So you’ve been invited to a wedding (yay!). But you’re not quite sure how to go about the dress code (hmm). You saw the “fascinator” part in the invitation and thought “Ah, what is that and how am I supposed to pick the right one?” Don’t fret just yet! That’s why we’re here. Here’s everything you need to know about fascinators for a wedding event.

First, what is a fascinator?

A fascinator is a style of millinery, often worn during formal occasions such as weddings (and in Australia and other parts of the world, during races). Unlike a typical hat, the fascinator sits on one side of the head. Like hats, they come in various shapes and sizes. And, yes, some fascinators can even be as big as — or bigger than — hats! 

Many believe that the style dates back to the time of Marie Antoinette, when she would wear bird feathers in her hair. The style later evolved into something more akin to a scarf before arriving at its current iteration: meticulously designed and crafted with different materials not limited to fabrics.

Fascinators became more popular in recent years thanks to the British royals, particularly the Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton), who’ve worn them on various special occasions. 

A fascinator vs a hat

A fascinator is typically worn on one side of the head; the right side to be exact. But not everything that can be worn on the right side of the head is considered a fascinator. Some hats (such as our ANNIE tilted wide-brimmed hat) could also be worn on just one side but it is a hat because of its design and shape; it covers most of the head, not just one side of it. Fascinators are often made with veiling, flowers, crib and other embellishments.

What should one consider when choosing a fascinator?

The first thing you need to consider when choosing a fascinator is the type of event you’ll be wearing it to. Often, this will be shared in the invitation. Look for typical codes such as formal, black tie or white tie. As well as themes and colour codes, the season when the event will be held is a good thing to factor in too. Top tip? Avoid anything white or white-adjacent (creams, beiges, ivories, and more) because that’s reserved for the bride (unless, of course, that’s what the dress code asked for).

For instance, a small fascinator embellished with flowers would look great for a summer wedding while a fascinator with a wool base and a veil may look better for an autumn event.

Think of the venue when looking for a fascinator too. This will inform the style and materials of the fascinator and help you easily spot a style and look that matches your and the wedding’s vibe. 

The size of the fascinator is also important. There is the age-old (and appropriate) rule about not upstaging the bride. Traditionally, the mother of the bride has to wear the biggest fascinator. Typically, traditional church weddings would encourage you to wear something big (but still not bigger than the mother of the bride’s) and outdoor weddings call for smaller, lighter styles.

Then, of course, you also have to consider your personal style and how comfortable — and confident! — you’d be when wearing the headwear piece.

Your hairstyle can also help you decide. Some styles may look better with a low chignon while others would look best with loose waves.

READ NEXT: How To Wear a Fascinator With Short Hair

Should your fascinator match your dress or shoes?

Another way to narrow down your search is to zero in on which part of your outfit you should match your fascinator with. You can choose to make the fascinator the focal point of your outfit. (This is the way to go, if you ask us!) From there, you can pick your dress, shoes and accessories — be they brand new or from your closet. 

The secret? There are no hard rules. You can match it with your dress or your shoes — or both, if you’re going for a monochromatic look. You can also match it with your bag, which may be a different colour to your dress or shoes. The key is in keeping the look balanced and harmonious. You don’t even need to match the entire fascinator’s colour with other pieces of your ensemble; you can highlight an accent colour and things will still look put-together.

You can also not match the fascinator’s colour with the colour of your dress or shoes and go for a colour contrast or a colour clash instead! This is a bold option, but no doubt fun. Think: A gold fascinator with a lavender dress (match it with gold accessories) or a pink fascinator with a green dress (with pink accessories)... you get the drift. 

Where to buy a fascinator for a wedding

If you don’t have a milliner or department store that carries fascinators near you, the best way to go is online. Many traditional and modern milliners and hat stores are now on the web and shopping has become so incredibly easy.

Looking for the best fascinator to wear a wedding guest? Check out our collection here.

Etiquette for wearing a fascinator at a wedding

Fascinators were traditionally worn on the right side of the head. This dates back to when women would walk on the right side of a gentleman. The accessory was placed on the right so that the lady's face isn't obscured from the gentleman's view for conversations and such. This is still widely accepted and followed, and most fascinators are still crafted for this particular reason.

Unlike other occasions, you're not asked to remove your hat or fascinator when entering a church or formal venue when attending a wedding.