The Wallaby wedding planning involved some minor drama regarding the guest list, and a little more drama over a faux paux on the invitations, but the planning process had been smooth and pretty easy. But when the time came for my hair and makeup trial, I was really unhappy with the results. I didn’t realize that my biggest fixation and source of anxiety would be over my wedding-day hairstyle.
After way too much time spent going back and forth between several different hairstyles, I finally picked a hairstyle that I wanted to imitate—Kate Middleton’s updo at the London Olympic gala concert:
Duchess Kate looking elegant as always. Photo via Daily Mail.
Here’s a few more pictures of the updo from different angles:
Photo via Daily Mail.
When the hair and makeup artist I booked arrived at Mr. Wallaby’s house on Sunday afternoon for my hair and makeup trial, I showed her these pictures. I also showed her a picture of my makeup inspiration:
Leighton Meester stunning with vintage Hollywood-inspired makeup. Photo via We Heart It.
She went to work curling sections of my long, thick, unruly hair, pinning it back (later that evening when I took my hair out of the updo, I pulled out at least 50 hair pins!), and spraying all over to hold my hair in place. Then she applied makeup, and all the while we chatted about weddings, our families, and some girly small-talk. When she was finished with everything, she handed me a compact so I could see the sides and back of my head. She also took some pictures so I could share my new look with my mom and bridesmaids. Without further ado, my “before” and after:
I didn’t take an official “before” pic, but here’s me with my natural hair and very little makeup, celebrating our engagement with Mr. W the day he proposed. Personal photo.
My hair and makeup immediately after the trial. Personal photo.
Hair and makeup with my veil. personal photo.
The back of my updo. Personal photo.
The updo, from one side. Personal photo.
The other side of the updo. Personal photo.
So now that you’ve seen all the pictures, I have to confess: I couldn’t stand the updo from my hair trial! I’d been growing my hair out since we got engaged in January, and I tried to minimize damage to my hair by straightening it less and going au naturel to work most days. For a long time I was really excited to have hair that is long enough for a fancy, elegant updo. And somehow I ended up feeling really disappointed after my trial. I love the makeup—I think Liz did a great job!!—but for some reason the hair seemed less than satisfactory. It doesn’t look sloppy, you can tell that Liz has plenty of experience styling hair. But I guess the bottom line is, it’s just not me. I didn’t want to look like I’m wearing a bump-it on my wedding day! I’m also not a big fan of how my hair looks in ringlets pinned back into an updo—I think it looks better on Kate, or it would look great on a platinum blonde.
I think it’s also really frustrating to have dirty blonde hair in a culture that celebrates platinum and golden blondes (Kate Hudson, Blake Lively, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, etc. etc. etc.) and beautiful brunettes (Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox, Penelope Cruz, Zooey Deschanel, the Kardashians…), not to mention the red-heads (Emma Stone, I’m looking jealously at you!). It’s much harder to name famous Hollywood actresses who have dirty blonde hair. So I think that’s why I can be pretty self-critical when I try to imitate a beautiful celebrity whose hair is a different shade than mine. I could dye my hair before the wedding—but that’s just not me. I want to be myself on our wedding day…only, with professional hair and makeup, look my very best 
So that was the small glitch in my wedding planning. I was really disappointed by my hair trial. So I began looking for inspiration pictures of women with dirty-blonde hair like mine to see how the hairstyles look on blondes. And I found plenty of examples of how much volume I wanted like on top – enough volume to not look bald in our photographs, but no Snookie bump in the back. For a second hair trial I’d have to fork over a lot of money, so I decided to just wing it on my wedding day and pick out a brand new hairstyle. As always, I’ll keep you all posted!
Have you run into any glitches or disappointments in your wedding planning? Were you happy with your hair and makeup trial?
I really like the detail but dislike the front view and one side. I think you need a sweeping bang or some more hair pulled down. its just pulle back too tight in the front. you have a higher forehead so you need a little bit more to make it a romantic/wedding feel.
can I also add your makeup looks pretty good but I honestly prefer your before better because its more natural. I would NOT do that bright a lip. do a light pink peach, also add more pink to the apples of cheeks and no under eye liner. only on top. put white or a light cream/yellow shadow on the outside of the < by eyes. it pops them open more and looks very natural. I will see if I can find a pic.
I worked in the modeling/stylist field for 20 yrs… you have a gorgeous natural face, play it up vs using heavy makeup 
I actually think it look really great, buy YOU need to be happy with it. That’s what the trial is for! I think you have great hair and whatever style you choose will look fabulous. The important thing is that you feel beautiful on your big day!
I found 2 great pics but it wont let me post links. if you want to message me, I will send you the links.
The bump-it look IS odd. Kate definitely doesn’t look like she’s wearing a bump it. Your hair color is beautiful. Millions of women spend millions of dollars, and countless hours trying to get their hair that color (myself included!) Don’t sweat it.
Other than the bump (which drifts miles from the inspirations) I think it looks exactly like Kate’s, and even then the bum doesn’t look bad, but you have to feel comfortable that day.
I have a similar issue, for me I keep finding cute inspiration pictures in blond hair, with details I know won’t look good on my brunette hair.
@Tangled: I agree: I’ve always thought your haircolor was super-beautiful, Mrs. W, and I can’t wait to see what you came up with!
I’m a dirty blonde, too… and I agree it’s hard to get it to look as you want/imitate a hairstyle you love when your hair falls somewhere between blond and brown. I think we’re too self-critical, though- lots of people compliment me on my hair color, ask if it’s natural/how did I get it THIS SHADE, etc…
Anyway- I really love your make up & hair! Especially the hair from the back! But if you’re not a fan, why not try it down? Or half down?
If it makes you feel any better Emma Stone isn’t a natural redhead. In fact her hair is closer to your color!
I think you look great, but I know that it’s your opinion and how you feel that matters most!
Yeah… the bump is kind of weird, but I like the rest of it. Your hair color is gorgeous
Love your hair color! I think your hair stylist didn’t really capture the braiding from your inspiration shot – I’d recommend picking a slightly simpler style so it will be easier for her to reproduce.
I think it looks great actually! I have similar hair color to you… I can’t wait to see what you ended up with!
I used that hairstyle of Duchess Kate for my hair inspiration, too!
I love your hair and makeup, but you have to love it. You have such beautiful hair, I’m sure your final selection was gorgeous!
Looks like we have the same issue and the same taste. My hair is a dirty blonde and long. I’m looking for some lift, since it’s pretty dang flat. LMK what you come up with.
I’m in the minority, here, but I LOVE the hair with the bump-it look and all (I just love anything ‘big’, really). I can absolutely see what you mean about it being different. . .it’s almost like all of the detail is on the side/in the back and you can’t see that it’s anything but a ponytail from the front. I think your hair color itself is stunning, though, Mrs. W and I LOVE the makeup! You look super elegant. can’t wait to see the final product.
Thanks for the sweet words girls! I ended up absolutely lovvvvving my wedding-day hairstyle – I picked something completely different and it turned out really pretty. As for the hair color… We’ll see, I might do something drastic when we get back from the honeymoon! I’ve always wanted to go brunette 
It’s faux pas by the way. Paux is not a word.
It looks “everyday” from the front, but stunning from other angles. I actually think it looks great on you, but maybe needs some more interest in the front view.
I totally sympathize with you re: dirty blonde hair. It’s my natural color and I feel very “blah” when I’m between dye jobs (90% of the time I’m a fake redhead) or in the rare periods where I’ve gone back to my natural color.
Funny thing is, everyone praises me and says they love my (our) natural hair color, even though I hate it and started dying it at 13. I know you want to be yourself for your wedding, but maybe try some natural looking (hand-painted, not pulled through a cap or foiled) highlights? It really brightens up the whole color. Just make sure to have your hairstylist paint them on “freestyle” so it looks the most natural – you will get highlights right where the sun would normally cause them naturally.
Mrs. Wallaby, Houston Age and Occupation: 24, Environmental Engineer Engagement Date: January 1, 2012 Wedding Date: November 2012 Venue: Oak Tree Manor About Me: I'm a free-spirited, adventurous girl who loves anything active, reading, traveling, cooking up new dishes for my fiancé, and working on my budding garden. My fiancé is an athletic, intellectual, animal-loving guy with an obsession with basketball and who treats me with the deepest compassion and respect. We are both engineers, and we met at our workplace. Together we complement one another and make a great team, and we are excitedly counting down the days until our outdoor wedding in Houston in November. We're planning a green wedding with lots of Persian cultural touches, and I can't wait to share all of the before-and-after details of our special day
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