Vintage Weddings - Not Just Pretty Teacups and Afternoon Tea
Vintage weddings don’t have to be all about pretty teacups and afternoon tea; so how else can you style a vintage wedding?
There are lovely ways to decorate and adorn your wedding with vintage style. First and foremost is your wedding dress, and if you are a complete addict and want to get the buzz of finding something unique, you can trawl vintage clothe sales and shops which are everywhere, and hunt down that real vintage wedding dress, wax flowers and veil.
When it comes to your wedding venue the tables are a focal point. You can choose silver three branch candelabra for elegant lighting, and table centres look absolutely beautiful with glass cake stands, pretty china and silver teapots on top with a profusion of flowing flowers tumbling in loose arrangements.
It has to be said that now vintage has gone mainstream there are many tin and metal “Shabby Chic” items on the market. These are mass produced to look old, but frankly look cheap and nasty, and don’t quite cut the mustard. It’s far better to go with real antiques so the china, silver, linen and glass tableware can all be authentic.
When we started our business in 2003 it was easy to see that brides really wanted Romantic Vintage Wedding receptions with food, flowers and vintage china, and at the time it might have been difficult to find props and decorations to suit. Now there are many, many vintage hire companies, so it’s far easier for brides to get hold of vintage decorative items to adorn their tables.
A vintage wedding is truly an individual affair, and the word vintage can mean oh so many styles; from the downright glitzy glamour of the 1930's Hollywood style, with gold sequins, pale cream satin, elegant white fluffy fur stoles and lots of pearls, to the more down home rustic style of the 1940's, with spotty pinnies, WI teas, homemade cakes and a make-do-and-mend village hall atmosphere. It's so much fun collecting little vintage items from charity shops or antiques markets which are held up and down the UK.
Another lovely idea for a vintage look is to hang attractive items from the marquee ceiling, such as pretty parasols, large tissue paper pom poms and pretty lampshades; this all looks very effective.
Outside the marquee or dining area of your venue you could have an old bicycle with a large basket to place favours in for your guests to help themselves, or just have it filled with lovely cascading flowers for a photo opportunity.
Lanterns and twinkly lights hanging in the trees add another focal point, and the overall look when using all of these ideas is breathtakingly romantic.
Vintage means being different. Your wedding is not conventional, where the whole wedding package is off the peg. It is a combination of your styles, it's about who you are and the finished effect on your wedding day is an expression of you both.
Article by Amanda Baird of The Utterly Sexy Café
Images courtesy of:
Wedding Dress: Judy Pak Photography
Table Decorations: Ian Shoots Weddings
Garden Reception with Lights in Trees: Our Labor of Love Photography
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