Lauren Naimola is the owner of Dear Golden, a vintage shop on Etsy with a brick & mortar location in Michigan. She has collected, worn and studied vintage since the age of 15.
A bride wants to feel beautiful, unique and special on her wedding day, and what better way to ensure that than by wearing vintage? With so many decades of designs to choose from, a girl can easily find a style and shape that suits her, and she’ll know an army of other brides won’t be wearing her dress.
Vintage gowns have many advantages over conventional wedding dresses:
- Better quality construction, particularly dresses from the 1950s and earlier.
- More styles from which to choose
- Overall uniqueness
- Price (sometimes!)
[1930s pale pink dress from Coralvintage | Shop more pink wedding dresses]
Wear White, or Don’t
Brides today are choosing non-white dresses more than ever. There is no rule that says a bride has to wear white or that she must wear a bona fide “wedding dress.” The tradition of the white wedding dress only began in 1840, when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert. The Queen wanted to signal that her reign would be frugal, and white dresses were much less expensive than a dyed dress. Previously, most brides wore gowns of deep red, green, black and purple.
Do consider your hair and skin tones when you pick your wedding dress color. Stark white works best with a dark-haired, dark-skinned brides. Ivory works well with redheads and fair skin. Champagne and very warm cream/ivory dresses complement most skin tones.
[Large 1950s tulle dress from Fabgabs | Shop more size large dresses]
Not a Size Four?
While many vintage wedding dresses are on the small end, they can be found in all sizes. Certain dress shapes are more forgiving than others. For example, 1930s dresses are usually cut on the bias, which allows for stretch and movement in the fabric. By the 1950s, more wedding dresses were mass produced and available in many sizes. This article is a great resource for vintage dressing the ample figure.
If a bride finds a dress she loves near her size, have a seamstress or someone knowledgeable check the seam allowances to see if it can be let out.
Shopping for Your Vintage Wedding Dress
There are so many places to look for vintage wedding dresses! It is smart to visit a vintage shop and try on dresses to determine the shape and era that suits you best. Then you can open up your search online. On Etsy, there is no shortage of vintage dresses of all shapes, in all sorts of price ranges.
When shopping online, the name of the game is to know your measurements. Using a fabric measuring tape, have someone take your body measurements. This is a good guide to use.
Dress Shapes and Silhouettes by Decade
[Silk 1920s dress from DearGolden | Shop more 1920s dresses]
1920s
- The look: loose- fitting sheath, narrow shoulder, no waistband. Sack-like and airy.
- Best for: petite, straight, and apple figures. Works with narrow shoulders, small busts, any size waist, and small to medium hips.
[Silk 1930s Gatsby dress from Tavinshop | Shop more 1930s dresses]
1930s
- The look: columnar. Slim and narrow, often bias cut, curve-revealing.
- Best for: slender, tall, straight, and curvy figures.
- Tip: These look gorgeous on long, slim frames but are also stunning on curvy figures. The secret is to wear smoothing undergarments.
[Chiffon 1940s dress from Nicholasvintage | Shop more 1940s dresses]
1940s
- The look: puffed shoulders, sweetheart neckline, peplums, full or narrow skirts, shorter skirt lengths. In this era, brides often wore wedding suits.
- Best for: curvy, hourglass, plus-size and apple shapes.
- Tip: 1940s dresses suit a variety of figures. The broad shoulders are good for creating the illusion of a smaller waistline. If you have narrow or sloped shoulders, or a slightly thick waist, this is a good era of dresses for you.
[Lace and tulle 1950s dress from Concettascloset| Shop more 1950s dresses]
1950s
- The look: fitted waist, full skirt (tea length or full length) with crinoline, princess cut.
- Best for: pear, curvy, hourglass, petite, and plus-size figures. Works well with a defined waist and full or small busts.
- Tip: Many ’50s dresses have small waists but full busts. A trip to the tailor to alter the bodice will make the fit better.
[Eyelet 1960s dress from Unionmadebride | Shop more 1960s dresses]
1960s
- The look: empire waists with long slender skirts; shorter A-line shifts.
- Best for: apple, plus-size, petite and straight figures. Works well with slender arms and legs and smaller busts.
- Tip: A-line dresses complement most figures.
[1970s maxi dress from Thevintagetrove | Shop more 1970s dresses]
1970s
- The look: loose and flowy, with narrow skirts. Peasant/prairie inspired; Victorian revival with puff shoulder.
- Best for: A variety of shapes, but especially tall gals.
For more on vintage dress shapes, check out this article from Debutante Clothing.
So You’ve Found a Dress
The next step is to check for “deal-breakers” — that is, what can’t be fixed or remedied without a lot of time & money. These include:
- Stains on satin
- Underarm stains
- Dry/rotting or shattering fabric (seen on some 1920s dresses).
- Tears that are not on a seam, especially if the fabric is chiffon.
- A lot of breaks/tears in lace
- Staining on rayon-crepe fabric
- Faded rayon-crepe fabric
What can be remedied:
- Many different stains, actually! A reputable vintage seller will be able to tell you whether a stain has a likelihood of being removed, and if they are savvy, they can tell you how to remove it!
- Slight yellowish discoloration on soakable fabrics (such as cotton or silk).
- Open seams/torn seams
- Broken zippers, missing snaps, missing hook and eyes, etc.
[1970s bohemian eyelet dress from Aiseirigh | Shop more bohemian dresses]
If the Dress Needs Alterations, Is it Worth it?
This depends on the following:
- The price of the dress
- What the tailor/seamstress will charge
- How much you love the dress
Most dresses can be made smaller, and some dresses can be made larger if there is seam allowance or if there is some fabric to create a gusset. The tipping point is completely personal. If you fall in love with a one-of-a-kind dress and it just needs some alterations, then it’s probably worth it! Especially if it is a non-traditional wedding dress that you will be able to wear again.
How Much Time and Money Should I Budget for Alterations?
The price of alternation depends on the type of alteration and the fabric of the dress, obviously, but prices vary from tailor to tailor. In my opinion, if you love wearing vintage, you should have a relationship with a tailor. A few tweaks shouldn’t prevent you from prancing around in a frock you really love on your wedding day.
Tailors who work on wedding dresses are usually well acquainted with delicate lace or special fabric, so they are a good place to start.
Vintage Wedding Dresses on Etsy | More Weddings Posts
Lauren Naimola is the owner of Dear Golden, a vintage shop on Etsy with a brick and mortar location in Michigan. She has collected, worn and studied vintage since the age of 15.
2 Featured Comments
Sign in to add your ownLaurie Lewis from ShopHedgerowRose says: Featured
This is a great post! Just another piece of advice for the bride choosing a vintage wedding gown: If your heart is set on wearing vintage, don't let a stuck-up tailor tell you otherwise. I purchased a pretty 1950's era gown (from Etsy, actually) that I had my heart set on wearing, but my tailor was a real snob about it. ("Ugh. This looks like something my mother wore to her prom," she said.) I ended up purchasing a new gown instead, (and no, I didn't go back to her) because I was so discouraged and feeling rushed. Stick to your guns, ladies! And give yourself plenty of time to shop around for the right tailor who can appreciate your vision! :)
1 year ago
Laura Dugo says: Featured
I will be wearing my mum's dress from 1966 on my wedding in 2 months time. very little alterations needed as she had a very similar shape to mine. I used to try on that dress at home to play when I was a little girl and mow it is giving to my wedding such a special added value. I was lucky as the dress itself is very much my style, I will be going for my second fitting today, and my mum will be with me, she is even more excited than I am about this! wearing a dress with a history is priceless!!
1 year ago
188 comments
Sign in to add your ownKelly from KikuPaper says:
Amazingly comprehensive article - chock full of information!!! Great article for someone considering a vintage wedding dress.
1 year ago
Amy Honey from FancyLuckyVintage says:
Very informative! Nice work Lauren :)
1 year ago
Dotty Walker from SewThoughtfulBlanket says:
I love weddings! Terrific article! Thank you.
1 year ago
Karen from SmallEarthVintage says:
This has so much great info! Well done, Lauren.
1 year ago
Megan from MegansMenagerie says:
Beautiful!!!
1 year ago
Lisa Marie Musarra from 2007musarra says:
Wonderful! So many great ideas. I think if I ever get married I would wear a vintage. Todays dresses are just not my style.
1 year ago
slatevintager from slatevintager says:
great info! I like the 20's.
1 year ago
Kimberlee from GracefullyGirly says:
What fabulous examples of wedding dresses through different eras! I would have lovingly worn my mom's gorgeous wedding dress, had it fit me. I am in love with vintage bridal (hence the vintage focus in my shop). I love all the vintage styles, for different reasons, and would have a hard time picking just one vintage style. That's the best part of using vintage style today. Many of the different looks blend seamlessly and come together for a really great wedding look. And the uniqueness factor is the best part of all!
1 year ago
Anne from plumcreek22 says:
Thanks Lauren. Love the article and the dresses. I'll be in Ann Arbor later this week!
1 year ago
Elizabeth Lagasse from LillyThings says:
Very Pretty! These remind me of my Wedding Dress,Still had the Tag on it! The dress color was off white , the top half was Lace and the bottom half Chiffon.And it will be 6 years since that day on Sunday!
1 year ago
Janell Anderson from prunellasoap says:
gorgeous dresses!
1 year ago
Hannah Jasmine Tucker from TheMiddleButton says:
*sigh* so many lovely dresses! These just charm my socks off!
1 year ago
Melanie from merVazi says:
So many choices, so much information. Makes me want a vintage wedding dress....just because they are so beautiful.
1 year ago
Laurie Lewis from ShopHedgerowRose says: Featured
This is a great post! Just another piece of advice for the bride choosing a vintage wedding gown: If your heart is set on wearing vintage, don't let a stuck-up tailor tell you otherwise. I purchased a pretty 1950's era gown (from Etsy, actually) that I had my heart set on wearing, but my tailor was a real snob about it. ("Ugh. This looks like something my mother wore to her prom," she said.) I ended up purchasing a new gown instead, (and no, I didn't go back to her) because I was so discouraged and feeling rushed. Stick to your guns, ladies! And give yourself plenty of time to shop around for the right tailor who can appreciate your vision! :)
1 year ago
Nataliya from HansHolzkopf says:
wow!so beautiful dresses!!!
1 year ago
DecadesOfVintage from DecadesOfVintage says:
a wonderful article
1 year ago
VintageMarketPlace from VintageMarketPlace says:
love the 30s 40s dresses they are amazingly cut
1 year ago
redlinecs from redlinecs says:
A vintage dress is absolutly a great idea!
1 year ago
cait lucas from inkkit says:
What an interesting article. I debated on wearing my moms 1970' wedding dress it was a bit short for my traditional church wedding but it worked as a great after party dress.
1 year ago
pasinwedding from PasinWedding says:
So beautiful dresses!!
1 year ago
Jess from volkerwandering says:
Great topic, stunning dresses!
1 year ago
Lisa Jersey from JerseyGirlTrinkets says:
Gorgeous dresses!
1 year ago
WillOaksStudio from WillOaksStudio says:
Reading this made me so happy with good memories! I was blessed to fit into and wear my Mom's dress from 1953 (yes, hourglass, and a diet to get there!) It was such a pretty dress AND it made her and her mom (Grandma) so happy to see me get married in it. Now they've both passed on but in my experience, when the vintage dress is also part of friends or family memories, it's so extra special!
1 year ago
Meredith and Brooke Bateh from IvyandMeApparel says:
Such beautiful dresses and wonderful information! Loved the article!
1 year ago
SSW from WeddingLab says:
Lovely!!
1 year ago
BlueBrocade from BlueBrocade says:
Lovely post, really interesting to know more, thanks so much!
1 year ago
PoetryofObjects from PoetryofObjects says:
Thank you so much...really lovely.
1 year ago
Mary from WingsDoveSEOGuides says:
Vintage wedding gowns are gorgeous and very romantic especially compared to today's strapless gown trend. Today's gowns cannot compare to the great variety of vintage gowns from so many eras. My favorite eras: 1920s and 1970s.
1 year ago
AthertonsVintage from AthertonsVintage says:
Great article, Lauren! Thank you for sharing the knowledge!
1 year ago
Pretty Star Designs from prettystardesigns says:
Thank you, lovely post. Choosing a vintage gown over a new, more mass-produced one is such a good idea these days. Especially with the 'vintage' wedding trends, may as well choose a vintage dress as well. It's a lovely idea to create your own happy memories in a piece of history, and something to pass on for future generations to share and make their own
1 year ago
Fabiola Friedman from HuellaHuella says:
I love vintage gowns! they are quite special indeed!
1 year ago
kristin from paramountvintage says:
so many beautiful dresses. i would definitely prefer a vintage wedding dress!
1 year ago
Adriana from ripeshop says:
Great ideas! I am getting married in October and I already bought my dress new, but I'm incorporating lots of vintage touches, from my brooch bouquet, to my earrings, bracelet, and something blue. And I bought most of the vintage stuff here on Etsy :)
1 year ago
vKnit from vKnit says:
Such a wonderful guide!!
1 year ago
Joann J. from abloomnewyork says:
Wonderful! So many great ideas.
1 year ago
Angela from WindyCityKnits says:
Great article! I had a vintage dress for my wedding 17 years ago and I loved it!
1 year ago
OnToVintage from OnToVintage says:
Wow! What a great collection!
1 year ago
Theme Fragrance from themefragrance says:
Great article and descriptions of time period styles. Perfect for brides who don't know what style would look good on them? Etsy vintage is a great peace to look for the perfect wedding dress no matter what style!
1 year ago
Kate from GardenDaisies says:
What a wonderful article! I love the styles from the 20s and 30s, but with my petite&pear frame, I chose a dress from the 50s (on Etsy!) to wear last October and everyone loved it! And, it was so comfortable - I love having that full skirt to hide my hips, while keeping my tiny waist and bust. Love love vintage wedding dresses :) This is a great guide for those getting married and wanting a vintage wedding dress!
1 year ago
Dana Hanson from concettascloset says:
Fantastic and quite informative guide, Lauren! Im beyond elated to be included in this post. XO!
1 year ago
liddy sopretty from liddysopretty says:
Vintage rocks!!
1 year ago
zime from MininasWedding says:
Great article!!! Thank you!!
1 year ago
Kelly from PalomaAccessories says:
Unicos!
1 year ago
Katie from mituvintage says:
great article, lauren!! i just love vintage wedding dresses...can't wait to wear on of my own someday!
1 year ago
Kathleen from myvintagecrush says:
Ah-mazing collection of vintage sellers! Really enjoyed this piece!
1 year ago
VaLon Frandsen from thevicagirl says:
There are some amazing dresses out there. A vintage dress would probably work great for me.
1 year ago
Gina from ArigigiArt says:
WOW, so romantic! Wonderful dresses!
1 year ago
Riezl Morgan from tbtcwedding says:
I love the 1920s dress! <3
1 year ago
Marcia Lacher from TheMillineryShop says:
My mother, and grandmother felt that every one of us (girls) must have their own everything, dresses especially. Yet those gorgeous old dresses are amazing, and make quite a compelling argument for wearing vintage. The workmanship is so often astounding and the styles are of course very much worth wearing. But try to remember that the number in the dress will probably have nothing to do with your current size(s) and ya hafta get over it.
1 year ago
H Wang from sandboxcastle says:
ooohhhh i don't know if i'd go for a vintage wedding myself but this is a really fun glimpse into the past :3
1 year ago
Stephanie Morris from GeezeesCustomCanvas says:
vintage is my favorite
1 year ago
Tess from GildedDays says:
I bought my gorgeous vintage wedding gown off Etsy (it was my first introduction to etsy!)! It was the dress of my dreams, and bonus, it only cost a fraction of what most people spend on their dream dresses! oooh I want to go put it on again now......
1 year ago
Eliza Stein from elizasteindesigns says:
Truly helpful and thorough advice here, and I especially liked that tidbit on the real origin of the white wedding dress. When my Grandma got married, she wore a shiny gold lame dress to be frugal. The price of dye was not the issue this time, rather she wanted to choose a dress she would wear more than once!
1 year ago
Gertie from TheOldBlockHouse says:
I love vintage and can't wait to have a vintage wedding.
1 year ago
Tabelina Tabelina from Tabelina says:
Adorable. Very romantic and so different. love it
1 year ago
HereandThereShop from HereandThereShop says:
Love this article!
1 year ago
UUPP from UUPP says:
How refreshing to see these!
1 year ago
rachel mahlke from giddyspinster says:
I'm not getting married, but having a party/ ceremony. Got my dress on etsy! Here it is: http://www.etsy.com/listing/94100175/reserved-for-livbowl-pistachio-french thank you etsy!
1 year ago
Laura Stark from laurastark says:
This collection is like the Anthropological History of Wedding Dresses. I love wedding dresses of all styles and eras. I am in awe of the craftsmanship of these lovely dresses. I've been a big fan of Lauren's shop. I bought a fantastic military coat from her. Thanks for sharing!
1 year ago
Phil Jackson from NuptialNotion says:
Very neat.
1 year ago
Luncheonettevintage from Luncheonettevintage says:
lovely, lovely post!
1 year ago
Michele from IntheMoodforVintage says:
The time honored quote "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" puts heavy emphasis on the "something old" by placing it first. Hint, hint, hint ... a vintage or antique gown fills that requirement perfectly. Great article, breathtaking gowns and lovely shops!
1 year ago
LuAnn Poli from PaisleyBeading says:
Such a good article! Fun to see the styles through the decades. And I never before heard why wedding dresses were white. I love the vintage look! I'm wondering if one day my daughter will also love vintage and choose to wear my wedding gown!
1 year ago
Natalia from KMalinkaVintage says:
Great post! Lovely wedding dresses!
1 year ago
Laura Prill from lauraprill says:
Oh! The lacy dress in the first photo looks so much like my wedding dress handed down to me by my petite mom! It even had the same little peter pan collar. We had to make longer sleeves for me from the train but it was a real thrill to wear that same ivory gown that I had seen so often in their wedding photos. The lace was pretty fragile even then... but it held together enough for me to wear it down the aisle and reception. Miraculously, I am still with my husband and mom's dress is still at my mom's house. I am grateful for this post, it made me grateful that love is stronger than lace!
1 year ago
messinabella from BandBEstate says:
beautiful dresses, great post!
1 year ago
Kirsti Joy from KaiceJoy says:
Gorgeous Dresses!!
1 year ago
Lonnalee from loveleeflowers says:
what a fun style guide! well done!
1 year ago
Agne Audejiene from AgnesFelt says:
Wonderful!
1 year ago
Katie Carrus says:
love this! especially the notes on how different decades wear on different figures. I'm not even in the wedding market and enjoyed this. :)
1 year ago
kathy johnson from ShoeClipsOnly says:
Beautiful vintage dresses!
1 year ago
Kathy Johnson from BridalSashesOnly says:
Vintage is comming back, these are very pretty!
1 year ago
Kathy Johnson from kathyjohnson3 says:
Such pretty dresses you have, great article, I love vintage!
1 year ago
KettleConfections from KettleConfections says:
Vintages dresses have so much character and are more unique. I find that they are also great for those of us on the petite size, the sizing of vintage clothing tend to run a bit smaller too!
1 year ago
Ai-Ch'ng says:
Thank you, this is excellent information! Vintage and wearing second-hand is wonderful for an event (our wedding day) that may see us never wearing the same items again in our lifetime. For our wedding, I wore a vintage pale peach silk Chinese embroidered jacket and matching embroidered long skirt given to me by my mother from my Grandmother's wedding day; a $20 cream silk cheongsam (fitted long dress with high collar and slits up the side) from a local flea market (altered to fit), and a flame-red silk gold embroidered sari for my wedding, with lots of change left in our pockets to buy a car after that :-) The peach Chinese silk embroidered jacket I have since worn many times with a baggy, printed T shirt, skinny jeans and sandals in summer or flat ankle boots in winter; and the long embroidered Chinese silk skirt with a plain, cotton singlet in summer. I've only worn the cheongsam to a few other weddings, but like my food too much to be able to be comfortable in it for long. Vintage is great for its versatility, its uniqueness, its often-low price outlay for the bride, and, above all - sentimentality - all the hallmarks of a lovely start to your new life.
1 year ago
Sylvia from personTen says:
Great article! Thanks so much for the information. I found a 1940's wedding dress at an estate sale and have had it in my closet for months now. It was too amazing to pass up and I can't seem to let myself sell it!
1 year ago
Terri Edema from CheekyVintageCloset says:
Great info for the bride to be. A wonderful, enchanting time in a girls life.
1 year ago
Amber Zaragoza from AnatomyVintage says:
Lauren, great article!!!!!! Congrats on being an Etsy blogger. Brides who wear vintage wedding dresses are the luckiest girls ever.
1 year ago
Dixie from NaturalWoodland says:
Awesome article. Thank you for sharing. I for one love the old vintage gowns.
1 year ago
plotkine says:
I wore my mother's wedding dress from 1972, which was originally my aunt's wedding dress worn in 1968. I loved every minute of it!! The dress is so elegant, and I felt so honored to be #3 in that dress. It's empire waste with lace 3-quarter sleeves are so comfortable. I wouldn't trade it in for anything in the world. It was never a question - I was just going to wear my mom's dress. Best of all, I never needed to step foot into those ultra-expensive bridal stores. I inspired my friend to wear her mother's baby blue hippy wedding dress to her rehearsal dinner. I hope I encourage others to wear there mom's dress too!!! Even if it's horrible - you can make it your own. Seamstresses are wizards!
1 year ago
Nikki P says:
Great article! I LOVE the vintage look & wanted it for my wedding. I found a lot of the vintage choices to be overly gawdy, or just not "me" during my search last year. Also, I felt a little weird wearing someone's old wedding dress. I wear plenty of vintage clothing, but a wedding dress just seemed somewhat sacred. I found an amazing alternative: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MuseClothing Muse was my savior! These dresses are newly made & no one else has worn them, BUT they are made from antique hand-crocheted tablecloths! It was the perfect mix or old & new for me. It was so humbling to know that my dress was made from the hard work & hand stitchings of women from long ago. This is from the Muse shop page: "Using the beauty and inspiration I find in vintage tablecloths, fabrics & fashion, I recycle these into one of a kind creations. I use combinations of these materials to handcraft feminine, eco-friendly clothing. Each piece is designed and beautifully crafted by me, one at a time. Recycling these hand sewn, hand embroidered treasures that women created with love is important to me. Their hard work is showcased in my garments giving them another life to be cherished."
1 year ago
Aoibheall from Aoibheall says:
I really enjoyed this and the mention of what can be repaired gives me hope. I have been saving my grandmother's 1946 wedding dress with the hope that I will be able to wear it when my time comes.
1 year ago
Lara Harris from studiolara316 says:
Lovely dresses!
1 year ago
Maria from delightfuldownsizing says:
with a wedding in our family this summer I find myself checking out dresses. A couple of yours caught my eye, very pretty! Very helpful comments!
1 year ago
Aboli from FolkStroke says:
Beauuuuuuuutiful dresses! Thanks for sharing!!
1 year ago
BeachHouseLiving from BeachHouseLiving says:
Great information especially regarding which era is best suited for body types and what to look for as far as damage in older dress. I enjoyed reading the history of the wedding dress.
1 year ago
accentonvintage from accentonvintage says:
Great collection! Anything vintage is the best!
1 year ago
Elena Miller from RaindropsJewelry says:
Wonderful blog post! Great suggestions for choosing a vintage wedding dress.That's the best part of using vintage style today. Many of the different vintage looks from various times give you a lot of creative ideas for a beautiful wedding look and it is unique! 6 hours ago
1 year ago
iammie from iammie says:
Beautiful!
1 year ago
Sally from SallysVintageKitchen says:
Great article! Beautiful wedding dresses!
1 year ago
Suzanne Furtado from TheScarletSageTree says:
Great read for those wanting a vintage wedding dress - as truly there are SO many eras, options, looks to choose from unlike current bridal fashions, and it's great to have some advice and guidance. And what a gorgeous selection of dresses, my favorites are the pale pink 1030s one, and the Bohemian eyelet one - just love the summery delicacy of eyelet work.
1 year ago
Donna Thai from PetiteCuisine says:
I love 1950's dresses!
1 year ago
Unique Fabric Gifts from uniquefabricgifts says:
Great article and ideas! Beautiful dresses!
1 year ago
Peshka from Peshka says:
beautiful dresses!
1 year ago
Connie Haskell from redemptionart says:
Great article with very helpful and practical information. Dresses are gorgeous.....Of course, I love vintage!
1 year ago
pengworkshop from PengWorkshop says:
Amazing!!
1 year ago
Rae from AgnesHart says:
what a really interesting and useful article.
1 year ago
Laura Dugo says: Featured
I will be wearing my mum's dress from 1966 on my wedding in 2 months time. very little alterations needed as she had a very similar shape to mine. I used to try on that dress at home to play when I was a little girl and mow it is giving to my wedding such a special added value. I was lucky as the dress itself is very much my style, I will be going for my second fitting today, and my mum will be with me, she is even more excited than I am about this! wearing a dress with a history is priceless!!
1 year ago
Alexandra Domeracki from AllysAntiques says:
Hooo, lovelovelove this article! 'makes me dream of a vintage wedding ^^
1 year ago
TresChicNmodern from TresChicNmodern says:
WOWWWWWWWWW WHAT BEAUTIFULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL BRIDES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 year ago
funnydays from funnydays says:
Great treasury!
1 year ago
Matejka Max from NattyMatty says:
Adorable!
1 year ago
RoseoftheMire from RoseoftheMire says:
beautiful!!
1 year ago
Kalaurie Karl-Crooks from littleskout says:
haha now I wish to be all grown up and getting married so I can go vintage wedding dress shopping
1 year ago
Beliz from beliz82 says:
Beautiful dresses !!!!
1 year ago
Tom's Grossmami from tomsgrossmami says:
Great dresses!
1 year ago
Victoria Baker from LittleWrenPottery says:
Gorgeous dresses, I love vintage lace it just means your giving a dress another life to be worn again!
1 year ago
FiliGraceJewelry from FiliGraceJewelry says:
They are all so beautiful! :)
1 year ago
Erika from ErikaPrice says:
What beautiful dresses! I love vintage lace, and there's so many gorgeous choices here there's got to be a vintage dress that's perfect for your special day!
1 year ago
Crystal Porter from babyglory17 says:
what a lovely article and stunning dresses
1 year ago
Debby from DebbysHandmadeGoods says:
Great article - beautiful dresses.
1 year ago
Addy from Addy says:
Such pretty dresses! I love the decade guide on styles.
1 year ago
latzoni says:
Thanks for including info on plus size vintage gowns!
1 year ago
junquegypsy from junquegypsy says:
My youngest daughter was open to the possibility of a vintage dress for her wedding last year, but ended up liking a new one best. But we did transform her favorite parts of three vintage veils into one beautiful upcycled creation.
1 year ago
Daisy and Jess from DaisyandJess says:
Great article! Such beautiful dresses too!
1 year ago
xfictionprincess says:
love this article! I never considered a vintage wedding dress before because of my size, but maybe now I'll look around a bit =)
1 year ago
TheEverlastingPosy from TheEverlastingPosy says:
Fun to see the lovely vintage dresses!
1 year ago
France Gallery from FranceGallery says:
Neat article!
1 year ago
janicewd from janicewd says:
Lots of information! Definately a much different type of dress when vintage.
1 year ago
janicewd from janicewd says:
Lots of information. A vintage wedding dress is a very different look from today.
1 year ago
Bridget from Roadsidebridge says:
I really enjoyed seeing the vintage dresses.So beautiful.Nice to see others appreciate them.Such special treasures of the past.Thanks
1 year ago
mary from QueenofCuffs says:
Wonderful post and the information given is the best I have read - really good points made. Anything chosen for a wedding that is unique makes it extra special - but can't help my weakness for all that is antique or vintage - yes please !!
1 year ago
NaviWing from NaviWing says:
I'll admit, I'm not the kind of woman to wear a vintage gown to my wedding. I'll go vintage in many other ways, but I'll go more modern fantasy style when it comes to my wedding. Personal tastes aside, though, this article was really well-written for someone looking for a vintage gown, and I appreciated the reality factors of stains and tailoring.
1 year ago
coralvintage from coralvintage says:
Oh my gracious! What a nice article Lauren! I have been a little under the weather, so I just now noticed it!! You are so sweet to include my dress amongst all the other lovely dresses. You have written a lovely and informative article that I will share with friends and customers.
1 year ago
Jessica from LovelyFever says:
This is a wonderful, informative article on how to shop for a vintage wedding dress. I love that there is information about what decade to shop for depending on your body shape.
1 year ago
AJ Marsden from OnlyOriginalsByAJ says:
Beautiful dresses! And a great article too! Thanks for posting!
1 year ago
AlisaDesign from AlisaDesign says:
Amazing dreses! :=)
1 year ago
Sarah from perebags says:
Really great article! Nicely done!
1 year ago
Stephanie from DottiesPhD says:
Firmly love those 50's dresses! Beautiful selections.
1 year ago
liza anne from KitschyBits says:
I have a stunning vintage gown for sale in my shop - please do take a look!!! The lace and style is truly timeless. Great article!!
1 year ago
Marie Allen from misspoppys1 says:
How lovely - I especially love the first 1920`s dress!
1 year ago
Mary Catherine from emblematicdoodles says:
Love them all!
1 year ago
Liliana Penelope from PenelopeHandmade says:
Amazing! I would definitely go for the 1920's.. I hope I'll get married before the 20's of this century :)
1 year ago
mythunderstood from mythunderstood says:
A true luxury -- thanks for posting!
1 year ago
Jaime from BellaBijouJewellery says:
What a wonderful post - great tips! While my mom's dress was remarkably timeless for something worn in 1982, it's still got a bit of 80s going on which just won't work for my style.
1 year ago
Amy from TheSquirrelCottage says:
I wore my mom's wedding dress when I got married in 1986, big full skirt with lots of lace and a very tiny waist! Glad to see this tradition is still going strong!
1 year ago
Michaela Stephens from ArtsyFlair says:
Love it! :) Nice collection of lovely dresses!
1 year ago
Wendy Freaney from HatCandy says:
What a wonderful way to celebrate your marriage... Love traditions like this... Lots of luck to you both........
1 year ago
Yulissa from RueNYC says:
Thanks for the post! Will be forwarding it on!
1 year ago
Ada Ada from idajewelry66 says:
I love weddings!Nice work Lauren :)
1 year ago
lovelygifts from lovelygifts says:
Great post!
1 year ago
Tessa Ilona from MoonstoneCreation says:
I love this, I reeeeeally wanted to wear or sew parts of my grandmothers wedding dress for my wedding, but when we went to look for it in her attic it turns out that it never made her move after her newlywed move to PA. I so love vintage dresses though!!!
1 year ago
AlexSandra from unionmadebride says:
Consider having you family or other vintage dress restyled by an experienced seamstress familiar with vintage. In addition to selling vintage wedding dresses, I also make custom made vintage reproduction dresses and frequently refashion family dresses to fit a different body shape or size. You would be surprised at how durable some vintage dresses are and a shortened hem offers extra fabric that can be used to enlarge small dresses. With vintage bridal you are only limited by your imagination and your pocketbook.
1 year ago
calvertcottage from calvertcottage says:
Beautiful dresses, excellent article......learnt a lot, than you
1 year ago
mila from gotomyshopagain says:
very very beautiful dress :)
1 year ago
Kathy Lindemer from BayMoonDesign says:
I love vintage pieces. I hope that my daughter saves her wedding dress for her daughter to wear and that her daughter will want to wear it!
1 year ago
Angela Cotton from cottonbirddesigns says:
Great article!
1 year ago
rivahside says:
Beautiful gowns! I have my mother's wedding dress from 1958. A lady from her church made her a dress that hit just below the knee because she always hated floor-length gowns. Unfortunately, neither my sister nor I could wear the dress for our weddings because it was about a size zero!
1 year ago
Carole Fox from foxpots says:
I love looking at vintage fashions, especially wedding dresses. Such fun!
1 year ago
emilyMUSTARD from emilyMUSTARD says:
I was very determined to wear an antique wedding dress ten years ago because I simply didn't like any of the modern choices I had in my budget. My dress was made in the 1870s and I found it on ebay! It had a bustle and a long train, was separated into skirt and 3/4 length sleeve corset top...I have a pretty small waist but the corset was made for a ridiculously small 19" waist, so I had to buy a pretty lacy blouse to fit underneath. It was the dress of my dreams, even though it was a little bit tattered in a couple of places. I'm divorced now (heehee) but if I ever marry again, definitely another antique or vintage dress! They're such treasures!
1 year ago
Liudmila Rosario Ponko from PonkoWorld says:
LOve it!!
1 year ago
Ariella Carver from HausofAriella says:
These are gorgeous dresses! The Gatsby dress is particularly stunning. I was leaning toward a vintage dress, but the ones I found that were in my price range and I liked would have cost far too much to have altered.
1 year ago
Dalia S from LulaMia says:
Looove vintage dresses!
1 year ago
Reyes from ReyesRobledo says:
I have always worn vintage clothes from my grandmother and aunts, even when vintage was not in fashion. They are the best clothes, the fabrics are amazing and they are so well made!!! Unfortunately, I was not able to wear a vintage wedding gown, both my grandmothers got married in mourning clothes and hated their wedding dresses and my mother's was too tiny for me! I did wear a beautiful antique lace veil (Spanish Mantilla) which had been in my family for years. I hope my little daughter will want to wear it one day too.
1 year ago
Amber Ottey from thevirginandthegypsy says:
I had found a simple 1930's slip dress (very elegant and va-va-voom) years before I married my long time boyfriend...It was one of those impulse purchases that was completely irrational. Where was I ever going to wear a cream, ankle length, modestly sexy dress in my life? I'm more of a seventies skirt/wifebeater/flip flops and bike riding kind of vintage. But a dress of that age that actually fits me (I'm an 8-10) and only.....wait for it....wait for it...$3! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, my wedding dress cost $3. We married on a ranch so I threw it over some wedges and put some flowers in my hair and voila, became a bride. To this day I have people commenting on the timelessness of that dress, and I couldn't have chose anything that was truer to my scrapper-fab self. Visit my shop to see the rest of my story....
1 year ago
Brittany Hodgson from BeatriceCLaNore says:
These are all good points made. I love the shop and I'm always a fan of antiques and vintage items. Great post!
1 year ago
Cat Shanahan from aiseirigh says:
Awwwe thanks for the include! I am drooling all over all your picks! Lauren has a lovely shop! I have bought from her in the past and she has an incredible eye! Nothing like a vintage bride. Very well written and lots of great info!! XO Cat
1 year ago
bazketmakr from bazketmakr says:
gorgeous dresses and wonderful advice for finding the "right" dress!
1 year ago
Ellen says:
Fantastic article! I read the whole thing even though none of my granddaughters are getting married early like I did. The romantic gowns are my favorite and look so much prettier than todays "let it all hang out " styles. The sexy clothes are ok for parties and the honeymoon, but I think a bride should look beautiful on her wedding day. Old fashioned , maybe, but if you ask most men I think they would agree! (~.~) Ellen
1 year ago
Meg from MegnificentCo says:
I absolutely adore my mom's wedding dress! It was actually very mod, which is funny because I can't imagine her wearing such a short dress! Unfortunately, even at my slightest, I still couldn't fit into it. She was very much like Twiggy. It was 1969. So cool though...
1 year ago
Sara Brazil from SararaVintage says:
Lovely feature with great information. I think more and more brides are wearing vintage. Something old as they say, adds instant history whether a family dress or one you have selected with it's own past. My mom's dress was out for me, because it was a short mod 60's dress! Like really cute laugh in mod but so short and I'm tall! It was perfect on her body but would have been all kinds of bad on me! I was married in Brazil where they still practice a very old form of lace making, so I had mine made. If I been married here in the U.S. I would have definitely had a vintage dress probably from the 30's or 50's. I love that brides are also open again to different colors which expands the vintage pool even further!
1 year ago
Kash2006 says:
Man, I wish I'd thought of this! I tried on dozens of dresses and never found one that I really loved. I eventually settled for one that I considered just ok. There's really not a lot of variety in modern mass-produced dresses. Vintage would have been way more up my alley. I did put on my mom's dress and there was just no way that was happening! It was a heavy, long sleeved, high neck Victorian inspired gown with a detachable train that connected at the shoulders - like a super hero cape. I was so hot in the 10 minutes I wore it, I thought I'd pass out. It was custom made, and very well put together but I think it's best left in '69.
1 year ago
NICOLE Dotto from DOTTO says:
ooooh oooh OOOOH. I would love to see more vintage brides. this was perfect!
1 year ago
Irina Yarmolinski from iKnityarns says:
So beautiful!
1 year ago
Ashley M. from SquirrelsSpot says:
Fun and informing article with great photos! I didn't wear a vintage dress at my wedding--a friend of mine handmade it for me--but I'm hoping that it will achieve heirloom status and that someday a family member will want to wear it. :) I did wear my mom's gorgeous veil from her wedding in 1986, which my grandmother made using a piece of lace that had to be taken from the bottom of dress to shorten it. I do love my mom's dress, although it's not my style...maybe someday it will be re-worn, too.
1 year ago
Kristine Fachet from surlefeu says:
Great article, and I adore the first photo! Reminds me of how lucky I was to be able to wear my Grandma's dress from the 1940s, which happened to be a very unusual style for its time. My aunt wore it before me, making it a 3-generation dress! Even if someone's not lucky enough to have a family heirloom, I think it's sooo important that you feel unique for your wedding day! I used to do alterations at a bridal store, and I swear I kept altering the same 3 dresses over and over again!
1 year ago
Helen Flagg from SimpleKnitShop says:
I loved my vintage dress - especially loved the color (a dark ivory pearl, beige almost). Was lucky to have a lovely seamstress for alterations, repairs and fitting.
1 year ago
Marie Owltoinette from marieowltoinette says:
Simply stunning! I've always known that if I ever get married I will hands-down wear a vintage gown! New gowns all look the same, they are either a) strapless and mermaid OR b) strapless and ballgown. BORING! Where are the lace, high collars, and tiny buttons?
1 year ago
Hey Chica from HeyChica says:
Great article and some beautiful vintage dresses to choose from here on Etsy., I love the 1930s gown!
1 year ago
zubaira akter from Elegentsjewelry says:
good article to read!!learned something different
1 year ago
Farah Dinah from acupofhotcocoa says:
Wow! Great article! Really an eye-opener for me.
1 year ago
Michaelann from VintageFrocksOfFancy says:
Great article!! Great tips and advice!
1 year ago
Desiree says:
I really enjoyed reading this post, I LOVE vintage weddings! I got married last spring in Melbourne and decided on a 1950s dusky pink lace cocktail dress. It sits just below the knee and has a luxurious satin waist sash and rosette. It was a bit chilly so I topped it off with a 1940s blond fur cape (no one can tell me what type of fur it is!), I wore a 1930s deep purple tulle head piece and pinky sparkly Vivienne Westwood Melissa Lady Dragons. The wonderful thing about the outfit was that I bought the dress here on Etsy for only $60. I think it had been worn maybe once or twice before. I thrifted the cape years ago for $12 and carried a small white beaded tapestry bag from the 50s. Price was definitely a major factor for me in choosing a dress, but I didn't expect to pay as little as 60 bucks I can tell you! Plus, it was really, really important that I felt like "me" on our special day. I definitely wanted to show a bit of leg (just calves) and not feel like a "doll". Ooh I have some pics on my blog: http://pullyoursoxup.blogspot.com.au/2011/10/wigglin-on-mah-weddin-day.html xoxo
1 year ago
moon from ThenAgainFinds says:
Wonderful post great photos....yeppers...vintage white wedding dresses classic!
1 year ago
junkyardiva from junkyardiva says:
Isn't that strange...I just did a showcase of vintage clothing, including wedding dresses. It's such a great way to make sure YOUR personality shines through because when you choose a vintage wedding dress, it is always going to be one that makes your heart soar!
1 year ago
Kay from Tyingtheknotinvites says:
Vintage design always makes an impact on my wedding invitation designs, they are timeless!!
1 year ago
Denise Vining from kadydesigns says:
So many beautiful dresses!!!! I love the rose embroidered maxi dress!!! Just Beautiful!!
1 year ago
Andrea Gillett from floralnouveau says:
The gowns are beautiful! My love for unique, feminine frills and vintage is what inspired me to get start in creating keepsake bouquets for brides looking for something special. Thank you for your great article! Andie
1 year ago
tong xin from miraculousfabric says:
The vintage wedding dress is so beautiful, love them!
1 year ago
sarazcloset from sarazcloset says:
Hi there, What's up, just wanted to tell you, I loved this post? It just so very helpful. Keep on posting!
1 year ago
Brittany Castanos ' Christy Baird from DaughtersOfSimone says:
This is a great post! So necessary to help today's vintage bridal seekers! Head over to www.daughtersofsimone.com for a whole slue of bohemian vintage bridal gowns!!!
1 year ago
Pink Poppies from pinkpoppies1991 says:
The first photo is exactly the kind of wedding dress I've always imagined!! Too bad it's sold out :(
1 year ago
William Ayden says:
You have a very good blog, its excellent information in its field. Cotton Bags
360 days ago
Amy Smith says:
I love vintage wedding gown. I have gone through various websites such as http://www.yesmybride.com, bestdressed.com etc and found that these type of wedding gowns are more romantic and and lovely. And also vintage wedding dress always through a unique impact on wedding.
351 days ago
ArtDecoDiamonds from ArtDecoDiamonds says:
I love anything vintage... a vintage wedding dress is just so elegant and classic!
288 days ago
Sheena Lewis from BeautifulAgainBridal says:
Wonderful article, glad I ran across it!
193 days ago
Sarah Paul says:
There are so many kinds of wedding dresses available these days which look awesome on the bride. The vintage style is always liked by the women and with the help of your post, they will come to know more about it. Unique wedding dresses
157 days ago
Carol from VintageWearTreasures says:
I just joined the Etsy sellers on Jan 9, 2013. I will be listing many vintage wedding dresses from my private collection. I love your article and your knowledge. Great for us gals selling vintage. xoxoox
56 days ago