Finding your personal wedding style in second-hand and vintage shops
Published on: August 27, 2012
You’re newly engaged! Congratulations. Soon you’ll be donning the perfect dress, something old and something blue as you make your way down the aisle to say ‘I do’ to the person that you’ve chosen to love in sickness and health, for richer or for poorer.
All that’s left to do is plan your dream wedding and you’ll be on your way to marital bliss!
So where do you start?
For brides opting to forgo a wedding designer, figuring out one’s personal wedding style can be a little tricky. Sure, bridal magazines, blogs and Pintrest are filled with photos of happy brides holding a picture-perfect bouquet, enjoying herself at her reception that perfectly complements her personality.
If you’re stuck and just can’t seem to find inspiration, head to your local antique or vintage shop. There are so many affordable items to create a unique wedding style of your own.
Old mason jars and pretty tea cups are the perfect vessels to display bouquets of beautiful arranged flowers in. Old desks and tables can be found for cheap and repainted and repurposed as gift tables or makeshift bars. You might even find an old mailbox or a desk drawer perfect for collecting cards from well-wishers.
At Serendipity, a vintage shop just on the outskirts of downtown Longmont, the sky is the limit when it comes to finding the perfect accents and décor for your wedding. A wall along the back of the store is dedicated to old barn wood and window frames—perfect for hanging in a tree to create an inexpensive frame for a photo booth. Old window screens can be dusted off and used to pin place cards on. The stacks and stacks of old records will not only give you some inspiration for your music playlist, but can also be used to enhance a gift table or buffet table. Old suitcases can be stacked up and used as a unique cake display or riser for a cold food item to sit on. Antique mirrors make a perfect tray for holding passed hors d’ourves. And my favorite—beautifully-crafted handkerchiefs and table runners are fabulous, budget-friendly alternatives to linen overlays and add a nice pop of color and personal touch to a basic ivory linen.
And the list goes on and on. Serendipity also has a section of the store dedicated to wedding jewelry, hair pins, veils and even wedding dresses. Pretty cool—and a great place to find that ‘something old’.
I even found a portion of a white picket fence at this cool vintage store—which let’s be real ladies—aside from the perfect wedding, a white picket fence and a happy ending are next on the list.