Vintage Wedding Theme
Vintage simply means something being old-fashioned, classical, or from another time. Of course, it also means the year a wine's grapes were harvested but in terms of a vintage wedding, a vintage theme encapsulates "from another time". This could be the 1980s (if you're that way inclined) or perhaps Victorian times or the 1920s. Whatever tickles your fancy really.
Choose your favourite era from the past and incorporate any aspects of that era into any part of your wedding. It could be something as simple as wearing your mother's or grandmother's wedding dress, or perhaps using material from an old wedding dress in your newly designed and created designer wedding dress. The bridesmaids could be dressed in a style from the era you've chosen and both yourself and your bridesmaids could wear jewellery and accessories from that era. A Victorian vintage wedding could incorporate a lot of lace, pearls, gloves and brooches. A 1920's vintage wedding could showcase gorgeous birdcage veils, pillbox hats and headpieces that were popular with the ladies back in the day. A 1950's vintage wedding would be great fun with big full skirts and Mary Jane patent leather shoes (with heels of course). Music and entertainment recreated from the era would give your older guests a feeling of nostalgia and your younger guests a taste of something a bit different.
If you're considering a vintage wedding theme then you'll want to make sure that your wedding stationery, wedding bomboniere and wedding decorations stand out and shine.
Vintage Wedding Invitations
Your wedding stationery, specifically the wedding invitations, will be the first glance your guests will get of what you have in store for them on the wedding day itself. Use this opportunity to show them you're planning a spectacular vintage affair and incorporate elements of your big day into the design of your wedding stationery incluidng your save the dates, wedding invitations, reply cards, infomation cards & wishing well cards. Carry the design from the wedding stationery over to your place cards, table numbers, menus, seating charts, bomboniere gift tags and, after the event, thank you cards.
Vintage Wedding Decorations
The decorations are where your vintage wedding will come to life. A mixture of new and old items will be easier to obtain, rather than all old or all new. New items can still fit in with your vintage wedding, as long as they represent your choosen era. For old items you could raid your parent's or grandparent's belongings as there are bound to be some little treasures you could use to decorate your reception venue. Also visit second hand or antique stores for more elusive pieces that you simply must have to add the finishing touches to your vintage wedding.
How about setting up an old typewriter on a small antique desk with tea stained paper for the guests to type their best wishes on? You could set up a handful of old polaroid cameras for your guests to take pictures of themselves to add to their thoughtful words. You would then assemble it all into a guestbook to view again and again afterwards. If you can't get your hands on old working polaroid cameras, then how about using disposable cameras that have vintage designs. Here are a few different styles that might fit in with your vintage wedding theme.
More vintage wedding decoration ideas - old tins, china for high tea, old jars or vases with handpicked flowers, doilies underneath or on top of jars and vases, candelabra centrepieces, newly polished old silverware, trunks (old luggage!). There are so many options available to brides today. There are even wedding hire companies who will hire vintage themed pieces to you. Make sure to ask family members before forking out for such items, you may have a hoarder in the family who would be more than happy for their collectibles to be on show for your special day.
Vintage Wedding Bomboniere
Vintage wedding bomboniere can be used as decorations as well. Your guests then take them home as a keepsake of the day. Choose an antique style photo frame and insert pictures of family weddings from years gone by into them. Family members will feel nostalgic and moved to be included in your wedding day in such a way. Your guests are then free to insert their own pictures at home, perhaps one from the night as a reminder of the good times. The photo frames themselves will add an elegant touch to your vintage wedding decorations, they could even be used as place card holders using a vintage style font for the names.
For a vintage garden wedding in the Spring, silk fans would delight your female guests. A bird theme could be incorporated into part of your vintage garden wedding. These Victorian bird cage tea lights holders would be a great wedding bomboniere for your guests plus they'll double as lovely table decorations in the meantime.
Vintage Damask Theme
Damask is a very popular design theme to incorporate into your wedding stationery, decorations and bomboniere. Damask is a weaving style or technique used on fabrics back in the early Middle Ages. Weaving in the damask style produced ornate and decorative patterns in the fabric. Damask designs and patterns are wonderful to use if you're going for a vintage look and feel. It's actually a style that doesn't date, so this could even be used for a contemporary wedding theme. Damask speaks the language of elegance.
Vintage Carnival and Vintage Circus Weddings
This may sound a bit "out there" but vintage carnival weddings and vintage circus weddings seem to be of rising popularity. There are numerous crazy ways you could add a touch of carnival or circus to your vintage theme but none of them involve the use of large African animals! First off, decorations will bring these themes to life. Bold and bright with plenty of colour and pizazz will be the order of the day. For a carnival or circus feel right from the get go, send invitations that embody your theme. Red & white stripes, The Big Top, silhouettes of circus animals or a ferris wheel, admittance tickets as Save the Dates or RSVPs, choose a vintage style font used on old circus or carnival posters. Your guests will know they're in for a ride before the wedding months before the wedding even begins. It will build great anticipation! You could serve up carnival style food such as fairy floss, lollipops, toffee apples and lemonade. The most fun would be to set up a photo booth (either hired or homemade) with outfits and props for your guests to dress up in before taking photos, which you'll look back on crying you'll be laughing so hard. Outfits could be hired or sourced from good quality second hand stores. Organising a vintage carnival or circus theme will be a hoot but not as much fun as the day itself. Even the grumpiest of family members won't be able to help having a good time at your wedding.
There are so many options available to you if you'd like a vintage wedding. There are only a few things to remember, choose your era and them first, keep it simple, source items from family and friends (or hire if necessary), stay true to yourself. Don't do something just because it's what everyone else is doing. Incorporate your loves and desires and you'll be happy at the end of the day (and for a long time afterwards). Good luck with your vintage wedding!
Our Vintage Wedding Favours are also available to view by video: