Go back to the future in style: Vintage Weddings

By Robert Sharoff

Wedding ceremonies that look to the past for inspiration are more popular than ever.

Often, this inventory takes place in a last-minute panic and a scramble ensues, usually for "blue" or "old."

If Nancy Eaton had her way, the "something new" part would be problematic. Old would be the wedding's main event.

Wearing a vintage wedding dress or holding the ceremony or reception in a historically significant locale "is a great way to add romance and a sense of tradition to a wedding," says Nancy Eaton, author of "Your Vintage Wedding," (Harper Collins, 2002) a guide to planning and staging period nuptials. "Instead of getting married in a generic hall with generic food and wearing a generic dress, why not create something that has personal meaning for you and the members of your family?"

The idea of incorporating history and tradition into weddings is hardly revolutionary, of course. What is new, however, is the increasing popularity of theme weddings that turn traditional ceremonies into elaborate period productions starring the bride and groom.

"They've become far more popular in the last five to ten years with the increasing popularity of retro styles in fashion and home furnishings," says Eaton. Her book provides a decade-by-decade look at bridal - and cultural - fads and fashions for the last century.

Of course, not everyone wants an MGM musical for a wedding, which is fine, says Eaton. "Some women begin and end with wearing their mother's or their grandmother's dress," she says. "Others, however, want to bring their families and friends into day in a major way. It's all about what you're comfortable with."

There are several ways to begin, she says. "I usually tell couples to start by looking at their families and finding out what was important to them over time. Where did they live? What did they do? Maybe the groom's grandfather was a railroad conductor back in the 1930s and that sparks an idea for a train theme."

A couple may also base a wedding on their own interests and preferences. "It's hard to say what triggers the impulse," says Eaton. "Maybe you watch an old Fred Astaire movie and see a wonderful wedding scene and think, wow, it would be great to have something that looks that romantic."

Eaton profiles a number of actual period weddings in the book. One, an Art Deco 1930s wedding, began with the bride's love of the classic film "It Happened One Night." Another, a 1940s-style wedding, drew its inspiration from the bride and groom's interest in swing dancing.

Regardless of what era a couple decides on, the dress plays a key role. There are several ways of finding a vintage wedding dress. The two most common, says Eaton, are vintage clothing stores and Internet auction sites, such as Ebay.

"You'll pay anywhere from $25 up to $1,000 or more," she says. "The price depends on the condition, the quality and the uniqueness."

There are two main problems with vintage dresses, she adds. The first is condition. "Some fabrics do better than others over time," she says. "Silk, for instance, tends to rot and disintegrate. Rayon, however, holds up well."

The second problem is that many modern women have a hard time fitting into vintage dresses.

"Women are larger today," says Eaton. "Also, people got married much earlier in the past. Many wedding dresses 50 years ago were made for teenagers. Just about everyone is small at that age. Today, brides tend to be older."

The solution, she says, is to have a new dress made using a vintage dress or pattern - available in many fabric stores as well as online - as a model. Such a dress might incorporate actual vintage details, such as a beaded bodice or sash.

The same approach is often used for bridesmaid dresses. Or, an alternative method is to specify a color and let the bride's maids scour vintage stores for appropriate, flattering gowns.

Men, for a number of reasons, have an easier time of it. Tuxedo design moves at a glacial pace. What's in style today isn't all that different from prior decades. Of course, tuxedos didn't become wedding staples until the 1930s. Before that, men wore morning coats and frock coats to their weddings. So if you're planning a Roaring 20s theme, forget the Fred Astaire tailcoats.

From there, the day becomes as elaborate as you want to make it; vintage invitations, halls, cars, food and photographs are all possibilities. Some couples even take the ultimate step and ask their guests to dress in the style of the period.

One thing to remember, says Eaton, is that planning a vintage wedding takes longer than planning a traditional ceremony.

"You have to allow time to research the period in addition to all the normal details associated with planning a wedding," she says.

The upside, she adds, is that, "It's a labor of love. It may be the most fun thing you'll do for your wedding." 

Vintage Options

When you evaluate a vintage gown, says Nancy Eaton, author of "Your Vintage Wedding," a guide to planning a period nuptials, it helps to understand the difference among the age-related flaws that you should overlook, the ones that you can fix and the ones that make an old wedding dress unwearable.

Easy to Repair

Rusted buttons, ripped trains, torn under netting, missing beads, missing or damaged pearls and buttons, broken zippers, tears on seams, pulls in the fabric, minor lace tears

Not That Big a Deal

Hem dirt, water staining on the hem or train, inconspicuous stains or small holes, minor scratches, scuffs, or pulls

Forget It

Split or "shattered" silk, fabric dry rot, badly torn lace, rust stains, visible stains or dirt in conspicuous places, tears, holes, or burns in visible places, visible underarm stains

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