Planning a Timeless and Classic Vintage-Inspired Wedding | Alexandria Catherine Events

By Erica Sonlin | Spring 2018 Intern

Haley Richter Photo

You've seen the magazines filled with picture-perfect couples on their wedding day. You know, the couples who have somehow managed to combine stunning vintage decorations that are perfectly in tune with their striking backgrounds. I'm sure you've wondered ... how?! How does it all look so flawless? How have they planned such a perfect, vintage-inspired wedding?

If you love an old-fashioned style, this concept was designed for you! It's crucial to be creative throughout this process, and looking for inspiration wherever you can find it is highly recommended. 

There are a number of factors to consider when planning around this theme; after all, it is the first step to planning your wedding! Today, I hope to provide you with some helpful insight into how to plan your own vintage-inspired wedding. 

Isn't there something just so charming and romantic about a timeless wedding from the past? Well, it's in your hands to create and bring together any ideas that you might have. To start, look for inspiration! What does vintage mean to you? Do you love a particular time period and want to draw from that? Do you want to focus on the early 1900s or something more modern, like the 70's or 80's or something in between it all? The twentieth century offers a wide range of changes throughout each decade, so it's important to stay consistent and focus on an area of inspiration.

After you have decided on the time period you're drawing inspiration from, you'll want to select a venue. Choosing the right venue for your vision will help to set the mood for the big day and can help you to determine which elements of decor you'd like to bring in based on the background and overall setting. Be mindful of the scenery outdoors, as well as the interior rooms, included furniture, etc. 

Weddings in the past were often held in the homes of the family or in a beautifully tended garden, so a rural barn or old country estate could be an ideal setting to bring the vintage vibe across. If you're hoping for something a little more modern, a hotel, church or vineyard could work too. 

Haley Richter Photo

Next on the list is your color palette! Try to envision that you're at the venue, walking down the aisle, looking around at the ceremony, and watching the bridal party dance. Which colors are you seeing or are you inspired by? Which colors do you want to see blended into the colors of your venue? Aim for consistency - neutrals always work well! If you're going for a vintage-inspired palette, you might want to shy away from really bright and flashy colors and stick with nude shades such as creams, browns and beiges with hints of light blue, blush pink or sage green.

Once your color palette is set, it's much easier to make further design decisions. Use your colors to bring the rest of the design scheme together. We always recommend strategically placing design elements and decor throughout the venue and spaces that folks will be interacting to ensure that the theme is carried out everywhere peoples' eyes are. For instance, think about your card box or gift table - will you use mason jars and bird cages? Chalkboard signs? How about a sweetheart table topped with a silk or lace linen and arrangements of flowers in vintage wine glasses or mason jars resting on top. Include vintage center pieces on tables, such as oil lamps or assorted keys. The possibilities are endless!

Haley Richter Photo

Speaking of florals, you'll want to use these to merge your vision together too through the use of bouquets, boutonnieres and arrangements. Consider attaching pearls or brooches to your bouquet (or use a brooch bouquet entirely!), for this would add a beautiful touch.

Finally, take a moment to think about your stationary. Wedding invitations are your guests first taste at your wedding vision, so we always recommend using something that meshes with your overall theme or vision for the day ... going vintage? Aim for vintage-inspired invitations! For example, an invitation with burlap string tied around a lace border could be both rustic and vintage or perhaps you want to give the illusion of texture with an invitation that resembles barn wood. Any indication of your theme or color palette helps to foreshadow your beautiful vintage-inspired wedding.

Hopefully, you're feeling confident in moving forward to create your own vintage-inspired wedding! By keeping the time, location, color palette, attire and decor, you're sure to have a cohesive design plan in place. Feel free to get creative throughout the process ... now go ahead and start sourcing your inspiration!