Wedding Style: Vintage

From Victorian white frocks to antique lace bridal gowns, the vintage wedding captures the essence of glamour, sophistication, and history. Today, siding with a vintage wedding style incorporates the beauty and appeal of fashion trends gone by. Plus, haven’t you ever heard that choosing a vintage wedding dress is considered good luck for a blushing bride?

Vintage Wedding Style: The Bride

The bride that gravitates towards a vintage wedding is most interested in the beauty of silent film stars and the royal presence of Grace Kelly. She enjoys the look of belted silk tulle, sleeveless chemise dresses of the 1920's and especially can't wait to showcase the matching head wrap. The attire worn by flappers and glamour queens of the silver screen may also serve as inspiration for her vintage wedding look.

Vintage Wedding Style: The Dress and Accessories

If you'd like to embrace a true vintage wedding dress, seek out the local thrift shop or vintage boutique to gain inspiration. Depending on the age and condition of a vintage wedding gown, you may pay as little as $50 to more than $500. Many brides are interested in recreating the look of a vintage wedding dress and will order a custom-made gown, which can sometimes carry a price tag between $800 and $1000.

Before selecting a final gown, I suggest getting familiar with the various vintage wedding styles:

The 1920's embodied the flapper with fun dresses and hemlines to make your mother blush. Lace, silks, and netting were quite popular.

The 1930's brought sophistication, where dresses showcased sparkling rhinestones as accents.

In the 1940's, brides exuded glamour – wearing padded shoulders, sweetheart necklines, and lengthy bridal point sleeves.

Elegance ruled the 1950's bride that took advantage of ballerina-styles, full skirts, and clean lines.

When accessorizing a vintage gown, don’t forget to include the antique headpiece or veil, opera length gloves, beaded bag, string of pearls, parasols, and exchanging your high-heel shoes for lace boots.

Vintage Wedding Style: Common Settings

When planning a vintage wedding, the décor and setting will certainly help set the mood. Transport yourself back in time, where the Big Bands of the 1940's roared the latest jazz hits and old Hollywood glitz and glam mesmerized the public. Set your vintage wedding ceremony and reception in a garden during the springtime, aristocratic ballroom with velvet trimmings, or an antique train car. Historical sites are also accommodating for this type of wedding style, such as charming theaters, restored mansions with sweeping staircases, and grand ballrooms. An art museum may provide the perfect setting for a larger reception.

All photos by Jose Villa