Photography: Touched By Time Vintage Rentals
You don't have to break the bank or travel through time to get the vintage wedding of your dreams. Here are a few simple ideas to give your big day some old-fashioned flair.
1.Locate a colonial venue.
During Victorian times, weddings were a daytime garden affair. If you have a large backyard, you can recreate similar settings or hold it indoors. Some nice historic venues include Chijmes Hall, Bukhill Hall, Raffles Hotel Singapore, Singapore Arts Museum and Hotel Fort Canning.
2.Keep stationery clean and simple.
An invitation card is your wedding's first impression to guests. Heavy, cream-coloured paper, with art deco typewriter font, cursive lettering and filigree borders all have an elegant feel. This design should follow through all your wedding stationery from place cards to the menu, program and thank you cards.
3.Pick an era, any era.
Vintage inspired looks from every era have never been hotter. Even the most modern bride can be seen wearing feathers, antique silver brooches and bird cage veils down the aisle. Some recognisable styles include the flapper-inspired drop-waist silhouettes of the 20s, the art deco lacy sheaths of the 30s, the long silk empire-waist gowns of the 40s, the midi A-line dresses and pillbox hats of the 50s. Encourage guests to dress accordingly and accessorise with fascinators, hats, gloves, vests and suspenders.
4.Go for strong lips.
Take inspiration from icons like Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor, and go with a nude make-up palette but opt for a strong lip with red or dark plum colours. Hair is styled with finger waves, and bunned up to affix brooches, a tiara or fascinators.
5.Dig up old treasures.
Why not wear a family heirloom to celebrate the timeless occasion? If you have antique collectors for parents, go raid their closets for vintage jewellery and accessories to complete the classic look. Additionally, pay a visit to local flea markets where you'll be able source for old trinkets like typewriters, wine goblets, chests and porcelain to decorate your wedding venue. If the weather permits, it's a novel idea to drag antique furniture and old carpets onto the lawn for a homely touch, and an awesome group portrait!
6.Arrive in classic wheels.
Vintage vehicles built between the 1930s and 1950s offer great charm and character, which also make for excellent photography ops. These days, you can easily rent a vintage vehicle from private owners or specialty car rental shops. Try Kombi Rocks, Mini Bug or WeddingCarRentalSg. Other novel ways to make a grand entrance would be on a bicycle, skateboard or roller-skates!
7.The focus is on the décor.
For a venue to adopt a vintage feel, a lot of attention is on the table settings and décor. A classic palette includes a choice of ivory, white, pink, champagne, gold, or green. Instead of big banquet-sized tables, opt for smaller tables that seat up a maximum of six and dress them up in ivory or pastel colours, and texturise with lace, beads, doilies, feathers, ribbons and flowers. If you can't get hold of Tiffany chairs, source for old wooden chairs in all sorts of designs to create an eclectic Mad Hatter's tea party setting. Think ornaments like candelabras, porcelains cake stands, and jam jar flower vases.
8.Pick flowers with meaning.
Popular flowers of the Victorian period include roses, lilies, gardenias, hyacinth, tulips, baby's breath and orange blossoms. Back in those times, brides choose their flowers based on the specific meanings of the flower and the colour. Red roses for example represent love, white roses signify innocence, orange blooms are a sign of purity, chastity and fertility, while exotic orchids are symbols of love and beauty.
9.Decide between the waltz or lindy hop.
Music is an important component that drives an era. Classical Vivaldi and Beethoven are a must at Victorian weddings, so pay a little more for a string quartet, hire an opera singer or learn to dance the waltz. The decades after that symbolised a period of musical awakening and decadence with jazz influences, ragtime tunes, the lindy hop and big band numbers. If jazz is not your cup of tea, spin evergreen songs of the 30s by Al Bowlly, Marlene Dietrich or Glenn Miller.
10.Eat, drink and be merry.
Cocktails are a huge part of a vintage wedding where guests mingle freely, while sipping martinis, 20s-inspired side cars, brandy sours and citrusy cocktails. While the dinner menu should be chosen to meet the palettes of guests, you can infuse a retro menu to the canapé list like mini burgers, cherry pie, milkshakes and root beer floats.
