Top tips for a vintage wedding

Not everything at a wedding has to be brand new, as vintage gowns and accessories are huge this year.

There is currently a huge trend for everything vintage and while high-end designers have always borrowed from the past and resurrected old looks, giving them a modern twist for their latest collections, this feeling has now made its way down to the high street.

Whether it is second hand dresses from boutiques, bargain finds in a charity shops or adding a retro vibe into their homes with some salvaged furniture and art deco-inspired wallpaper, people are finding that trends of the past really do have a place in the present.

Of course, the same can be said for weddings and there are many ways in which brides can add a touch of vintage to the occasion, whether they want it as a dominant theme or just a small aspect of the decor.

The most obvious way to do this is with the wedding dress. First and foremost, wearing a second-hand wedding dress, whether it is an internet bargain or a frock that has been passed down through the family and gradually altered over the years, can save couples a lot of money. After all, gowns certainly do not come cheap these days.

"There is a market for vintage wedding dresses," Rachel Leonard, fashion director of Brides magazine told the Dallas Morning News. "Mixing old with new is big: It could be a dress or veil, or just vintage shoes or cocktail hat."

However, a vintage wedding dress will also ensure that the bride looks stunning in a unique outfit and she can easily pick a particular era or decade and recreate that style for the occasion.

Some brides may like the casual yet elegant 1920s period and opt for simply cut frocks with beading and a lace shawl, accessorised with a jeweled headpiece or even feathers in their 'do for a beautiful take on the traditional veil. With red lipstick and their hair set into curls, this is a classic look that comes back into fashion time and time again.

Alternatively, a 1960s-inspired style could see the wedding dress teamed with long, flowing curls and waves in the hair, held in place with a hairband featuring a few flowers to match the bouquet or a bloom in the groom's lapel.

Ms Leonard also pointed out that 1930s Hollywood-inspired designs are popular choices, as are 1950s frocks with high waists and full skirts – certainly very different to the slim-line column gowns that are often sported by brides these days.

This vintage trend does not just have to stop at the dress, as Christina Friedrichson, author of Intimate Weddings, recently told the Monterey Herald. She explained that she has often seen couples scouring antique shops and second hand markets to find original vintage plates for their reception.

Ms Friedrichson also pointed out that a retro-inspired wedding can also help to cut costs, as things were much simpler back in the day, with couples only hosting small, intimate receptions.

"That was the standard, you had a simple luncheon at the church. That element of simplicity is definitely making a comeback," she said.

Whether couples want a full-on vintage wedding, or just a few simple touches to bring something different to their day, there are certainly all kinds of ways in which they can do this and the trend for resurrecting the past has never been bigger.