PRE-wedding chop!

Its become somewhat of the norm/tradition/trend for ladies to start one wedding task as soon as that ring is slipped over their fingers: growing their hair out.  It makes a lot of sense, longer hair gives you more options for up-dos and is obviously very femine.  Then, often, brides chop it all off (cause we're probably talking about a full year of growth) shortly after their honeymoon.  Its been coined 'the wife chop' (cause you know...you're a wife by then and basically chop all your hair off).  I'll use Kels as my example...

Kels shortly after her wedding
(holding a child that is not her own)

Kels' gorgeous hair at her wedding



Now, I have always been a short hair person.  Sure I've had a few instances where I decide to grow it out, for something 'different.'  But I inevitably grow sick of it (rather quickly) and chop it all off.  Besides I think I really do look better with shorter hair (usually chin - shoudler length).  But with the ring on my finger (and some self-inflicted pressure) I started growing my hair out too.

horrible pic from our engagment night
my hair is shoulder length

horrible pic from July 4th
(I was trying to use a recent one)
my hair is curled, but straight would be 2-3 inches past my shoulders

And sure enough, last week hit a 'I can't stand my hair this length' wall.  I think it really came after looking at myself in some of the pictures from our recent weddings. Even with my hair 'done' (as in I put in some effort to try to make it look good) I thought it looked stringy and, well, kind of awful.  So this weekend I decided to get my wifey chop pre-wife.

Nothing drastic.  Just back to my good ole,
shoulder length self.

Great!  I'm feeling relieved already.  Until I think of the wedding....what am I gonna do with my hair for the wedding?  No seriously, I'm asking you guys. What should I do with my hair for the wedding?  Its one area of the day/my look I really haven't flushed out...

Here is what I know:

- I will maintain this length hair for the wedding (as in I will probably get it cut again before October)

- I think I look better and would prefer to wear my hair 'down'

- Sometimes when you curl short hair it gets BIG

- I'm planning to wear a birdcage veil

- most brides I see wearing birdcages have their hair (at least partial) up

Alright, so what do you guys know?  As in, what ideas do you have?