A beautiful bridal gown, carefully chosen to reflect personal style, is likely to be at the centre of most women’s vision of themselves on their big day. However, wedding accessories also play a significant part in that vision. They are the elements that pull together and individualise a look – and make it “yours”.
Whether you are inspired by an era from the past, or simply love the heritage of old jewellery and accessories, incorporating vintage bridal accessories – or carefully designed vintage-inspired pieces – is a lovely way to introduce individuality and personality into your bridal trousseau. So, with this in mind, we’ve put together a guide to vintage wedding accessories – with some ideas about what to look out for, and where to find them.
Dress Cambridge Vintage Bridal / Photography Thyme Lane Photo
What’s Your Vintage Inspiration?
Vintage style inspiration is all around us – in films and television, in advertising campaigns, on the red carpet and the catwalk – offering a wealth of ideas for bridal style. In your bridal mind’s eye, are you a Gatsby girl, a polished starlet from Hollywood’s golden era, a seventies siren? Maybe your Pinterest boards are chock full of style icons from the past. What has your dress search revealed to you? What silhouettes are you drawn to? What shape and style of dress suits you best?
When setting out on your accessory search, identifying your theme (however tight or loosely defined) will help steer you through the vast range of options open to you. Do some research on what style of veil, headpiece and jewellery was popular in the era that interests you. There is a wealth of information on Pinterest, blogs and wedding dress and accessory websites to help you pull some ideas together.
Dress and Accessories Days of Grace Vintage / Photography Nina Pang Photography
Using Accessories For An Era-specific Bridal Look
When I look at old wedding photographs, perhaps from the 1920s/1930s or from the 1950s/60s, it’s not only the wedding dresses that speak of the period. The flowers and, most particularly, the brides’ accessories, also encapsulate the era and complete the picture.
When it comes to certain eras, there are some stand-out accessories – a headband to accessorise a 20s-style dress, for example. Before shopping for your accessories, have a clear idea of what you are looking for – that way you can target your search and hopefully, you won’t get overawed by the variety of options available to you. As a general rule, limit your accessories to just one statement piece, to be complemented by a couple of more understated pieces. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular eras for bridal inspiration and the key accessories for each.
Headpiece Agnes Walker/ Photography Kate Hopewell Smith
The Edwardian Era and The 1920s
The early decades of the twentieth century are an appealing reference point for bridal fashion. Late Edwardian fashion was a heady mix of demure femininity and subtle sensuality, which by the 1920s had developed into the daring new silhouettes of the flapper era. Bridal designer Sally Lacock has captured the essence of this era – beautifully interpreting it for contemporary brides.
Edwardian Tiara Agnes Walker / Dress Sally Lacock / Photography Jeff Cottenden
Accessories are very important in re-creating this look, with headpieces probably being the most important item to consider. Whether you prefer sparkle, pearls, or flowers; an original vintage piece or a new design, the key to referencing this look is the positioning of the headpiece low, close to or on the hairline or forehead.
Myrtle Crystal Headpiece Agnes Walker/ Dress Heavenly Vintage Brides / Photography Robert Lawler
Vintage Edwardian Leaf Headband Agnes Walker / Edwardian Lace Dress Heavenly Vintage Brides / Photography Robert Lawler
Vintage Flower Headpiece Agnes Walker for Luella’s Boudoir / Photography Chanelle Segerius Bruce.
Then, of course, there is the Juliet cap veil – soft and sheer silk veiling works best, with or without lace embellishment. It is still possible to source antique veils from this period, though many will be showing signs of their great age. However, beautiful designs based on this style are becoming increasingly widely available, such as this lovely silk veil by Sally Lacock, seen here with the Mother of Pearl Sunflower headband from Cherished’s one-of-a-kind reworked vintage collection.
Juliet Cap Veil Sally Lacock / Photography Jeff Cottenden
Why not also consider adding a belt or sash to your wedding dress? One of my particular passions when sourcing original vintage jewellery for my designs are delicate paste dress ornaments and buckles from the early twentieth century. These offer a delightful way to personalise your wedding dress, and can always be reset on a darker-toned sash to wear again and again after your wedding day.
Vintage Paste Dress Ornaments and Buckles by Agnes Walker
Reworked Vintage Bridal Belts by Agnes Walker
Hollywood Inspiration – The Thirties and Forties bride
Oh, the drama of the Art Deco era, with its iconic and graphic styling – what a wonderfully inspiring era for brides seeking silver-screen glamour! Bridal gowns from, or influenced by, this period are often quite subtle in their design. The focus is on the sensuous fabric and the intricate bias cut of the dress. This gives brides seeking inspiration from this era a wonderful opportunity to go to town with their accessories.
Pink Beaded Headpiece by Agnes Walker/ Dress Heavenly Vintage Brides / Photography Robert Lawler
And how about a beautiful beadwork bag to carry your wedding day essentials?
French 1930s Beadwork Bag by Agnes Walker
During the thirties, the long, cathedral-length veil remained a key part of bridal attire. Tulle was increasingly the fabric of choice, somewhat replacing lace. The tiara too was increasing in popularity, and there was a definite trend towards a higher, more upright design as the decade progressed.
Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark married Prince George Duke of Kent on 29th November 1934. Source
Carved Mother of Pearl Tiara Agnes Walker/ Dress Heavenly Vintage Brides / Photography Robert Lawler
Even a simple accessory can convey the essence of an era. Always remember your own personal style and your comfort. If you don’t want to wear a statement headpiece, then don’t! Think about your hair styling and your make-up and use this to help complete your look in a way that fits with your personality.
Czech Crystal Hair Slide Agnes Walker / Dress Heavenly Vintage Brides / Photography Robert Lawler
The lower cut and draped necklines of 1930s dresses also allow for a statement necklace to be worn, so why not seek out a vintage rhinestone necklace as your principal accessory?
Vintage Diamante Necklaces by Agnes Walker
And, for the winter bride, how about a fur (faux or vintage authentic, depending on your preference) shrug or capelet?
Vintage Fur Shrug and Headpiece by Agnes Walker / Dress Johanna Hehir / Photography credit, Kate Hopewell Smith
During the 1940s, inspiration from Hollywood, from couture fashion houses, and from our own Queen’s wedding in 1947, fuelled a desire to leave the bleakness of wartime rationing behind and bridal fashion followed the escapist trend towards the picturesque.
Vintage Paste and Pearl Filigree Headpiece by Agnes Walker / Photography credit, Kate Hopewell Smith
A string of pearls, worn at the neck, or around the wrist works beautifully with this look, and is a wonderful complement to a demure beaded pearl headpiece.
The 1940s bridal outfit was often completed with matching accessories, such as a hat, often adorned with birdcage veiling and flowers, a fur stole or shrug, handbag and gloves. Long veils also remained popular, though they tended now to be worn at the back of the head, secured by an elaborate headdress, often with a high, coronet design.
Floral Headpiece with Detachable Birdcage Veil by Agnes Walker / Dress by Sally Lacock / Photography Jeff Cottenden
1950s-60s
For many modern brides, Fifties and Sixties-style fashion fits well into their idea a fun and relaxed wedding. Original vintage wedding dresses from these decades are quite readily available and affordable. Shorter-length dresses were very popular, and whether you are considering an original vintage design or a modern version, you have a wonderful opportunity to show of a pair of spectacular shoes. For headwear and other accessories, the options are plentiful and offer a great deal of room for flair and personalisation.
Shorter veils, with a more gathered or bouffant shape, suit the fuller-skirted dresses of the 1950s. These look wonderful worn with a classic, princess-style tiara – either diamante or pearl. Original vintage headpieces can be sourced relatively easily from specialist vintage dealers and antique fairs. You can also draw inspiration from the wonderful costume jewellery of the period and have a jewelled piece created in a style that works for you. Pearl headbands work exceptionally well with dresses from these eras, especially lace gowns, giving a lovely romantic and feminine look.
1950s Diamante and Pearl Hairband by Agnes Walker / Dress by Heavenly Vintage Brides / Photography Robert Lawler
Look out for headpieces that echo the embellishment on your dress. There is no need to be overly worried about precise matching, though. Concentrate instead on the general tones eg silver or gold metal; warm cream or pale ivory pearls.
For jewellery, don’t be afraid to bend the rule of having only one statement piece. For Sixties-influenced brides, consider a full ‘parure’ or suite of jewellery – with a coordinating necklace, earrings and bracelet. Maybe even go as far as including a tiara. Pulling off this ‘more is more’ approach is harder than a more minimalistic one, but when done well, the effect is stunning. There is plenty of inspiration out there – and not just vintage. Take a look at recent couture fashion shows, where statement filigree or rhinestone jewellery has been used with amazing effect.
There is no reason why you should limit yourself to clear crystal and pearls in your bridal accessories. Why not embrace colour in your accessories? A pretty and playful 1950s-inspired dress works wonderfully well with a bold headpiece. Or contrast a demure 1960s-style gown with a colourful statement headband.
Jewelled Cluster Headband by Agnes Walker/ Dress by Heavenly Vintage Brides / Photography Robert Lawler.)
And remember, a full and high hairstyle gives you scope to carry a bold tiara. Brides are often surprised by the scale of the headpiece they end up choosing. I don’t find this all that surprising – headwear, and especially tiaras – are not part of our everyday wear. But when worn in beautifully styled hair and with a fabulous gown, it just somehow ‘works’. My advice is to be experimental and try lots of different styles and designs. It helps if you have a clear idea of how you want to wear your hair when you begin your search for hair accessories, but sometimes, it works in reverse and the tiara you fall in love with, will shape the way you style your hair.
Pearl Tiara by Agnes Walker / Dress 1960s Lace Dress by Heavenly Vintage Brides / Photography Robert Lawler
What if you don’t have a specific era in mind for your wedding attire? Is there still scope for incorporating vintage bridal accessories? Most definitely, yes! There is no reason why you shouldn’t use an Edwardian brooch to accessorise a strikingly modern gown. A vintage diamante necklace or string of pearls can be draped in the hair to great effect. There need not be any desire to reference the fashion preferences of the past decade for vintage to work for you.
The beauty of accessories that feature vintage or antique elements is about more than era-specific styles and shapes. It can be about wonderful craftsmanship and design; it can have an ‘eco’ dimension and be about using beautiful artefacts from the past rather than purchasing new; it can be about incorporating a family piece of jewellery that is of sentimental value into your wedding outfit. It can simply be about creating something unique to you.
Vintage Jewelled Pastel Flower Crown by Agnes Walker / Styling by Elbie van Eeden / Photography Lisa Jane Photography
Written by Abby Gadd, owner and designer for Cherished Vintage Bridal.
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Fantastic article, love the vintage look for a bride. Timeless! For me, you can’t go wrong with a diamond necklace.