You’ve always known you wanted a vintage wedding. But how to do you capture the era you want without it feeling overdone? These unique vintage wedding ideas are here to show you how to create your dream vintage wedding in style, no matter what decade you want to emulate.
For your save-the-dates, invitations, and programs, use a font and design that looks like it came straight from the past. Consider using paper that looks aged for an even more authentic feel.
Photo: A Vintage Obsession via Etsy
Your wedding dress helps set the tone for the day, and should definitely have a vintage feel (major bonus points if you have a family heirloom you can either wear or repurpose!). Look for a gown that emulates vintage, but that also works for today’s style. For example, this bride perfectly captured the look and feel of her Great Gatsby-themed wedding with jewels and fluttered sleeves.
Photo: Southern Weddings
Much like the dress, you want your vintage wedding hairstyle to emulate the era, but also feel fresh and modern. Share inspirational photos with your stylist and do a trial run to avoid any wedding-day disasters. Fascinators, jeweled pins, and lacy full-length veils are all perfect vintage hair accessories.
Photo: Hair and Makeup by Steph via Livingly
Don’t forget to match your bridesmaids to the tone of your big day! Find fun-yet-functional dresses that match your theme, or opt for plainer dresses that can be accessorized with pearls, brooches, or whatever else is reflective of the era.
Photo: Soho Mode via Etsy
If you’re having a vintage wedding, chances are you’ve already collected a few items from your favorite decade. If not, start scouting antique shops and thrift stores or asking friends and relatives for fun, playful items that will work well on your tables.
Photo: WeddingWire
Pearls are the ultimate vintage accessory, and create a definite statement when used as decor. Here, the bride glued strings of pearls to foam balls to create a one-of-a-kind centerpiece. She also hand-crafted every single rose from coffee filters and added rhinestones to the middle for a classic vintage look.
Photo: Something Turquoise
Lace is the perfect way to represent many vintage eras — especially if your theme includes a more rustic flair. It can add just the right amount of texture to help tie together everything including your dress, napkins, garland, chair covers, tabletops and more.
Photo: The Wedding Dresser
Coke in glass bottles brings back memories of childhood for many, so provide this special treat during your cocktail hour! Provide straws and serve them from a vintage crate.
Photo: Martha Stewart Weddings
Candy buffets have quickly become wedding must-haves, and what better way to reflect your vintage wedding than with food from the era? Shop here for everything you need for a wow-worthy candy bar.
Photo: Capitol Romance
A photo booth is the perfect place to blow out your vintage wedding theme! We love the use of antique doors to create a totally unexpected backdrop. Let guests play dress-up with feather boas, big hair, antique frames, or whatever else goes with your era.
Photo: Forever Vintage Rentals
Find small, inexpensive vintage items you can affix to tags for a fun, meaningful placecard that can double as a party favor. Here, vintage keys help guests find their way to their tables. (PS: These antique gold-finish typewriter keys would work perfectly!)
Photo: The Wedding Chicks
Leave your reception in a jaw-dropping vintage car for a sendoff your guests won’t soon forget. Add a “Just Married” sign and tie cans to the back for an ultra-vintage look and feel.
Want a ready-to-go vintage wedding theme? Shop our vintage wedding section that has everything you need in one place!
Photo: Style Me Pretty