Vintage wedding ideas
Even if a wedding doesn't have a full-blown vintage theme, classic elements will never go out of style. Plus, using antiques instead of new materials makes a wedding more eco-friendly.
Here's how to use vintage pieces when customising your wedding.
Tea cups
For an afternoon wedding reception, tea cups can serve as elegant table decorations and as unique wedding favours. Try using tea cups as holders for place cards to indicate where each guest should sit: loop small cards through the cup handles, or balance a place card folded in half on the edge of a tea saucer. An assortment of vintage or antique tea cups provides some funky visual interest to a wedding reception table setting. Look for china tea cups at antique shops, and make sure to start collecting them well ahead of the wedding, especially if the wedding guest list will be long.
Victorian tea pots
The elegance of a Victorian tea service in metal or porcelain lends itself naturally to a garden or afternoon wedding reception. An ornate tea pot or tea set can serve as a centrepiece all on its own, but for a funkier feel, centre the tea pot and fill with a bouquet of irises or simple, tall greens. Don't be afraid to add contradicting flowers to centrepieces. While roses may seem the classic choice for a Victorian tea service arrangement, a modern bunch of tulips are unexpectedly hip.
Origami
Fold larger origami paper animals from vintage craft paper, or even vintage-print wrapping paper, all available at good stationery shops and use as the theme for each table. Then follow through with the same animal in a smaller version as guests’ place names. Opt for a creative take on the traditional chocolates or almonds: create origami boxes to hold edible favours. Decorate wedding reception tables with bouquets of origami flowers and invite guests to take a paper bloom home.
Dance card
Commemorate a wedding celebration in the most sophisticated of styles: with a vintage dance card. Dance cards, popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries, were basically miniature booklets with decorative covers and a program of dances inside. Create a modern dance card with a customised cover. As well as a list of songs that will be played, explain the significance of the important ones. Include on the inside pages a program of meaningful dates: your first date, date of engagement and of course the wedding day.
Napkin rings
Scour antique shops for unique vintage napkin rings: they can serve to decorate reception table settings and guests can take them home as souvenirs.
Mirror frames
Look for oval wall mirrors with metallic or carved wood frames. Use them as bases for vintage candelabra. Place tall, white tapered candles in the candelabra for ready-made mood lighting.
Board games
Set up vintage board games like Risk or Snakes and Ladders on reception tables. Leave packs of cards with the instructions to old fashioned games.
Watering cans
A similar concept to the Victorian tea pot, but a bit more casual and funky. Fill a watering can of galvanized metal, copper, or brass with a bouquet of calla lilies and greens.
Silver Ware
Family heirlooms like a special cake server or cutlery would make a special addition to your tables. Again, these items of silver can be collected over a period of time from various antique shops if you don’t already have in the family cupboard.
Finding the right pieces may take some time, but the unique, original, and personal items will be worth it.
Vintage items can help create memorable and meaningful wedding centrepieces. All it takes is some planning, shopping, and a little creativity!