Etsy - for alternatives to a veil or tiara

If you haven’t discovered Etsy yet, do take a look. It’s a great place to start if you want something a bit different in the headwear department. I’ll do a post on tiaras and veils later on, but why not go for an alternative that will still complement your retro frock?

60s/70s hippies fantasy look – go for a scattering of white butterflies

50s – A  bow-shaped Alice band  will match your prom-style gown

40s – War-time brides like my Grandma Sally often wore a day dress or suit instead of a white wedding dress. If you plan to do the same, be inspired by Sally Bloom and choose a pretty and dramatic hat

Here's Sally in her 1945 wedding photo

Bored of Bling?

modern swarovski crystal accessories - while being undoubtledy the sparkliest on the planet are possibly a bit TOO sparkly for Retrobride. The fashions in wedding jewellery seem to stick faithfully to the sparkle or pearl options. Unless you are lucky enough have an inherited diamond necklace, or classy string of pearls, why not check out some vintage costume jewellery as an alternative? Vintage diamante is often uneven in colour, with tarnished metal settings. As long as the settings are secure and all the stones are still there, taking the edge off the sparkle tones it down and this faded sparkle adds a 'Miss Havisham' charm to your retro bridal look. 

Another retro alternative to consider is marcasite. This pewter-grey sparkly jewellery was particularly popular in the 40s and you can buy some gorgeous antique pieces for quite low prices. It's a heavier, slightly Victorian Gothic look - great if you want to turn up the drama for an evening or winter wedding. A brooch corsage or an ornate ring could add the perfect touch without making you look like a crystal diamante nightmare.

White shoes? eerrrgh

Wedding fashions have changed and evolved over the years but one unfortunate fashion seems to have stuck - why on earth do we spend money on white satin shoes? There are so many alternatives and metallic shoes are a great idea. Still light, pretty, special - but with a bit of glamour. No need to worry about them being stained by mud and dust either. These vintage 30s and 40s strappy examples would look amazing peeping out under any style of dress:

Now that we are coming up to party season the shops are full of metallic shoes in all styles. Check out the selection at Schuh metallic shoes

Goodwood Glam

I was lucky enough to be one of the 40s girls walking about in uniform at the 2011 Goodwood Revival. A motor racing event might not be the most obvious place to look out for wedding style inspiration, but Goodwood had it all!

The event is a fantastic opportunity to spy out some retro looks. Outfits ranged from 20s flapper to 60s dolly bird with everything in between. In the market area apart from all the vintage clothes stalls there were also makes like Vivien of Holloway and Biba selling their retro-inspired frocks.

Vivien of Holloway  ( which you can find here Vivien of Holloway )is an ideal choice for a curvy bride looking to show off her Marilyn figure, while Biba has revived the long slim 70s silhouette that suits slim girls with long legs and a small bust. If Kate Moss's hippie look made you smile, maybe have a look at Biba's bridal range:  Biba bride

Who is RetroBride?

About me:

I'm 36, and work as an Academic Administrator at Oxford University, but with quite a lot of Film Extra work on the side. I shall be marrying Sam, who is a 28yr old Quantity Surveyor from Cheltenham. We will be getting married in May 2012, at the Divinity School in Oxford's Bodleian Library (which used to double up as the Hogwarts infirmary).

Sam and I met at a Tudor historical reenactment four years ago and I've always been a retro girl at heart. My wardrobe is packed with Victorian bodices, 60s mini dresses and 50s frocks. I describe myself as 'retro' rather than 'vintage', because I like to mix old styles without getting too bogged down by sticking to one era. When I was a kid I spent my pocket money on 50s dresses in Camden Market and now I'm getting married I have all sorts of retro styles and ideas I'd like to use. Most of all I want the wedding to be OURS - not a bland copy of somebody else's.

I was shocked and delighted when Sam proposed, half-way up a mountain while were on holiday in Cuba. Although the planning is daunting, so far we have had a lot of fun just bouncing ideas around. I might be a retro girl but I don't have retro attitudes - it's important to me that our wedding is as much Sam's day as my own. He's already created a webpage for our guests to refer to, so in his own way he's as creative as I am.

Now the date and venue are booked I can't wait to get on with the finer details. Deco decadence or Venetian vamp? Victorian elegance or 50s rock and roll, even Bollywood or Moulin Rouge? It will be fun finding out! One thing I can say for sure is that a Harry Potter themed wedding is out of the question, despite our magical venue...