Choosing a theme for the most memorable day of your life is no bed of roses. If you are a period geek, you might want to experiment with retro wedding ideas. Whether you want to go for a Victorian theme, a goth theme, or the classic ‘70s style, you can make your wedding a fantabulous affair by incorporating some of the coolest retro ideas.
Are you ready to dazzle your guests with the grandest and most original wedding they have ever seen? Then buckle up, and read on! The main objective of a retro-themed wedding is to bring back to life a timeless era and take your guests on a wild ride. It is important to first select the theme of your elegant vintage wedding.
Once you have zeroed in on that, the rest of it can be a smooth ride. Research more about the period you have chosen and let its history weave a tale to give you retro wedding ideas- from the decor to the food to the geist invitations.
We are bringing you some of the best ideas from real-life retro-themed weddings to get the creative spark going. You can combine some of these ideas with your rendition of a classic vintage wedding theme to create a perfect day filled with gasps and awe.
Retro Wedding Ideas Inspired by Real Weddings
Here are some ideas to upgrade your wedding and make it look effortlessly retro.
1. Hunt for Heirlooms
The first ingredient of a classic wedding reception vintage theme is finding old heirlooms from your family. This can include almost anything, from old books to big old clocks, pens, jewelry boxes, camera films, flower vases, candles, frames, etc. A great idea would be to visit the nearest thrift shops and source items that you think will resonate well with retro wedding ideas.
Nothing can bring out the true oldie flavor than slightly dusty old heirlooms that have seen generations pass by. You can place these heirlooms in different areas to bring out the real beauty of retro wedding trends.
2. Fashion a Vintage Open Bar
Drinks are an essential part of any wedding, and this is one space where you can go all out with your retro wedding ideas. Alcohol has always been a significant symbol of romanticism, and romanticism is usually associated with all things retro and vintage. There are so many possibilities to explore here. You can fashion a wood-top counter with old vintage bottles. You could do a classic Peaky Blinders style or go for a more adventurous cowboy theme.
If your wedding budget allows it, you could also try to source some old exotic drinks. This is certainly not very cost-effective, but it’s your special day. Maybe some classic Dom Perignon bottles can bring back the glory of the old days.
3. Be Creative with your Wedding Invitations
The best way to start an elegant vintage wedding theme is with the invitations themselves. We all get plain old white envelopes in the mail, so imagine your guests' surprise when they receive your wedding invite on wax-sealed parchment paper! Opening the invitation will be a journey through time and amp up your guests for what is coming.
How about using old English calligraphy for the writing on the invitation? Oh, and for an added spark, how about using retro language with a good number of ‘yonder’-s? You could use a postcard-themed invitation if you want more recent retro wedding ideas. The possibilities are endless. Moreover, your wedding invitations will give guests an idea of what to expect at the wedding.
4. Find the Right Chairs and Tables
Instead of the usual white-draped chairs and tables, how about you go a different way? Bring back to life a retro 50s wedding theme with grand wooden furniture that smells ever-so-slightly of machine oil for a true vintage experience. This will make your guests feel like royalty for sure.
If you want a more rustic theme, how about custom-ordering handmade furniture for a forest-like experience? Your guests will spend most of their time on or around the furniture, so how you style them has a significant impact on the overall theme of your wedding.
5. Go All Out with Chandeliers
The chandelier setup is one of the first images to pop up in our minds when we talk about retro wedding ideas. What’s more vintage than beautiful big crystal chandeliers sparkling and casting a light glow on the dance floor? If you want a minimalist retro theme, you could go low on the rest of the decor and pipe out only on chandeliers.
Add candles for a more classic retro look on the chandeliers. Your guests will be in awe of the decor and cannot stop talking about how great everything looks; trust us!
Go All Out with Chandeliers
6. Choose the Right Outfits
What’s a wedding without a jaw-dropping bridal gown? Added to that, if the groom looks particularly like a James Dean daydream, you can pretty much qualify for the wedding of the decade. Modern bridal dresses are all about minimalism and subtle style. If you want retro wedding ideas to reflect on your retro-style bridal gown, go all out.
Get the most-embellished one you can find with tiaras, netted gloves, and a corset. Most retro theme wedding dresses are extravagant and elaborate, so don’t hold back. What about the groom, though? A black suit is a classic look for a wedding, but you can retro-mise that too!
How about a vintage hat or a waistcoat? Or if you are feeling particularly funky, how about letting go of the suit completely and doing it like Vegas, in a white shirt and denim pants? Why have an ordinary wedding when you can stand out?
7. Hire a Vintage Getaway Car
A sleek Mercedes is always a sight to enjoy, but hear us out- the same brand with a model from the 50s? Is there anything more retro than a roofless vintage getaway car? This might also be a little expensive, but why skimp out on the car if the rest of your day is full of retro wedding ideas?
Or, if you are thinking of a more rock ‘n roll style, how about a classic Chevy Impala in all its grandeur, just waiting for you to hop on and turn on the engine? We really cannot sell this idea any better.
8. A Retro Photo Booth
Lastly, every great wedding needs a photo booth where you can capture happy memories for a lifetime. A vintage photo booth will be a great hit among your guests if you are thinking of incorporating retro wedding ideas. You can decorate the space with bulbs or fairy lights, add lots of mirrors and maybe sprinkle in some of the heirlooms we mentioned earlier. For an extra twist, you can take all pictures with monochrome film to make them look closer to the theme.
Conclusion
Your guests are in for a treat if you incorporate retro wedding ideas for your special day. Bring in the flavor of the good old days to your special day and make it even more memorable.
