Choosing an Original Vintage Wedding Dress

If you have decided that you would like to wear an original vintage wedding dress then it can be a bit of a minefield working out where to buy it, how much you should be paying for it and what to do about alterations.

My advice is to go to a reputable vintage dress shop or a specialist vintage bridal shop, with a good selection of dresses and access to a reliable alterations service. I would recommend (other than Luella’s!) companies like The Vintage Wedding Dress Company and Heirloom Couture who stock a collection of unique and beautiful dresses.

You can find some wonderful things online, but just because you have chosen to opt for something a little bit different doesn’t mean that you should compromise on the care that you take finding the perfect dress. Start your search nice and early because you might have to wait while dress shops source you a dress in your desired style or size. Normally vintage dresses come in very small sizes so you will need to be aware of that before you begin your search.

You will also need to be aware that these dresses may be 50 or 60 years old which might mean that they have a few blemishes or need a few repairs. Some of them may be in different shades of cream too, since that seems to have been popular amongst vintage styles.

Vintage dresses can range from anything from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds and their value will be increased by things like the designer or the condition of the dress. It is worth doing a bit of research before you start trying on dresses to work out how much you should be spending for different styles.

Most dresses will require some alterations and these may end up costing you more than the dress depending on the extent of the work that needs to be done. It is always worth asking the shop where you are making your purchase if they offer this service or if there is someone they can recommend.

Finally, if you do happen to find your perfect dress but you want to have a think about it before making your purchase then offer to pay a deposit for the shop to hold your dress. The last thing you want is for someone else to walk away with your dream dress because after all it truly will be one of a kind!

Article by Bridal Wear Specialist Rachel Attwell

Image Courtesy of Luella’s Boudoir

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