Bridal Style

Today if I were to have my wedding again, it would most certainly be the dress of choice. Which makes me wonder, does age change the way we visualise our bridal style.

I was 25 when I got married, and my dress was certainly different from the strapless gowns going around at that time. As I designed it myself it obviously had a twist, but it wasn’t miles off the trend. The overall look was understated princess. Yet if I were to do it all again (maybe renewing my vows!!) I would certainly be going for the vintage look.

I LOVE all things from yesteryears and always have. To my husband’s dismay I love wandering around castles, old buildings, churches, graveyards, you name it. So when I designed my 2011 collection of vintage inspired wedding hair accessories and jewellery, I was pleased to hook up with the wonderful Audrey Russell who understood my love for vintage and sentimental things. It seemed that typically the younger bride still goes for the princess style dress, so I wanted to express through the shoot that ANY AGE can rock the vintage trend.

Creating a vintage style

With fresh faced models Brogan and Kati, we headed for the stunning St Andrews in the Square – equipped with props that I had at hand as well as borrowed from industry colleagues. The look was completed with an array of stunning dresses by  Justin Alexander supplied by Wedding Wise and the fantastic hairdresser Catherine Hastie and Make – up Artist Lynn Meenagh who completed the dream look.

When planning a wedding it seems natural to delve into what your mother and grandmother did for their big day. Looking at treasured photo’s and investigating heirloom jewellery really does get most girls caught up in the nostalgia of things bridal.
Cameo brooches, lace veils and pearls in abundance really are the essence of a vintage inspired wedding. Heirloom bouquets are also starting to be a big trend. This concept came about through recycling, cutting costs and raiding the jewellery box to find a handful of treasured brooches.

Converting these brooches into everlasting bouquets that any vintage bride would love to carry, has become a way of remembering a loved one and having them involved in the wedding ceremony. But fear not if you don’t have a stash of old brooches, you can have a new brooch bouquet created that will become tomorrow’s heirlooms.

Guest Blogger Louise Graham is the Director of bespoke accessories company, Wedding and Baby

Photographs copyright of Wedding and Baby.