A Fun, More is More Vintage Inspired Wedding with a 1940s Dress

Sophie Cooke

Luke Hayden

February 25, 2021

A Big Fat West Country Party

Kat

Rockrose

May 28, 2016

Jess and Steve wanted a wedding in the West Country that reflected lots of little things that they love. "We wanted a day that would be a lot of relaxed fun for us and our guests", said the bride. "We wanted elements of things that we love, like 40s and 50s fashion and music, without it being ‘themed’. The plan was for a big West Country party!"

Intimate Family-Only Wedding at Harvard University

Kat

Madeline Barr

February 16, 2016

Alison and John had a super intimate ceremony at Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University. The bride loves the 1940s so that was the jumping off point for her incredible outfit which a long black number with an open back from Fame and Partners. She made her own veil and got her bouquet from Trader Joe's the morning of the wedding!

1940s England meets 1950s America

Kat

Ed Godden

January 12, 2016

Maya and Jamie met at University but only got together five years after graduation after reconnecting over Facebook! They moved in together six months later, had a baby and got engaged! Their wedding was held at Donington Park Farmhouse Hotel and their theme was '1940s England meets 1950s America'.

1940s Working Class Wedding

Kat

Corey Sleap

May 22, 2015

Emily and Josh met in Melbourne, where Emily lived and where Josh was visited from Auckland, New Zealand. Within six months of first meeting, he moved over with his band and they picked up from where they left of!

Retro Wedding on Southend Pier: Eve & Dave

Kat

Sam Gibson Weddings

May 12, 2014

Eve and Dave were married at the Royal Pavilion on Southend Pier. After fish n chips on the beach, their reception was held at The Arlington, an art deco style building. They wanted their wedding to reflect both their individual styles so a retro theme with gothic touches it was!

Lunchtime Vintage Wedding in New Zealand: Emma & Rikki

Kat

Meredith Lord

December 26, 2013

Emma and Rikki had a lunchtime wedding. They were married at 10am and their reception kicked off right after. The ceremony was held at Eskdale War Memorial Church and their reception at The Old Church Restaurant and Bar in Napier, New Zealand. They day had a subtle vintage theme with the bride wearing a headpiece that had been her mother's and little vintage touches throughout the reception décor.

Mid-Century Tabernacle Wedding: Fiona & David

Kat

Lisa Jane

August 30, 2013

Fiona and David's Kent wedding was influenced by the style of the 1940s through to the 1960s. "I think the whole day was defined by it really being a reflection of us as a couple", Fiona said. "We really didn't want an identikit, faceless, corporate feel. Also, we wanted it to be as relaxed as possible. We didn't want anyone to stand on ceremony or feel uncomfortable. We just wanted all the people closest to us there and to eat, drink, dance and have a lot of fun."

1940s Tea Party Wedding: Lorna & Nigel

Kat

Lisa Jane

August 13, 2013

Lorna and Nigel described their May wedding as "like your Nan's 1940s wedding, where family and guests all lent the couple their best china and vases and donated homemade cakes" and I think that couldn't be more perfect! The wedding was held at St Peter & St Paul's Church and Orford House Social Club and was full of fun and quirky 1940s and 50s details.

Elaborate 1940s Vintage Castle Wedding: Christina & Richard

Kat

Devlin Photos

July 10, 2013

It's not often I get to feature such grand weddings, but that doesn't mean my heart didn't skip a beat when I laid eyes on Christina and Richard's epic Eastnor Castle celebration. Three wedding dresses, a custom Choccywoccydoodah cake, elaborate vintage styling and an impressive fireworks display really made this a wedding to remember!

Coastal Cornish Wedding: Betty & Johnny

Kat

Dot and Lucy

May 24, 2013

I'm not really supposed to have favourites, but Betty might just be one of the most beautiful and radiant brides I've ever seen... I am totally smitten with her 1940s vintage lace dress (bought on eBay for £40!) and that adorable white faux flower crown and simple bouquet combo. Total perfection. She married Johnny in Cornwall during April and the wedding only cost £5000.

Retro Bowling Club Wedding with an Ocean View: Nat & Sam

Kat

November 30, 2012

The retro wedding of Nat & Sam is perfect... literally perfect. I just know you're going to go nuts for Nat's nostalgic bridal style, their ocean view ceremony and the reception that looks like it stepped right out of the past. "Our ceremony was at Burrows Park Headland, Sydney", explained Nat. "The ceremony spot was a beautiful cliff edge looking over the Pacific Ocean and located right next to the Bowling Club where we had the reception. We loved that the only way to get to it was via a very long, natural aisle sheltered on one side by trees, which we decorated with Chinese lanterns. For our reception we chose Clovelly Bowling Club. It was cheap as chips to hire, the drinks prices stuck in the 1980s, and the tacky bright blue carpet and a strange old picture of the Queen flanked by two Aussie flags above a stage which houses an ancient piano (which we tuned up and used!) were AWESOME! As soon as we walked in we looked at each other and said 'Yes!'. Oh, and it had 180 degree ocean views!"

A 1940s & Vegan Wedding in Canada: Sarah & Carol

Kat

November 22, 2012

Sarah & Carol had a destination wedding in Canada. With Sarah originally from Canada the pair, who now live in Brighton, wanted to fly back for the wedding. "We decided to be married in Sarnia because Carol is incredibly attached to her hometown and the beaches and water of Lake Huron (can you blame her?)", wrote newlywed Carol. "At the time we booked the venue we thought we would both be living in Canada, so it seemed a natural choice. We chose Sarnia Riding Club as our venue so we could be right next to the water. We knew that whatever continent we decided to do the wedding on, a lot of people who wouldn't be able to attend, we're so pleased that so many people made it – and we've promised to dance with those who didn't make it very soon."

A Vintage Honeymoon Shoot: Ann & Anders

Kat

October 27, 2012

"Could there be anything more romantic than your soldier coming home from war?" wrote photographers Caroline & Jayden of Woodnote Photography. "And what if it was in the 40s, and you hadn't been able to communicate with him online?" This was the starting point of inspiration for the honeymoon shoot of Ann & Anders which took place in Stockholm, Sweden.

A DIY Wedding at a Safari Park: Jodi & Dave

Kat

October 5, 2012

I'm not gonna lie, where was something in particular that swayed me when it came to featuring this wedding... Stan, the ever so slightly disgruntled looking cat. Of course when I saw the rest of the photos, I just happened to fall in love with Stan's owners, Jodi & Dave as well, but if I'm going to be 100% truthful, Stan did help their cause. This couple didn't want to spend a fortune on the wedding and so by DIYing as much as they could the day came in at under £9000. The ceremony was held at Swiss Gardens, Shuttleworth with the reception taking place in the Safari Lodge at Woburn Safari Park. "We looked at about 12 venues from a marquee where I keep my horses to a vintage factory ballroom but nothing quite ticked all the boxes", wrote Jodi. "But when we found Swiss Gardens we knew instantly this was the one. We originally booked it for August 2013, but then were told the venue would be shutting down for 18 months for a lottery funded renovation so we could only postpone, cancel or move it forward! So we moved it forward giving us only 6 months to plan and make everything!" "We were married in the tiny thatched house in the centre

A Hackney Vintage Mash Up: Aimee & Lee

Kat

June 20, 2012

Aimee & Lee were married in April at the Hackney Council Chambers. The wedding had an effortlessly cool, East London vibe with vintage elements throughout. "We both really love Hackney and wanted to get married in the borough as we brought our first home here and its where we first met", the bride told me. "We picked the council chamber because of its art deco features and also it is a circular room so it felt really intimate and we loved the idea of being surrounded in a circle by all our family and friends."

A Help Yourself, Village Fete Wedding in Cornwall: Rosalie & Fergus

Kat

February 8, 2012

Rosalie & Fergus had a sweet homespun wedding in Cornwall. "The whole ethos was to get all our creative friends and family together for a two week holiday in Cornwall," the bride explained. "The deal was, that they spent the first week, sewing, making, cooking, baking and generally doing anything and everything - then we had a massive great wedding/party which continued for the rest of the week. I don't think they feel used, it was a great vibe and a really chilled way to organise a wedding."

A DIY 1940’s Carnival Wedding: Marcie & Rich

Kat

November 29, 2011

Marcie & Rich's Nerdy DIY wedding was inspired by the things they love. The couple love to hang out at home with cat and dog playing video or board games and reading so the wedding theme kind of stemmed from these ideas. "I think our inspiration for doing things the way we did was that we didn't want the same old same old", Marcie told me. "We've both been to tons of weddings where the details were essentially the same but for a few differences. People tend to do the long church ceremony with the long gown that you would never want to wear again and make a bunch of stuff for the guests that they will never use or even want just because you saw that tiny beer stein in a craft store and thought it was perfect cause you like beer. We wanted people to have fun all the way through, including ourselves! We would much rather have a swinging party and get married in the middle of it than the other way around."

An Eccentric Mid-Century Museum Wedding: Jeff & Andy

Kat

October 7, 2011

Jeff & Andy had a Jewish wedding at The Legendary Park Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles which turned out to be a very special venue for Jeff's family. "After we had signed the contract with the venue, we found out from a relative that Jeff’s great-grandfather lived at the Park Plaza, when it was an Elks Lodge, for a short time in the 1940's."

A British Wartime Wedding: Lisa & Ric

Kat

October 5, 2011

After a church ceremony at St Peter's & St Paul's Church in Hampshire, Lisa & Ric had a very British wartime themed wedding at Broad Half Penny Down Cricket Club, Hampshire - the world's oldest cricket club. "Life never goes the way you plan it," the bride wrote. "I always dreamt of finishing uni, finding love, getting married and starting a family. The conventional family - we are not! I am 12 years younger than Ric, and also about 12 inches taller! Ric is frequently away with work and moved me to the south of the country, away from all my friends and family. Oh and how could I forget our 2 year old son - Bear. This was definitely not what I had planned. When Ric finally proposed, I was on cloud 9 and I knew that our wedding day wasn't going to be a 'normal' one. For example - I couldn't decide what engagement ring I liked, so I have three! We also had a best woman instead of a best man, we 'high fived' at the altar instead of the kiss, and our son screamed through most of the ceremony then was racing his toy cars down the aisle with chocolate down his nice white shirt."