and posed in a studio for this image

korabkova/Shutterstock

One of our all-time favorite looks is creating bows with hair. This requires tons of hair spray, but it is one of the most unique mother of the groom hairstyles. We assure you that this is one of a kind, and you can pull it off on the big day. Start testing out hairstyles before the wedding.

Why Your Hair Matters

As the mother of the groom, you’ll be in all of the family photos. It will be essential to look your best. These pictures will be with the new couple for a lifetime, and you may want your own copies.

People from the bride’s side will be lining up to talk to the mother of the groom. You’ll be the spokesperson for your son’s half. Your outfit and hairstyle are going to be a key focus.

Things to Consider When Styling Your Hair

Mother of the Groom Hairstyle Considerations

Firstly, you should always do a test run for your hair before the wedding. This step can often go overlooked, but the point of this is to ensure you like your hair. Once the hairstylist knows what you want, it’ll also be quicker to do the next time. Not to mention, it will save you a great deal of stress the day of if you know how your hair is going to look. Here are some other things to keep in mind when styling your hair:

Look at Hair Type

Not all hair types are the same, and not all styles will work with your hair. If you have super thin hair, you won’t want to pull it back in a sleek look; you’ll want to add volume to make it look full. The good news is that when you’re working with a hairstylist, you’ll be able to discuss your hair type and what would look best.

Keep Seasons in Mind

It may be better to have your hair down during the winter because it’ll be chilly, and a naked neck may leave you feeling frigid. If there is a summer wedding, an updo with simple flowers might be the best way to go.

Cut and Tone Before the Big Day

If you plan a haircut and color change, you’ll want to do this before the wedding. Why? If anything goes wrong, it’ll have time to grow out, and you can always change the color for the wedding. No significant changes should be made right before the wedding.

Which Mother of the Groom Hairstyle Will You Pick?

If you’re still unsure what to pick, stick with a simple updo. It can be easier to manage, and you can add some curls if you want to add some extra detail. Whichever salon you go to, the stylist will help you pick out mother of the groom hairstyles that’ll match your personality. 

If there is a theme with how the ladies are supposed to do their hair, keep that in mind. Above all, pick something that feels comfortable. Most weddings are a few hours long, and you’ll need to find something that will hold up for the entire event. And keep in mind that you can never go wrong with a classic updo.

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