I had a 'wedding chop' halfway through my big day

Sadie Nicholas
Updated

When Courtney Sneddon, 27, a PA from Fife, got married in November 2022, she hatched a secret plan that would leave her groom Cameron, 32, a business analyst, flabbergasted at the reception… In the middle of their wedding day, she had her long hair cut into a shoulder-length bob.

Courtney Sneddon surprised her groom and guests by having her long locks cut into a bob halfway through her wedding. (Supplied)
Courtney Sneddon surprised her groom and guests by having her long locks cut into a bob halfway through her wedding. (Supplied) (Supplied)

Partway through my wedding reception at a pretty barn in Fife, I gave my new husband Cameron and our guests the surprise of their lives, by debuting a short and sassy new bob having had my extremely long locks cut off during the reception!

Known as the 'wedding chop', it’s a trend that’s popular in America and has gained millions of views on TikTok. But I’d never heard of it until my hairdresser Christopher Laird suggested the daring move to me when we were having a bridal hair trial a few weeks before my big day.

Chris and I went to school together and he’s long been a celebrity hairdresser to stars including Cate Blanchett, Geri Halliwell and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, so I trusted him implicitly with my wedding hair – short or long.

Courtney Sneddon spent two years growing her hair so that she could have a traditional bridal hairstyle for her wedding in November 2022. (Supplied)
Courtney Sneddon spent two years growing her hair so that she could have a traditional bridal hairstyle for her wedding in November 2022. (Supplied) (Supplied)

I’d been growing my hair for two years before I got married, specifically so that I could wear it in a glamorous ponytail style, but it had got so long that it was driving me nuts. As he practised my wedding hairdo, I asked Chris if he could cut it off for me the Monday after I got married.

The 'wedding chop' idea from my hairdresser sounded like a lot of fun and very much in keeping with my personality as I’m known for being spontaneous and bold.

His response was: "Why don’t we just do it at the wedding seeing as I’m one of the guests all day anyway?" He then told me about the TikTok trend. It sounded like a lot of fun and very much in keeping with my personality as I’m known for being spontaneous and bold. I also loved the idea of surprising everyone, especially Cameron, and didn’t need any persuading to go ahead.

As they made their way from the church to the reception venue, Cameron had no idea that Courtney had a huge surprise in store for him. (Supplied)
As they made their way from the church to the reception venue, Cameron had no idea that Courtney had a huge surprise in store for him. (Supplied) (Supplied)

Even though he knew about the wedding chop trend, Chris had never actually done one before so we were both super-excited about our little secret. My only concern was that I didn’t want to be away from Cameron and our guests for long, so we decided we’d sneak off while everyone was eating the dessert as they’d be mingling between tables by then and would be less likely to notice I was missing.

My hairdresser and I decided we'd sneak off while everyone was eating dessert as they’d be less likely to notice I was missing.

I told Cameron I was nipping to the loo, then dashed to the bridal suite with Chris and emerged 25 minutes later with a funky bob which sat above my shoulders! Chris had run his curling irons through it to create a lovely wave.

It was almost time to say goodbye to Courtney’s long hair, silhouetted against the winter sunset – not that Cameron knew it! (Supplied)
It was almost time to say goodbye to Courtney’s long hair, silhouetted against the winter sunset – not that Cameron knew it! (Supplied) (Supplied)

Cameron had actually come looking for me, wondering where on earth I was, and although the expression on his face made it clear he was very surprised, thankfully he said straight away that he absolutely loved it. His very diplomatic subsequent reaction was to tell me that he thought my hair looked great both long and short, before adding that he was surprised by how much he liked my choppy 'do' as his preference has always been for long hair.

Courtney and her hairdresser Chris made their escape from the wedding reception to the bridal suite ready to cut off her hair. (Supplied)
Courtney and her hairdresser Chris made their escape from the wedding reception to the bridal suite ready to cut off her hair. (Supplied) (Supplied)

When we walked casually back into our wedding reception, the reaction of our 100 or so guests – which ranged from squeals and gasps to laughter and applause – was well worth me missing out on the tropical fruit panna cotta they’d all had for pudding while I’d been gone.

When we walked casually back into our wedding reception, the reaction of our 100 or so guests ranged from squeals and gasps to laughter and applause.

A table of Cameron’s friends was the first to look up and notice my dramatic transformation – they started whooping and clapping, then the whole room joined in as everyone else spotted my bold new look. My in-laws were the last ones to realise what all the fuss was about and were in shock, unable to comprehend that I'd actually had a major haircut on my big day.

My hair grows quickly so I’ve always let it get long then chopped it off in cycles as I like having the change, but nobody would ever have expected me to have it cut short during my wedding – a day when most brides wouldn't dare mess with their carefully planned hair for fear of it going wrong or their groom not liking it.

Courtney couldn’t hide her own surprise as she saw her short bob in the mirror for the first time.
Courtney couldn’t hide her own surprise as she saw her short bob in the mirror for the first time. (Supplied) (Supplied)
Chris perfected Courtney’s chop, running his curling irons through it to give a subtle wave.
Chris perfected Courtney’s chop, running his curling irons through it to give a subtle wave. (Supplied) (Supplied)

We’ll celebrate our second wedding anniversary later this year and now have a baby son too. When I look back at our wedding photos, I absolutely love the fact that I had two different hairstyles. Although I enjoyed being able to wear my long hair up when I made my grand entrance at the marriage ceremony, having it cut shorter gave me a new lease of life ready to party into the night.

I just wish that I’d kept my chopped-off hair as a memento. In years to come, people won’t remember what they ate or the music they danced to at our wedding, but I doubt any of them will forget my wedding chop.

When I look back at our wedding photos, I absolutely love the fact that I had two different hairstyles.

The newlyweds couldn’t help laughing about Courtney’s wedding chop – and she celebrated pulling off such a surprise with a glass of champagne.
The newlyweds couldn’t help laughing about Courtney’s wedding chop – and she celebrated pulling off such a surprise with a glass of champagne. (Supplied) (Supplied)
Courtney said her sassy new bob transformed her from traditional bride into party girl ready for the first dance and the evening’s celebration.
Courtney said her sassy new bob transformed her from traditional bride into party girl ready for the first dance and the evening’s celebration. (Supplied) (Supplied)

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