As in the world of fashion, the theme of vintage is becoming an increasingly popular choice for brides planning their wedding. Gorgeous dresses allow a bride to evoke memories from the golden ages of glamour whilst planners can go wild with retro decorations and venue choices, leading to a truly unique event with a real streak of style and sophistication.

Nevertheless, a vintage dress doth not make a vintage bride. Wedding accessories are the glue that holds together any bridal outfit, and this is certainly the case with a vintage wedding outfit. Finding the perfect vintage accessories isn’t necessarily the massive task you may think it is; in fact, with the explosion in popularity of vintage, it’s never been easier to find your perfect accessories. Here a few pointers to help you in your quest.

Consider Your Era

The key to getting vintage ‘right’ is picking an era to take inspiration from and sticking to it. The 20s, 30s and 50s are usually the most popular choices amongst brides, due to their timeless glamour and traditional styles. That’s not to say you can’t take inspiration from a different era however. Just remember not to mix and match too much and you’ve got the first part of vintage glamour nailed!

What Accessories Do You Need?

It’s easy to jump right into accessory buying and end up with a boatload of tiaras and bracelets that overwhelm your outfit – at the expense of your budget. Think carefully about what you want to achieve with your jewellery. One foolproof method is to go for one ‘statement’ accessory – a jewelled tiara, for example – and then be subtle with the rest.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something…Glue?!

Choosing where to source your accessories from comes down to a number of factors; budget, sentimental value and availability of pieces from your chosen era being just three.

If you have the budget for it, buying new offers many advantages. The range of items on offer is vaster, you have a guarantee of quality and you don’t run the risk of receiving damaged goods from previous wearers. Vintage accessory designers are masters of their craft and produce superb replicas from times gone by – designer Jo Barnes, for example, crafted her own accessories for her own wedding from vintage materials. Talk about dedication!

Nevertheless, for some vintage aficionados, the thought of buying new is sacrilege. Sourcing authentic vintage is somewhat of a minefield, especially as the popularity of vintage has seen a spate of low quality replicas being passed off as authentic, but the rewards are vast.

Get into the mindset of a shrewd buyer and go to house clearances, auctions, check online for sellers; the options are endless. It’s a tough road with no guarantee of success, but well worth it if you happen to unearth a retro Chanel necklace!

The idea of borrowing accessories turns many brides-to-be off; after all, it’s YOUR big day! Remember though, your grandparents actually lived through the eras you may be basing your wedding on, making them a great source of potential accessories! Ask kindly, and they’re bound to let you carry on their legacy. The sentimental value of borrowing can’t be understated and who knows, you may just create a family heirloom.

Your final option, and this one is definitely only for the brave and creative, is to craft your own vintage accessories. Use old pearl necklaces, buy jewels and sequins and, using pictures as a reference, have a go at making your own! Again this is only recommended if you’re a confident crafter, but creating your own accessories is rewarding and fun. You might even be able to craft some more and make a business of it!

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Queens & Bowl, specialists in wedding accessories from designers such as Jo Barnes.

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Queens & Bowl (http://www.queensandbowl.com), specialists in wedding accessories from designers such as Jo Barnes.

Author Bio: Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Queens & Bowl, specialists in wedding accessories from designers such as Jo Barnes.

Category: Marriage
Keywords: wedding accessories, Jo Barnes, queens & bowl