20 Unique Ways to Wear a Hat on Your Wedding Day

By Lauren Pardee
February 20, 2019
Chris & Ruth

Fashion-forward brides, accessorize your big-day look with these trendy accessories.

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Chris & Ruth

It's not always fair to assume that fashion-obsessed brides-to-be always know what they're looking for when picking out their wedding dresses. They may be experts when it comes to designers, hemlines, necklines, fabrics, and embellishments, but sometimes too much knowledge makes settling on one gown difficult. Many stylish brides are often left to decide whether or not to go bold and fashion-forward or honor traditional styles when picking out their big-day ensembles—we understand that it's a hard compromise to make. That's why we're here to tell you that you can make a statement in other ways. Styling your bridal ensemble with a hat, for example, can bridge the gap between the classic and the contemporary—and just so happens to be a major wedding trend right now.

If the term "bridal hat" has you thinking of stuffy, royal-inspired fascinators, think again. There is a wide variety of fashion-forward options that go beyond that very specific look. Take this bride's white fedora from the San Diego Hat Company, for example. The simplicity of both her garment and hat are crucial to the cohesiveness of the overall look—this combination isn't an overpowering one. As a result, this bride was glowing during her destination wedding in Greece put on by Tie the Knot Santorini.

The bridal hat options are endless for those who feel like they need a little something extra to pull the look together. The best part? It's easy to choose a hat that fits your big-day theme. Bohemian, Western, and Southern-inspired designs are all worth considering. Factors like location and your overall décor aesthetic can also influence your choice of hat. If you think you might want to wear a hat on your own wedding day, take notes from the real brides ahead, who owned their looks, proving you can, too.

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Floral Brim

Wisteria Photography
28 Modern Hair Accessories for Your Wedding Day

This bride displayed a small floral arrangement (provided by Salted Blooms) on the brim of her Van Palma hat to elude to her celebration's equestrian theme.

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Blue Velvet Accents

Alexandra Vonk
25 Luxe Velvet Wedding Ideas

Instead of going for an abstract fascinator at her royal-inspired wedding, this bride donned an elegant Krasnova hat, which was secured with a blue velvet ribbon. The elegant look was styled by Janie Lucia of Idyll Stories.

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Moody Blooms

Jordan Voth
25 Beautiful Purple Wedding Bouquets We Love

This bride successfully styled multiple big-day statement accessories in a way that wasn't overwhelming. Her beige campaign hat from Stetson (a nod to her desert venue), for example, featured moody blooms and greenery by Moelleux Events, which matched her bouquet.

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Nontraditional and Classic

Antonova Kseniya
63 Chic Wedding Suits for Brides

This is how you execute a look that's equal parts nontraditional and classic. This bride's inspired blush ensemble and burgundy floppy hat set the tone for her modern-meets-contemporary ceremony.

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Angelic Beach Waves

Eden Strader Photography
33 Ways to Wear Your Hair Down for Your Wedding

Hairstylist Marilyn Nunez styled this boho bride's locks into soft, beachy waves that complemented her Panama hat.

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Ball Gown Glow

Jordan Voth
34 Romantic Red Wedding Bouquets

You don't need to wear a nontraditional wedding gown to pull off a campaign-style hat like this one from The Wise Hatter. Just look to this bride for proof that it works just as well with a classic look as it does with something more contemporary.

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Wintry Vibes

Ingrid Svare Photography
52 Gorgeous Winter Wedding Bouquets

This bride's beige fedora was beautifully accented with a black ribbon and florals that matched her bouquet by Ingrid Svare. The final look gave off major wintry vibes.

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Gravity Defying Details

Jacobo Pachón
Embellished Wedding Dresses for the Bride Who Wants to Make an Entrance

For her first look, this bride donned a straw, long-brimmed hat from Savrani Creations that displayed pastel blooms by Betty Flowers Santorini. She wore the accessory on a slight angle for an extra dose of chic.

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Succulents and Cacti Touches

Jordan Voth
Trending Now: Cactus Wedding Ideas

This beige campaign hat from Stetson was more than appropriate at this bride's desert wedding thanks to the addition of succulents, cacti, and blooming florals by Moelleux Events.

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Simplistic Panama Cap

Kaley Kocinski
57 Summer Wedding Ideas You'll Want to Steal

For this summer wedding, the bride chose a casual white Panama cap with black accents.

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All-White Look

Jordan Voth
26 Chic Bridal Parties Wearing All-White Dresses

Despite wearing all white, this bride's ensemble, which featured a rope-adorned campaign hat by The Wise Hatter, was far from plain.

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Boho Rustic Chic

Less is More by Lesley S. Photography
Boho-Chic Wedding Ideas for Free-Spirited Brides and Grooms

This tan, short-rimmed, floppy hat with black detailing was a charming addition to the bride's boho, rustic ensemble.

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White Chupalla

Lindsay Vann Photography
34 Beautiful Lace Bridesmaids' Dresses

For her wedding portraits, this bride sported a white Gigi Pip chupalla with tan detailing that complemented her lace gown.

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Casual Beach Bride

Marcela Pulido
8 Things to Consider If You're Planning a Beach Wedding

This beachy bride wore a casual, tan gown by The Diamond Sea Bridal, which she styled with a black leather jacket and floppy hat.

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Farm-Inspired Coloring

Sam McGrath Photographer
10 Floral Designers Creating Fresh from the Farm

The bride's farm venue inspired her to sport a floppy hat by Goddess By Nature that was the same shade as the rolling wheat fields she used as a portrait backdrop.

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Tropical Vibes

Maria Shiriaeva
22 Beach Wedding Bouquets You'll Love

These lovebirds wed in the tropics, which inspired the bride to sport a tan fedora by Lack of Color. Her accessory's hue matched the underlay of her Rue de Seine lace gown perfectly.

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Plum Lipstick

Valerie Thompson
Brides Who Said Yes to a Bold Lip

Choose a neutral hat if you want other elements of your look to shine. This bride went with a white hat by Lack of Color on her big day, which allowed her to scale-up her makeup look with a plum-hued lipstick.

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Blue Panama Hat

Mitch Pohl Photography
27 Cool Blue Wedding Ideas You'll Love

Yes, a hat can serve as your something blue! At this rustic event, the bride chose a blue Panama hat.

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Dried Flowers

Whiskers & Willow Photography
24 Dried Flower Arrangements That Are Perfect for a Fall Wedding

To soften the look of this masculine hat from Modern Love Event, dried flowers were this bride's perfect finishing touch.

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By Lauren Pardee