How to have a vintage era wedding

As weddings are becoming more extravagant and popular, brides are becoming increasingly creative in a bid to out-wed their friends and give wedding guests a day they won’t forget. Some may look to the “bling” celebrity and WAG trend to make their day the best, opting for pink diamante encrusted wedding dresses aka Katie Price complete with the horse and cart, while others will aim for the wow factor with a great big house/hotel in the country.

However, one trend that’s becoming more and more popular is the era wedding with brides going for 20s, 50s and 60s themes. Not only are these still new enough to really make them stand out, but they also give a huge nod to the vintage fashion trend, which has been hot for a good few years now.

As this trend has become more popular original vintage wedding dress companies, such as the Vintage Wedding Dress Company, which offer traditional wedding frocks from these eras, have sprung up giving brides-to-be the opportunity to buy one off era dresses, which have been cleaned and, at times, patched up, so they can be worn without falling apart.

The key thing about vintage is that it’s unique and usual. However some bridalwear designers have also woken up to the fact that brides-to-be don’t have time to trawl second hand shops and vintage fairs and created a few dresses that can be bought off the rack. Vera Wang and Ian Stuart have recognised the trend for the era weddings offering a range of 50s bridal tea dresses. Brides feeling creative and brave can also buy traditional vintage wedding dress patterns from Ebay and have their frock made from scratch.

So how do you get that ultimate era wedding look? We’ve put together a few hints and tips from each era to help you out.

1920s
The 1920s were about flapper style frocks with tassells or ostrich and marabou feathers, so your wedding dress should reflect this. A flapper style dress is usually knee length. Alternatively if you don’t want this style go for another 20s style, a dress with a dropped waistline and carry a big bouquet of orchids and lily’s with love knot ribbons or a large, ostrich fan to complete the look. If your groom agrees get him all dressed up 1920s gangster style, think Al Capone. This will include a pinstriped zoot suit, ascot tie, and a felt, roll-brimmed fedora hat. Get the jazz music out and learn the Charleston with your other half and a few close family members and friends to put on 1920s show.

1950s
Tea length dresses were the common fashion in the 50s, many of which were puffed out with netting to give that smarter look. If you don’t want to go for traditional white, this style and theme will also let you get away with bright colours. Team up with gloves and Stilettos to complete the look. The best thing about the 50s is that you can really make a theme out of the whole day. Dress bridesmaids in polka dots, pearls, and bows (think Grease) and forget the DJ and hire out a jukebox to really give a 50s feel. If you’re feeling brave enough you could also cover the venue in leather sofas and black and white photos to make it look like a 50s diner. Alcoholic milkshakes, hamburgers and French fries would also complete the theme.

1960s
Towards the middle of this era dresses became shorter, brighter and much more daring and it wasn’t unusual to see brides dressed in short lace wedding dresses, teamed up with Go-go boots and short lace gloves. Many brides also shunned the veil and tiara opting for a band of flowers around their foreheads. The flowers of choice for the bride were daisies (naturally) or chrysanthemum’s both which can be bought relatively cheaply from florists today. Make-up was pale skin with very dark eyeliner on both upper and lower lashes (think Twiggy and you’ll understand what we mean.)

View our gallery below for some era wedding ideas.