Finding your own style

Forget everything you know about what suits you. Whether you live in high heels and pretty cardigans or running shoes and denim, the chances are that the way you want to look on your wedding day will be completely unrelated to the way you look in your everyday life. And every variable will affect the hairstyle that you choose. Start by considering the following few elements.

Dress style
Have you pictured yourself in something simple and floaty or a huge, structured confection that would be the envy of Cinderella? The way you imagine your dress to be and what style actually suits you may be two entirely different things, so take a close friend or family member shopping with you, and try on many different styles. You will be surprised.

Body shape and height
We are all shaped differently, and the satin bias-cut dress of our dreams might not have been part of Mother Nature's plan when she made us. As a result, you may look fabulous enhancing your tiny waist with a fitted bodice and hiding your less tiny hips under a full skirt. This means you may need a hairstyle with more body or height to create a balanced silhouette.

Neckline
Your hairstyle and dress need to work together. A low scooping neckline can look wonderfully romantic with loose tendrils of hair, whereas a chic bob with a sleek slash neck is exceptionally elegant. If you have a low back on your dress, you can draw attention to this feature by wearing your hair swept up and away from your neck. Take a photograph or sketch of your dress with you to your hairdresser so you can consider which hairstyles will make the most of its features.

Tiaras and veils
Although it is not uncommon to have both a tiara and a veil, most brides choose to wear either one or the other. And. as weddings have become more informal, a few simple flowers dotted through the hair are also a popular alternative to both of these options. A long veil or heavy tiara will need to be held securely in place, and this will influence your choice of hairstyle. If you can, take your tiara (or at least a photograph of it) with you when you go for a consultation with your hairdresser, so that he or she can work out exactly what will need to be done.

Face shape
You probably know what suits you by now, and this is not usually the time that women opt for a drastic change in their look. (It's nice if he recognizes you when you walk down the aisle.) However, unless you are a very high-maintenance girl and do your weekly shopping wearing a tiara, you probablywon't know how it affects the proportions of your face. A petite heart- shaped face may look better with a simple beaded tiara, rather than drowned by a grand crown and full veil. So it's back to dressing up — try on many styles and see if your reality matches your fantasy.

Jewelry
One of the "Something old, something new" categories is often fulfilled with jewelry. So, whether you choose a string of antique pearls from your grandmother or a funky, dramatic choker from one of your bridesmaids, it needs consideration at this stage, too. A tiara, veil, earrings, choker and high collar can quickly become very fussy. Don't let your look become cluttered — less is always more (even with diamonds).