Vintage weddings are growing in popularity, as couples across the country try to balance their grand vision with a more modest budget. There are plenty of bargains to be had for frugal fiancées, and with the right approach you'll not only have your dream wedding, but one that's truly unique.
Décor and favours
The great thing about a vintage theme is that the more eclectic and fun the decorations, table centrepieces and favours are, the more unique your wedding experience will be.
Instead of hiring a wedding planner to meticulously co-ordinate your colour and style, have some fun in the preceding months by exploring car boot sales, auctions, antique centres and charity shops for items that could work.
While busy, flowery jugs and candlesticks are out of fashion in the world of home interiors, they can still look fantastic at the centre of a table during your wedding dinner. Similarly, pots, jars and pillboxes make perfect favour containers. All of these can be picked up as large job lots in an auction, and re-sold in the same way if you want to recoup some cash after the event.
Before you begin your shopping odyssey, make sure you've got a hold over your finances with our free Money Dashboard budget planner. Simply enter the details of all your savings, credit and current accounts into our secure, read-only system, and our sophisticated software will automatically tag your purchases, helping you to track your spending down to the last penny.
Dress and suits
The wedding dress is usually one of the biggest expenses, but renting vintage garments can help cut costs without compromising on quality. Love My Dress is packed with beautiful images of wedding dresses from the ‘20s through to the ‘80s that show why an authentic period piece can add something special to your big day. Companies like To Have and to Hire rent one-off designer dresses at a cost of between £300 and £600 for 5 days, but if you're set on keeping hold of your dress, period style vintage dresses can be sourced for similar prices from quaint boutiques like Love Miss Daisy.
For added pizzazz, film fans might consider going to a costume rental company like Angels and attempting to rent a film star's gown (or groomswear). Tracking down clothes from a special film lets you add a personal flourish without you having to agonise over how to express yourself through the magic of puffy white fabric.
DIY Stationary
If you have the time, making your own wedding stationary is a great way to personalise your décor, and give it a rustic feel. Rustic Wedding Chic offers loads of great ideas on how to do just that, including some fantastic free printable banners, table/place settings and favour labels.
Invitations are another area where you can whip up a vintage Photoshop creation. Search stock photos for interesting ideas on a vintage look that you can give your paper, or garner the edges with lace to add that extra design flourish.
Do you have any vintage wedding tips? Let us know in the comments below!
