20 Unique Ways to Wear a Hat on Your Wedding Day

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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