Is there a marriage more perfect than that of the concept of vintage and weddings? The timeless styles of the effortlessly fashionable eras-gone-by tied in with that most traditional of institutions, the matrimony of two people deeply in love. It’s no wonder so many betrothed couples are embracing vintage when planning their weddings.

The vintage wedding has exploded in popularity recently, with various bloggers cropping up all over the internet detailing the meticulous planning of their own personal dream day. As with anything that gets extremely popular, however, there are those doing it right and those doing it oh-so-wrong.

For any bride-to-be planning a vintage wedding, choosing a dress and accessories is the most exciting part of the process. The popularity of vintage weddings means that vintage-style dresses are easier than ever to attain – choosing which to buy and where from is a whole different matter.

What Dress Should You Choose?

You decide! When it comes down to it, you and only you know what your perfect dress is and what you’re going to feel comfortable in. The beauty of vintage weddings is that they can be suited to personal taste in a way the traditional white wedding can’t. You should know what era you want to take inspiration from, and from there it’s a matter of matching to personal preferences.

Nevertheless, there are a few ways to make the process of choosing your dress a little bit easier. As with any search, research is the key that will guide you on your path to vintage heaven. Take the time to research your chosen era and allow yourself to be inspired fully.

If you want to take inspiration from the 30s, for example, then don’t just search ’30s wedding dresses’ on the internet; take the time to watch films from the era, listen to music and generally take in the culture of the time. You should find you gain more fashion inspiration from doing this than simply trawling through images of dresses!

The basics of choosing a wedding dress still apply when shopping vintage. Pick a style that suits your figure; there are plenty of existing guides to this, so we won’t go into too much detail! Consider colour, trim and material as well – ultimately, you want to find the combination that achieves that perfect equilibrium between comfort and style!

New or Old?

A fierce debate rages between vintage aficionados on the merits of authentic vintage and vintage-style clothing. On the authentic side, it’s argued that ‘new vintage’ isn’t actually vintage at all and rather an offshoot of ‘new fashion’. Defenders of new vintage argue that the pieces are just as good in quality and are much more readily available, opening up vintage for everyone.

In all honesty, it doesn’t matter which side of the debate you fall – picking should be a case of which is easiest for you. On the whole, buying ‘new vintage’ is easier and more budget-friendly. You’ll spend less time searching and there are plenty of designers making gorgeous pieces perfectly reflective of their respective eras.

If you’re determined to go authentic though, then be prepared for a time-consuming and potentially expensive process. You’ll generally have to go through vintage dealers and hope they’ve found your piece – securing that dream dress can involve importing from far-flung locations and all sorts of adventures. That said, the process can be fun and is extremely rewarding if successful. Just don’t let it distract from your other preparations too much!

The marriage between vintage and wedding, then, is perfect – if you get it right. The tips above are just a couple of hints, and it’s ultimately down to you to experience all the trials and tribulations of putting together the perfect vintage ensemble. Enjoy and, even if everything seems lost, picture yourself standing at the aisle in your dream ensemble. That should be incentive enough!

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Queens & Bowl, retailers specialising in vintage wedding dresses, accessories and jewellery.

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Queens & Bowl (http://www.queensandbowl.com), retailers specialising in vintage wedding dresses, accessories and jewellery.

Author Bio: Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Queens & Bowl, retailers specialising in vintage wedding dresses, accessories and jewellery.

Category: Marriage
Keywords: wedding dresses, vintage wedding dresses