Vintage Wedding Ideas

One of the essential tasks for a couple planning a wedding is choosing a theme, a decision often based on personal style and preferences. Couples sharing a love of history or sentimental endearment to days-gone-by may choose a nostalgic theme from their favorite era. Creating the atmosphere and ambiance for a vintage wedding is part of the joy of planning. Read on for inspirational ideas for vintage wedding themes.

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy 1940s

Celebrate your nuptials with the era and music of the 1940s, a time of Jazz, big bands and World War II. Enhance the theme by holding your wedding in a venue built in the 1940s or drive away in a forties automobile such as a Buick Roadmaster or a Plymouth Coupe. Dress in attire that reflects the simplicity of the 1940s including white or ivory button-front high-neck lace bridal gowns for women to pin-striped suits and wingtip shoes for men. For decorations, cover the reception room ceiling with a multitude of colorful floating helium-filled balloons with curled streamers. For music ideas, invite a big band to play swing or jazz music, hire an old-fashioned barbershop quartet or employ a DJ who spins forties favorites such as Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter and Glen Miller.

Rock-Around-the-Clock 1950s

Enjoy the carefree days of the 1950s as the theme for your wedding. Invite your guests to dress in retro fifties style outfits and drive away in a vintage Cadillac or Oldsmobile. For the bride, dress in a long-sleeve lace tulle tea-length dress and for the groom; consider a single-breasted tuxedo with jaunty bow tie. Have your bridesmaids wear poodle skirts and outfit the groomsmen in grey flannel suits with suspenders. Feature a tiered wedding cake with lots of butter cream frosting, display tabletop jukeboxes as centerpieces and handout Pez candy as favors. Dance the night away at your 1950s American Bandstand theme wedding reception to popular 1950s music by stars such as Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Bo Diddley.

Summer of Love 1960s

Peace and love reign at your wedding with a hippie-inspired 1960s theme. Exchange vows at an outdoor location such as a grassy park, farm or mountain meadow. Ask guests to dress casual and for your getaway vehicle choose a Volkswagen bus or Ford Mustang. For brides, select a long flowing ivory gown composed of natural fabrics with an empire waist. Go barefoot and wear flowers in your loosely-styled hair. Grooms may choose a Nehru jacket or cotton floral long-sleeve mod shirt with jeans. Serve organic fare from local farms at your reception. Decorate the wedding reception tables with tie-dye tablecloths, candles and peace signs. Give your guests ‘love’ beads as wedding favors. Hire a musician to sing folk songs or choose a DJ who specializes in music of the 1960s or go all-out and feature a Beatles tribute band at your reception.

Planning a wedding in the near future and need ideas? Be sure to attend the Great Bridal Expo, a national touring bridal show featuring the latest wedding trends, a New York style fashion show and plenty of vendors who want to make your wedding dreams come true. Click here for schedule information.

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