Vintage Styled Wedding: 1940s Inspired | Real Wedding

Laura and Andrew’s vintage styled 1940s wedding is delightful. Laura’s love for the 40s influenced the styling of her day, and oh what a day! A beautiful wedding peppered with the prettiest vintage detailing, from the authentic vintage accessories that arrived with one of Laura’s dresses, to the original 40s bridesmaid dresses.

The cute handmade wedding favours are a.dorable and the vintage hankies used to decorate the ceremony staircase? Wow! You just have to see this wedding…

Myself and Andrew had been together for 9 years. Andrew is my best friends brother and I fell for him from the first time I saw him. He was the cool older brother and I was just his kid sisters friend but I won him round eventually. We first really got together at a music festival as we both love music and the rest they say is history.

We really wanted to go for a 1940’s theme wedding, as I love all things vintage and the 40’s is my favourite decade. We found it very difficult to find clothing  from the period so had to compromise a bit by buying items from the 1950’s and having them altered. I did manage to have my 1940’s champagne flutes for the toast though which I was super happy about.

© 2013 charlene morton photography

I purchased my jewellery from a vintage flea market that takes place in my town of Filton. And a friend lent me a vintage bracelet to wear as something borrowed.

I really wanted a 1940’s dress but searched everywhere and couldn’t find one I loved. Then I went to Luxe Bridal and found the perfect 1950’s tea length 1950’s dress. It was perfect for dancing around in and was a bit of fun. I still had my heart set on a full length dress for the ceremony though and I found the perfect one on EBay.

It was being sold by a relative of the person who owned it. It had been shipped from America and had been kept in a trunk in the attic since it was worn on their wedding day. As soon as it arrived you could feel the history and love in it and I knew it was perfect.

My crown tiara came with my wedding dress, it was handmade to match the beading of the dress so it was fate that they should all be worn together. I even wore the old garter that arrived with a dress. Something old and blue in one go.

All the bridesmaids dresses were original vintage dating from the 1930’s to the 1940’s. I had them altered along with my wedding dress by Susan Gilby. I also handmade all the hair accessories from scraps of ribbon and lace.

I tied bunting in the room we had afternoon tea in and made big table cloths out of old floral kingsized duvet covers to cover the tables. I also collected lots of vintage embroidered table cloths that went on the tables along with old sweet tins.

We used large sweet jars that we filled with sweets from the 1940’s as table name place markers and each person had to look for their sweet to see what table they were sat on.

My mum made crochet’d cupcakes for all the women that had scented discs in them so they could be used for drawer scenters. And I made embroidered hankies for all the men, they all had the first name of each gent on them.

My friend Eleanor Hayes made my cake. It was amazing and tasted absolutely divine.

Our wedding transport was lovely. The cars arrived in plenty of time and were available after the ceremony so we could get lots of lovely photos with the beautiful cars.

My dad had the biggest smile on his face while we were travelling to the venue and I know that’s because the journey was just magically in the beautiful 1936 Austin Westminster.

My  Dad walked me down the aisle to Earth Angel by The Penguins.

I used old vintage scarves to decorate the staircase.

My wedding photographer Charlie was amazing. She captured everything perfectly throughout the day. Our pictures aren’t like pictures at all, they are like looking back in time at all the little special moments and things that happened.

When I look at them I remember little conversations and bits that make me smile and it feels like it happened just yesterday.

I used to work at Greenfields Florist when I was a teenager and so I experienced first hand the amazing things Carene can do with flowers. I always knew she would do my wedding flowers and she arranged them perfectly.

They were just how I wanted them. Not too tidy and a real feel of English Country Garden. Like they’d been picked from the garden that morning.

One of the most memorable moments of the day was seeing the smile on Andrews face. He was the happiest I have ever seen him.

He didn’t have a huge involvement in the planning and organising so most things were a bit of a surprise to him but I could genuinely tell he loved every bit and was chuffed with every moment.  

Other than that I can’t really pick any one time. Everything was just lovely and perfect and everyone that came really had a really great day.

Our first dance was True love Ways by Buddy Holly as I have always loved the song.  It has a really lovely message in it and it’s not too much of a typical love song. Listen to it and you’ll know what I mean!

If I could impart any words of wisdom for future brides I would say… Start early. Even if people think you are doing it too early you can never be too prepared. Especially if you have an idea or a theme in mind. You have to do some serious hunting around to get what you want so allow yourself plenty of time to do it.

Oh wow, what an amazing wedding! I love, love, love, love, LOVE IT! And those coloured hairnets… such a fun touch!

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credits | photography: Morlove Photography | venue: leigh court | reception styling & crockery: the vintage hire | brides dress: luxe bridal | alterations: susan gilby | flowers: greenfields florist | car hire: kens kars | hair & make-up: the bridal styling company 

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