Plan your vintage wedding

Just a few years back, the ‘something old’ in the familiar wedding day adage might have meant, at most, a family choker sparkling above the neckline of a brand new, budget-busting dress. But in the last few months, a sea change has taken place, with more and more brides choosing to reject the new and instead rediscover the charms of pre-owned, preloved pieces with a history of their own. In the May issue of BBC Homes & Antiques, out now, we talk to three brides who have had very different vintage weddings. And if you're planning a vintage wedding of your own, here’s our pick of key suppliers to help you get started...

Dresses

Honey Pie Boutique
This business in Merseyside makes affordable 1950s-style gowns and bridesmaid dresses.
0151 200 3175; honeypieboutique.co.uk

Heirloom Couture
From 1930s Schiaparelli to Ossie Clark, decades-old dresses are lovingly restored and reinvented by couture embroidery designer Rachel Spencer. She also has a collection of vintage-inspired, custom fitted gowns.
020 8969 4013; heirloomcouture.com

Charlotte Casadéjus
Antique French embroidered linen dealer Charlotte creates beautiful dresses incorporating period buckles, beading and lace.
020 7064 1699; charlottecasadejus.com

Fur Coat No Knickers
Former West End costume supervisors Laura Thomas and Emma Cascarina will give you the star treatment, helping you pick a vintage wedding dress that they can customise and fit to your taste and shape. They also make dresses using vintage patterns to order or from a picture, plus stunning jewellery, headpieces, wraps and boleros.
07814 002295; furcoatnoknickers.co.uk

Shoes

Mary Cooper Antique Costume and Textiles
This Harrogate-based dealer sells vintage shoes along with antique lace, wedding dresses, veils, gloves and fans. 01423 508857 

Rachel Simpson
Rachel draws inspiration from the elegance of 1920s-30s footwear. Her collection of vintage-style bridal shoes incorporates satin ribbons and lace for a delicate, dainty look.
0121 428 2698; rachelsimpsonshoes.co.uk

Styling/hair

It’s Something Hells
Run by Miss Betty and Mister Ducktail, this French retro hair salon off London’s Carnaby Street is worth visiting for 1940s-50s Hollywood coiffures and rockabilly styling.
07896 153491

Vintage Hair Lounge
A Southampton salon offering a range of services and packages for brides and grooms and their families, plus expert advice on authentic vintage looks. The lounge also stocks international vintage make-up brand Besame.
07528 753219; vintagehairlounge.com

Vintage Secret
Vintage fanatic Naomi Thompson not only sells beautiful vintage frocks but also shows you how to wear them and what accessories to choose with one-to-one style consultations. 
vintagesecret.com

Bouquets & flowers

On a beautiful Staffordshire farm, Sam Ellson grows seasonal old-fashioned flowers and herbs that she displays in vintage crockery and glassware for traditional English country wedding style. She also hires out teaware, cutlery, bunting and tablecloths.
0800 756 5403; traditionalflower.co.uk

Scarlet and Violet
Vic Brotherson displays eclectic mixes of flowers in milk churns, old bottles and vintage jugs and teapots, using cow parsley and other wild flowers.
020 8969 9446; scarletandviolet.com

Vintage Magpie
Emma Katherine Davies gives your wedding a decadent twist by adding special items such as family treasures to the bouquet. She can even turn your grandmother’s wedding dress into vintage fabric roses.
07876 344148; vintagemagpie.co.uk

Love Vintage
Designed to become keepsakes, these handmade vintage bouquets and buttonholes reflect bygone decades. The company also offers alternative hen parties with cakes, crafts, movies and photograph slideshows.
07764 760235; love-vintage.co.uk

Hats, fascinators & jewellery

Photography

Music & entertainment

Greg’s Greats Records
Greg Butler runs his business from Foxton near Cambridge dealing in records and has over 140,000 in stock, original old-style shellac for gramophones as well as vinyl.
01223 872937; myspace.com/gregsgreats

Jitterbug Jukebox Hire
Supplier of full-sized 1940s Rock-Ola Bubbler jukeboxes that play your chosen range of music, including your own CDs.
01707 646473; jitterbox.co.uk

McVouty Family DJs
These gramophone DJs have thousands of tunes from old swing and blues through to the crooners and rock ‘n’ roll.
07971 805134; myspace.com/mcvoutyfamilydjs 

London Swing Dance Society
Learn to dance the Lindy Hop, Charleston or Balboa in a class run by the London Swing Dance Society.
01895 613703; swingdanceuk.com

JiveConnection Dance School
Lessons in East Coast Swing Jive and Jitterbug dance at various venues around Surrey. It can also offerhelp with planning an event and DJ services.
01342 712145; jiveconnection.co.ukMarquees & styling

Marquees & styling

LPM Bohemia
This Kent-based company supplies traditional canvas pole marquees, faded vintage military and tiffin tents for a village fete look, Indian and exotic styles, teepees and yurts, plus themed interior styling.
0870 770 7185; lpmbohemia.com

Grace and Tailor
Lampshades hanging from the ceiling by ribbon, flowers in jars on an old stepladder, a seating plan in an old suitcase and Champagne cooling in enamel bowls – Grace and Tailor approach interior styling with their inimitable quirky style.
0844 847 0230; graceandtailor.co.uk

Labelle Maison
From its headquarters in Abergavenny, this company hires out bespoke, hand-crafted Bedouin tents in all sizes that create magical spaces for events.
01873 850100; labelle-maison.co.uk

Crescent Moon
For vintage sparkle, great chandeliers hanging from the marquee and candelabra, Justine Corrie and Simon Gerrard will style your reception, decorating any space with canopies, lighting, furniture and accessories.
0800 083 8480; crescent-moon.co.uk

China & props

Vintage Tea Sets 
Vicky Rowe from Bristol, whose marriage had a 1920s twist (see p56), can theme a wedding for any era. She calls upon photographers, florists, dress-makers, caterers and venues to offer the whole caboodle, along with crockery hire, table dressing, period stationery and favours.
0117 953 2973; vintageteasets.co.uk

Utterly Sexy Café 
Utterly Sexy Café hires out 30s, 40s and 50s china along with edible art, flowers, foliage, butterflies, birds and lights. It also offers canapés and kitsch and vintage rose wedding cakes, plus original 1950s white canvas marquees, musicians and photographers.
01747 870812; utterlysexycafe.co.uk

National Theatre
Whether you want a gramophone, lanterns or period chairs, the National Theatre has an extensive collection of costumes, furniture and props that are available for hire.
020 7735 4774; nationaltheatre.org.uk

Wedding lists

Fairs

The Vintage Wedding Fair

For more vintage wedding ideas, visit Perfect Wedding