Theme-Works Weddings low down on V.I.N.T.A.G.E

Weddings can be so daunting. What to do? Where to start? Here at Theme-works Weddings we thought it may help to put together a little A to Z of how to do the Vintage theme, or in our terms we call it the V to E of Vintage. Hopefully this will iron out some of the few key areas you will need to consider and how best to approach it when writing out your "to do lists".

V: is for veil. One of the most exciting moments of a brides day is when her veil is lifted and the most important moment of her life is revealed. However, the twist on this is not just to use the idea of a veil in your attire but to use it in your décor and theming. It is common practice in many events to use a big reveal to uncover another area of the event space. If your wedding day is not the biggest event of your life then I don't know what is! Use a veil to separate one area from another this will cause excitement and suspense for your guests and give everyone something to look forward to. For example you could have your wedding breakfast in one area and then reveal another space for the evenings reception. This could be themed in an entirely different way to create a different atmosphere, like a starry lit dance floor with vintage sweet carts and entertainment of an old swing band. This could easily be achieved at your wedding by using a big piece of material, the veil and allowing it to fall and uncover the next part of the day.

I:  is for invitation. An invitation is the first sign people get of what your wedding will be like. There are so many options out there this can be confusing. You can either buy them pre made, design your own and get them printed, or even go down the craft route and make your own. A good idea is devising a combination of these ideas, for those of us who do not have the time to dedicate our lives to all the intricacies that a wedding seems to provide. To enhance the idea of your vintage theme a nice option is to buy a beautifully simple invitation and add a vintage feel to this, like a bit of vintage lace wrapped round or tied into a bow. It is so personal and your guests will understand your efforts to try and give your day its own personal touch. All of these additional extras really make your day stand out from other weddings that you go to or have been too. The more times you use these accents of lace around the venue the more fluid your theme will be. Look to add this to your table centres such as hanging lace ribbons or tying a bow round your vase.

N: is for name tags. Every table needs a name tag, it is so personal and a great way to enhance your vintage theme. Where traditionally a table plan would consist of names on a board, for a vintage barn wedding we're theming this summer, we've suggested hanging keys from a tree. More simply, you could use a vintage frame to carry your theme through. Tie a label with your guests name on it and the table they will be sitting at. This creates fun as it becomes a game to find your key. To keep continuity you could use some lace instead of string, similar to the previous example used for invitations. For the vintage barn wedding mentioned above we are taking the idea of a game further and having an old vintage cabinet with a prize in it. This will get every guest involved as everyone will have to see if their key fits. A great ice breaker for those guests who have come from further afield to get to know everyone there.

T: is for theme. The vintage theme has been around for a while and I'm not afraid to say it is here to stay. What is the vintage era, well here at theme works weddings we have decided that it runs from the 1920's to the 1950's, each decade has a slightly different twist on the vintage look. From delicate lace to slightly heavier darker wood each works within its own right and this is the topic for the next couple of months so look out for our other blogs on which decade of vintage will catch your eye. Bear in mind to always try and have some continuity in your theme and not to cover too many different styles at once. Simplicity speaks wonders. Last week's blog covers a modern take on Vintage, as we can appreciate some Brides want the look without having to hunt for the accessories.  

A: is for aisle. Such a proud moment when the bride walks down the aisle! Why not incorporate this into your theme as much as all the other elements of your day? It is so nice to see all of those individual touches that make your big day so special. A really nice idea is to use little jam jars filled with a few simple sprigs of wild flowers. Tie the jar with some lace for an added vintage touch. Alternatively you could use old photo frames hung from the aisle side seat, filled with old black and white family photos so that you will feel like a bit of history is with you on your big day. Make a big thing of the alter and hang lots of white draping. Alternatively, use an arch way intertwined with lots of flowers to create the wow factor!

G: is for guest book. It is such a nice memory to go back after your wedding day and look over all of the beautiful comments that people have left about your big day. Make a feature of your guestbook and all of your guests will know exactly where to go. One of our brides has used a vintage French dresser with draws containing beautiful flowers. On the dresser is a guest book placed by pictures of all of her old family wedding pictures in vintage frames. A beautifully personal touch that speaks louder than words.

E: is for entrance. Every bride and groom likes to make a big entrance. A really nice way to achieve this in the vintage theme is to use a love seat. This is an arch way with two facing seats either side. You could make your arch into a tunnel to make everyone feel like they are walking through a traditional country garden or use it like a trellis and weave flowers and lights in and out for that special wow factor.

This is our V to E of Vintage, covering many of the steps to achieve your big day. We hope that it helps to drive your inspiration and illuminate some of the key points when using the vintage theme. Here at Theme-WorksWeddings we are always excited to turn your theming dreams into a reality so get in contact to discuss how we can help.

Special thanks to the below companies
posyrosy
onewed
elizabethannedesigns
dandelionandgreyblog
weddingbee
cherishweddingplanning
bride2bride
stylemepretty

A Modern Vintage Love Affair

The love affair the bridal industry is having with vintage is in full swing, ever popular and chic I’m sure it is something many of you brides are considering. However you don’t have to necessarily step back in time through that vintage portal to channel this ever fashionable theme. One way to re-vamp this theme is to take a modern stance to vintage, embracing the new with the old. If you think carefully, this is what marriage is all about, looking to a new future due to a romantic & cherished past.

The modern vintage bride doesn't necessarily trawl through all the flea markets and antique shops, covering herself in dust and cobwebs! She looks for a modern twist, and the products are flooding the market. It’s about keeping to light pastel colours and accenting it with metallics, or Black, creating a lovely bold statement. Using regal patterns, and scalloped edging to fabrics and your styling will enhance the vintage feel.

When it comes to styling the venue, when setting the scene, the most popular mind set is to take the inside outside, and bring the outside in! This sounds bizarre but it works beautifully, so along with your modern colour palette look at ways to include the natural elements all around you, in a subtle and utterly romantic way.

For the outside area’s look at using the ever present shabby chic items in the retail world as accessories, a chandelier, or perhaps some oversized antique styled picture frames. You can hang these from trees or use them for photo opportunities. It also works really well on a patio with a covered area such as trellising or beams, giving a seamless feel from the inside style through to the outside.

To bring the outside in, take the view that kooky is okay, for the modern twist this is in subtle amounts. Try using moss within your centrepieces or even grass. It gives the table a fresh yet surreal feel which adds to the magic of the vintage theme. The key with the modern twist to this, is keeping it clean, and simple, with as little flourish as possible. Allowing your styling ideas to speak for themselves. 

When it comes to aisle design keep the lines clean and the pastels flowing, but with those bold streaks of your chosen accent. Choose an aisle runner that really fits in with your theme and colour way, don’t be afraid to venture out from the norm. I think with this theme it is nice to bring in some foliage, so think about lining the aisle with potted trees. The ends of the rows of seating for your guests is often forgotten, and this can be such a simple yet effective area to style. Think of posies with lace ribbon, or perhaps little floral balls hanging from the chairs. Candle light is very important with any romantic setting, even during the day they can add the atmosphere of intimacy, so always think of ways to include this during the heart of your day.

One handy tip is to collate all the things you love about vintage, and all the aspects you want to include in your day. Once you have everything together, match up things that sit well together, and colour palette’s that suit each other. Once you have a well put together amalgamation then try not to add to much extra, keep it simple and work with your favourite, rather than all your ideas! This will give the vintage style that clean and fresh image that brings the modern twist to life.

To sum up, this is just one more angle to planning a vintage wedding, and I love this modern spin on an already stunning styling plan.

Well, that’s my thoughts on that, happy theming everyone! Please don’t hesitate to contact me for your very own bespoke wedding creation!

Special thanks to the below companies:

W-Wedding Flowers
Viva Vintage Stationary
Ariel Yve Design
Cute Craft Decor
Teresa's Plants & More
The Knot
Three Beans & Co
Loveburlar

A Gatsby Extravaganza

To start off our vintage wedding month I thought I would begin with a piece based on a truly fabulous era and with "The Great Gatsby" coming out tomorrow our timing couldn't be more perfect. With this in mind let us enter the world of vintage opulence, luxury and long strings of pearls!

As a theme for your big day, vintage art deco is a truly fabulous way to go, with the era encapsulating the essence of romance and glamour, with a hint of risque excitement.  It would no doubt prove to be an awe inspiring day for you and your guests.

Surround yourself with luxe fabrics and pearls, drape them without reserve from the ceiling and walls. Include deco shaped mirrors, the bigger the better, either casually leaning up against key walls, or if the venue allows, hanging up amongst the draping.

When it comes to a colour scheme keep with the traditional deco black and cream, but add in hues of muted brushed pink. The black and cream really embodies the art deco theme with clean lines and asymmetrical shapes, this can be quite harsh, even with the addition of texture. So by adding an almost vintage pink you are softening the effect, and bringing that dash of romance every wedding deserves.

Your tables make a huge impact on how the reception room looks to your guests as they enter the room. The key is not to forget them, stick a centre piece in the middle and hope for the best. It is important to really style the tables according to your theme if you are looking for the maximum impact. Theme Works Weddings has a huge passion for table styling and maybe an unhealthy passion for the right chair!!! In regards to "The Great Gatsby" I imagine the tables would be a heady mix of gold trim and giant bottles of champagne, this isn't always possible with today's budgets so there are always great alternatives. My favourite for this theme is a vintage mirrored vase, preferably tall so as to add height and impact. With vintage blush roses inside the vase, peppered with feather plooms. For the best effect make sure the vase has a rustic gold hue to the finish for a vintage antique look, and for glamour add a single pearl into the centre of each rose.

Your table should be finished with thoughtfulness, so don't forget the type of linen that should be used. If you want to use the venue's linen for cost effectiveness, then keep in mind you could always use a runner down the centre to add to the tables look. For this type of vintage theme choose something elegant with texture, and pattern, so as to really enhance the table centres you have chosen.

For your chairs please don't feel you have to settle for a generic white chair cover and coloured sash. You can do so much more than that, we feel it is really important to think outside of the box with every wedding and I feel the Gatsby era movers and shakers would turn their noses up at such laziness! Think of changing the chairs altogether to something aesthetically elegant to look at to start with, with the addition of something simple such as a corsage to tie it into the theme. Or if you do like sashes, tie an oversized swathe of cream voile vertically, tie with simple knot with black ribbon with the addition of a rose if you prefer. The oversized ends will hang down as if each chair has its own dress. Beautiful!

A Chill out area is a great addition to your wedding reception, and Theme Works Weddings specialises in providing amazing unique chill out areas. The idea is to allow your guests an area to drink and chat. The specific styled furniture adds a talking topic and truly accents your theme. For this vintage wedding I would go for the comfy white chesterfields, lit with elegant lamps and a black carpet. To add to the theme I would add in some small square mirrored cases dotted around, with the pink roses to soften the deco lines.

This whole theme is about lavish enjoyment, a theme isn't just a way of decorating your wedding: it's a whole atmosphere that you are creating for your guests. The aim is to transport them to your perfect era, location to style to really personalise your day so that the wedding day is more of a memorable experience, rather than just another wedding your guests attend.

I can't wait to go and see The Great Gatsby now!! I also have convinced myself this would be an amazing theme for someone's big day, so anyone keen please get in touch so I can bring this to life!!
Also please do check out our pinterest board on this theme, along with many other inspiration boards if you are looking for unique ideas - Theme Works Weddings Pinterest "the-great-gatsby"

Many thanks to the following suppliers below

whole sale flower supplies
Wedding flowers Cotsworlds
Vintage Vibe
Bride and groom store
save on crafts
The knot
The english sofa company
Fab.com