How to Make Elegant Wedding Corsages

After I made all the boutonnieres for the men I was really, really on the fence regarding corsages. It was not that I did not want to make something special for the mom's, I was just not really into the whole concept of a tie-on wrist corsage. I am just going to be honest, in my opinion traditional wedding corsages are very much out of date. Old fashioned. Prom. My brother gave me a wrist corsage when I graduated from high school and while it was gorgeous, I bumped it on everything and some of the flowers fell off. It had to be tied onto my wrist with a ribbon as well which was not super practical. I was also bummed at the end of the night when I had to throw it away since it was made of real flowers. I knew whatever I made I wanted it to last and be a keepsake since I knew they would be kept.

This all being said, it has been much more common in recent years to give mothers, grandmothers, sisters single roses or small bouquets to hold or carry instead. Initially I was going to present our special ladies with small bouquets, however logistically this was just not going to work. My mother would be with me all morning, grandma would be arriving with my aunt, and my in-laws would be riding with my sister in law and her family. To further complicate things my brother was in charge of escorting my grandmother to her seat so she would not be walking down the aisle, and my in laws also opted to just be seated instead of walking the aisle together. I knew my mother would be wearing a chiffon dress as well, so a pin-on or lapel style would not work. So, after much things considered I went forward with a more modern take on a wrist corsage.

Here is a list of what you will need:

* Elastic Pearl Wristlets - I searched everywhere for a suitable ELASTIC wristlet and the best ones I found were at Hobby Lobby.
* Greenery - I had left over fern fronds from my boutonniere project but I got these at Michael's
* Wired Gems - Again, another left over from the boutonniere project
* Flowers or Rosettes - I two kinds of flowers found in the wedding section at Hobby Lobby
* Glue gun and hot glue sticks

If you have never used a pre-made wrist corsage before this is a bit confusing. The style I chose had a "pearl" band and it was elastic and in the center is this metal and ribbon piece. The four metal tabs bend to hold down greenery while the ribbon can be used to secure other items.

I started out by cutting and placing a fern frond in the center of the metal piece and bent the tabs down to hold it in place. I was going to cut and discard the ribbon but I thought it would look nice as an embellishment so I tied them in the center as you see above.

I then took two pieces of the wired gems and coiled the ends so it would have a decent surface area which I glued with hot glue directly onto the tied ribbon. I glued it onto the ribbon because the fern fronds were plastic and the hot glue actually made them melt a little - but once dry everything was perfectly fine and it all stayed in place.

The "chiffon" florets I chose had center stems that I cut off with scissors and these had a nice, large felt pad on the base perfect for a dab of hot glue. I glued this into the center - over the glued wire which added even more support.

I then glued two smaller flowers on each side to make the corsage "full". If you have a piece of greenery sticking out at the bottom you can cut it at this time. I cut mine then disguised the end of the stem with a tiny rosette I had on hand. I made my corsages flow in one direction since I had a fall wedding and the ladies were all in long sleeves. It would be very easy to make these in two directions however to trail down the hand and up the arm.

This is how they looked when they were done! I cut the tie down ribbon slightly but I liked that it remained. The chiffon flower I used came in over 20 different colors at Hobby Lobby so you could choose a color to fit your theme.

I made three total; one for my mother, my mother in law, and my grandmother. I chose white to avoid any clashing with whatever colors they would be wearing and I used elements that were used in the boutonnieres so it was all tied together.

This project took less than 45 minutes to make all three, and the total cost was under $15 for materials.

The Burlap Bride - Websites have RUINED Everything Unique about Weddings

Vintage Bliss Wedding

"Your wedding is going to look like a ridiculous yard sale!" My mother said this to me when I squealed with delight the day I found an old, beat up Pepsi cooler that I wanted to purchase to use as an ice chest for drinks at my wedding. It was banged up and really gross, but I was convinced I could turn it into a "cool element" at my wedding. My mom just looked at me like I was nuts and rolled her eyes as if I had lost my mind.

At the time, we were planning a simple back yard wedding without frills. The ice chest I found would have been an alternative to the run of the mill galvanized aluminum buckets you see on ALL the Pinterest pins. I guess I wanted something different that was not cliche, would be durable, and work for an outside wedding. While the internet is great for inspiration, I really do think it has ruined everything unique about weddings. It seems as though every time someone mentions a "theme wedding" all you hear are moans and groans about "how overdone it is" or that everyone has seen it before. And well, that is because we have - on Pinterest.

The more I thought about it the more I began re-thinking my "theme". Originally I wanted to do the lace/burlap/mason jar thing. I wanted my wedding to be more or less a slightly upper scale backyard barbeque. This is what I felt would be the most comfortable for my guests - because really most people hate having to get dressed up to go to a fancy wedding and are thrilled when you say it will be "casual" and jean friendly. So, off to Pinterest I went. Within no time I had amassed a board of 300+ pins featuring barns, mason jars, and whiskey barrel tables. When we initially thought we were going to have our wedding this year, we even visited a barn venue that ended up being a let down. I guess I wanted something different than a country club or a fancy place where people would feel uncomfortable. But was a barn really appropriate for us? Well, no, not really.

A Marriage of Passion and Style

My fiance was raised on a farm...but I do not think I have ever set foot in a barn other than to rummage for junk at an auction. At least a barn provides a shelter for tables in most cases - but they are really small and not very elegant when you actually look at them. But oh, the pictures! You know? The ones taken in October in the Midwest with the cafe lighted barn, and guests making toasts with mason jars, and the bride is in a lace mermaid gown, and there is a tire swing somewhere? For some reason, that was the vision of what I wanted at my wedding. I guess it was my way of having the elegance of lace with the rustic utilitarian aspect of burlap to create something "neutral"...but that is really not me. I am vintage quirky and will take a rainbow of colors over something neutral any day. My fiance and I are also the rugged outdoorsy type - as in we love to hike and experience nature. Something that we both are definitely NOT are "county people" - we do not ride horses, hunt, or go to the rodeo. On the other hand a barn venue would have provided an outdoor element - which is really more of what I was wanting the barn for. I guess I did not want to be "obvious" with my wedding theme or have people "just know" what I was going to do in terms of a theme before we even sent out invitations. At the same time, I did not want people to think we were having a hoe-down if we announced the reception would be taking place in a barn...

Polka Dot Bride

I must admit I was a bit irked in the beginning when I started telling friends and family members about my engagement and they automatically assumed I would be doing a "vintage theme" since I am a vintage dealer. For one, I really do not know what a "vintage theme" is. I certainly know what vintage items are because I sell them for a living - but did they think I would be going full blown 1890's Victorian, 1920's deco flapper, 1950's rockabilly, 1960's hippie? I do in fact love various elements of all these eras. But kind of like the decor in my house - "eclectic" is the term I prefer - choosing just one would be very hard for me. Furthermore, if you as a bride pick something very specific like 1920's speakeasy, you are extremely limited on various design elements you can use, otherwise it will look out of place. This can get quite costly very quickly because it would look odd if you were wearing a Mori Lee beaded sheath dress and your bridesmaids are in modern cocktail dresses. So, they would also have to get beaded gowns or something with feathers and fringe.

I personally take particular issue to some of these "extreme theme" weddings because they tend to look like costume parties or Halloween (think Great Gastby or Lord of the Rings). Additionally, for whatever reason the term "vintage theme" initially gets thrown into the same lot as rustic and shabby chic and if not, it leaves guests thinking they have to "dress a certain part" when they attend. I certainly did not want to declare we are having a "vintage theme" (era specific or not) and suddenly get a flood of calls from people asking if they have to wear zoot suits and fedoras or pearls and furs. Again, this was another reason why I thought the lace & burlap thing would work better...At the same time, this is yet another major drawback of utilizing a theme in your wedding.

Estate Weddings and Events

After the bummer at the barn venue and some other setbacks, we decided to push the wedding to next year. Honestly, I was feeling way overwhelmed with the whole planning process. However, before we made this decision I did find my wedding dress. It was nothing like I originally thought I wanted. I did have an ivory lace mermaid dress is mind and I tried one on, but I really could not justify spending $1000 on a dress. So, instead I kept with my frugal ways and found a really different, pre-owned, satin dress with TONS of STUFF. I love "stuff" and the dress I found has it all. It is two different colors, it has off the shoulder sleeves, it has rosettes, it has lace, it has appliques, it has pearls, it has rhinestones, it has EVERYTHING - in other words, it is totally me! It was at this time that I decided I needed to make my "theme" what I wanted and what "fit" us, and not based exclusively on something I saw online. I also decided that I no longer wanted to stick to something super specific so I could have the freedom to add elements without them looking out of place.

Wedding Bee

I was just curious as to what other brides-to-be actually thought of wedding trends and themes to see what they were personally sick of seeing or hearing about others doing, so I asked on Wedding Wire. The number one thing they said they were sick of was the rustic/mason jar trend - the "burlap bride". Brides seemingly are now totally disgusted by hay-bale seating, manure caked cowboy boots with a $2500 lace gown, chalk boards, wash tubs for drinks, hydrangeas and baby's breath, cutesie signs, and the aforementioned mason jars and burlap. They are also so over "random furniture" sitting out in fields with non-wedding related stuff on them or "shabby chic" because it looks like a flea market and not a wedding.

After I thought about it, it really does not make any sense to have a "display" of junk out on a table for your guest book. Why will a simple desk and a chair with a flower arrangement not suffice? Why is it necessary to stack classic novels 5 high with a dusty, old typewriter on top with a cutesie note that says to write something for the couple and have a top hat hanging on the chair-back? Well the latter is because someone saw it in an editorial photo shoot, it ended up on Pinterest, and brides thought it was "so cute" they had to have it for themselves. Guests however are likely going to say one of two things when they see this -"I don't get it" or "OMG I saw that on Pinterest, too!" In other words, no one will think you are clever, they will just sigh because they have seen it before and it makes no sense for the couple to have that particular element in their wedding.

Perfect Pear Bridal

The brides I asked on Wedding Wire were also so sick of looking at other specific "trendy" elements as well. Some of these were: Peacock/Mardi Gras, Damask when it does not fit the venue, nautical or beach themes in places like Oklahoma, candy bars, mustaches, chevron, putting signs on ring bearers and flower girls as if no one knows their role in the wedding already, weird food trucks when there is a plated meal, and signature drinks. Brides are even "over" older traditions like bouquet/garter toss and head tables. This however probably has more to do with the fact that the average bride and groom are nearly 30 when they wed and will either have no single friends and/or will have married friends who do not want to be packed into a head table in attendance.

Another reason why I think cliched themes are getting out of hand is commercial availability. Hobby Lobby for example has specific sections in the wedding aisles for burlap/rustic, peacock/masquerade, glam/deco, and so on. We also noticed that most of the local barn venues are offering in-house rentals of mason jars, mismatched plates, doilies, ecru linen tablecloths, etc. While this might be a dream come true for some brides, others might feel compelled to give in and use what is available for ease even if it was not what they had in mind. I mean if you think about it, I bet there are a lot of brides like me who wanted a barn venue for the unique space and outdoor possibilities and not necessarily because they wanted a "rustic" themed wedding. On a side note, I also wanted a barn because they are much more private than a park. It is very difficult to find a private venue that is not a barn actually.

It did seem that the rejection of of cliched/tired/used themes came about more recently according to a vendor I spoke with at a bridal show. I was also told that more brides are going modern and/or glam - with one or two colors and minimal decorations. In other words, brides are going back to simply choosing an accent color and NOT having a designated theme. One vendor attributed this to the fact that when some brides go with a "Pinterest-y" theme, the theme is literally represented EVERYWHERE. Nothing is seemingly subtle anymore, and this began to bother numerous brides. An example of "over theme-ing" would be if you used chevron as your main design element - and you proceeded to use a chevron aisle runner, straws, table cloths, favors, silverware wraps, cake, place mats, ribbon, etc. A color bomb is another - you do not need your bridesmaids to be in pink gowns, have the groomsmen wear pink vests, while you all hold/are wearing pink flowers, and your tables have pink centerpieces, pink overlays, pink napkins...you get the idea.

The Manor Restaurant

After being disappointed with some of the venues we looked at, I began leaning towards having the wedding in a park. This was initially what I wanted, but there are so many drawbacks to most parks that I did not think it would be feasible. Parks, nature, and hiking best represent who me and my fiance are as a couple - and it would get us out of using a specific theme. However I did understand that if we could not find a suitable park venue, we would have to tweak our design elements to whatever venue we came up with. I must admit it does bother me when I see weddings held in fancy, historic homes and the "theme" is carnival fun house or Star Wars. Luckily we found the most perfect venue I could have ever hoped to find (I am waiting until spring so I can take a zillion pictures and do a massive write up about it, that is how much I love the venue). The venue I found has a historic home, a covered patio, a garden, hiking, and more. So, given our good fortune of finding this epic venue we are doing an outdoorsy non-theme theme. If that makes sense.

Woodsy Weddings

Basically, we will be using elements of nature in our tables and decor. Most of this is going to be free or very low cost. I still have to buy linens - which will probably be green or ivory, but other than things like vases and flowers, the decor will be provided by nature. This will give us as a couple the flexibility to add other elements that would not really fit other themey-themes if we wish without it looking out of place. For example, I can add some vintage elements without it coming across as "shabby chic or rustic", my fiance and groomsmen can be casual or super formal without it looking out of place (you hardly ever see photos of a groom in a black tux at a rustic wedding), and we do not have to make the whole wedding totally formal or completely casual either. I do not want to go so far as saying we will have a "woodland" theme because I think a lot of people think of fairies and elves in a shire when they hear that term. 

Now that we (well me, I have spearheaded this whole "design element" of the wedding) have simplified things, I have found that we will be saving money by not having to buy mason jars, burlap for runners (no runners at all now), lanterns, "treat bar" items (we will give goodie bags as favors instead), non-edible favors, theme specific invitations, and so on. I still think I might make my own silverware pouches and/or sashes for the chairs since the dining chairs will be used outside at the ceremony. But, if I do this I will know I can immediately re-sell them after the wedding probably at a profit. Maybe for modern brides, having a no-theme theme is the way to go. I am still a little sad I did not buy that vintage Pepsi cooler for my drink tub though...

Love & Lace Bridal Show 2014

Ashtin Rae's Floral & Decor

This past weekend my mother and I attended the Love & Lace Bridal show sponsored by Indy Wedding Ideas. The event was held at Pipers at the Marriott which was a rather nice facility. They have grand rooms with chandeliers but the best part was the atrium room that featured a lovely pond. 

The above picture I took of Ashtin Rae's Floral & Decor. I was somewhat bummed because they were the ONLY vendor at the expo that had flowers. I must admit that my favorite part about going to bridal shows is looking at tablescapes and flowers. This show however was rather heavy on the photographers. They had so many in fact that I had a difficult time remembering who was who.

Ace Rentals

One of the most helpful vendors we came across was Ace Rentals. They had a very small display showing the nice chairs they rent (beautifully adorned with flowers I might add), BUT Lisa who was the representative for Ace said they rent linens. Our venue does NOT provide linens of any kind so we were milling over the possibility of buying linens or renting them. Their prices seemed to be quite reasonable and they rent other things like tents, tables, concession stands, etc. We do not really have any decent places to rent items in Anderson so I was having a hard time trying to figure out where to rent from since we knew we would have to find a company in Indy. I have not gotten so far as to find out of they do delivery or set up from Ace, but Lisa was very helpful in her e-mails regarding making an appointment in the future to look at swatches.

Indayani Baked Goods

I must admit, a GREAT display makes a world of difference at a bridal show. Indayani Baked Goods presented the most DELECTABLE spread of glorious treats - oh it was gorgeous! They also had a ton of different treats - macarons, mini pies, chocolate dipped pretzels, cookies, etc. All are gourmet as well. I believe they have a physical store located in Indianapolis, but they also have a great Etsy site and they can be found on Facebook. They had by far the most impressive display in my opinion. You could also tell it was very well received by the visitors, and it was a company that I had never heard of before.

Indayani Baked goods

This photo is also of the Indayani Baked Goods spread, and this could be a fabulous inspiration of how you can do a treat table at your wedding. I think the "tower" pictured is a croquembouche but I am not sure. Croquembouche are becoming the new cupcakes in terms of having non-traditional cakes at weddings. I am actually milling over the idea of doing this with A Slice of Heaven Cakery's famous cake balls, which we will be serving at our wedding.

The Riley Party Barn

I was surprised that Riley's Party Barn had a booth at the expo since they are from Anderson. I must admit, I have heard several not-so-good stories about parties held at this facility in the past. Apparently, the previous manager was a relative who really did not put a great deal of work into marketing the barn or helping people book it for weddings. However, a wonderful young man named Blake is now managing the rentals of the barn. We will be attending an open house next week to check it out, because it might be a great space for family reunions, open houses for graduations, or other events. They do not have what I would call a "scenic" area for an outdoor ceremony, but Blake indicated that they have put a lot of money into bringing the barn up to snuff with other wedding venues. I will post pictures when we go for sure because there are NOT many facilities like this in Anderson at all.

Visit Hendricks County

It really is a shame that Anderson/Madison County does not have what Hendricks County has in terms of services for visitors and couples planning a wedding. Visit Hendricks County is BY FAR the most helpful service I have ever seen for tourism. Not only did they have a specific booth to illustrate wedding facilities located in the county, but the representative said that I can go to their website or call them and they can provide recommendations for food, catering, lodging, rentals, florists, etc. AS A FREE SERVICE. Seriously?! Yes! This is taken from their website: "Let us help with your wedding plans. From finding your perfect wedding reception location, to discounted room blocks at Hendricks County lodging facilities, to offering free welcome bags for your out-of-town guests, we can help make your wedding planning a breeze. Best of all, our services are complimentary." 

Visit Hendricks County

I am getting married in Hendricks County and my jaw about hit the floor when I was told this information. I was fretting pretty badly because I have never spent any time in Hendricks County. My fiance has because he worked a job at their waste water treatment plant for quite some time, but I had never been there before. Now, I am actually really excited to be getting married here because it seems there is a lot of stuff to do in the area. They have a fabulous blog written by locals illustrating various hotspots in the county as well as lesser known haunts. For example I found out about McCloud Nature Park through the blog (as avid hikers my fiance and I have never heard about this park). We are totally going here in the spring and I am SUPER excited! 

Oh Happy Days Rentals

OK, back to the bridal show review... Another vendor I was extremely impressed with was Oh Happy Days Rentals. I was partial to this booth because all the stuff they had, I have pretty much the same stuff in storage. As a vintage dealer I have accumulated quite a haul of similar items - but it is refreshing to see it on display for practical use. All my stuff has been packed in boxes for years because I honestly do not know what to do with it. I must admit some of their items were REALLY adorable and whimsical. 

Oh Happy Days Rentals

They had baskets with mason jars to hold flowers - very unique for a centerpiece. They also had various arches available for rent they can rig with vintage chandeliers. They rent ALL kinds of stuff from doors, furniture, flower pots, watering cans, baskets, trunks, dishes, chairs, etc. You name it, they probably have it. Oh Happy Days will also be at the bridal expo we will be attending this Sunday so I will be sure to take more photos. 

Cakes by Cathy

The final display I was really impressed with was Cakes by Cathy. Cakes by Cathy needs no introduction. She is a multi-award winning cake artist located in Needham, Indiana. The cakes are art...it is simple as that. They had a MASSIVE display with over 10 different cake flavors to taste. I love coconut, so I tried Almond Joy. Oh-my-gosh it was so good! Their cakes are on the high end in terms of price, but obviously you ARE getting what you pay for here. If you want a cake your guests will remember for years to come, Cakes by Cathy is the place to go!

Cakes by Cathy

If you can dream it, Cathy and her team can make it. They had a huge book on display as well of many cakes they have made in the past. They had one that looked like an ambulance that was used as a grooms cake. Too cute! Although we have already found a wonderful baker, I would not hesitate for a second to recommend Cathy because I know she would do an impeccable job for any bride! I also have no doubts that she could make anything you could dream up or find on Pinterest.

Cakes by Cathy

Cakes by Cathy also had a GREAT idea in terms of cake display. They had all these little cakes inside bird cages! It was fabulous! Since we found such an elegant venue, we are tweaking our theme to reflect more of a woodland atmosphere. I am going to use a birdcage for our cards and I am milling over the idea of using branches for center pieces and hanging birds from them. This would be so cute for display, and you simply lift off the lid for cutting. 

Cakes by Cathy

This was a very long bridal show for us. We were early to arrive because we were not sure of how the parking would be handled since there was so much snow. We are glad we arrived early because the parking at Pipers was bizarre. There was a little lot in the front - with no outlet. So, we almost got stuck there. Then, the banquet facility is also an apartment complex so other guests had to park all the way in the back and walk in the snow to get inside. I wished they would have had a parking attendant out there because several people almost got stuck in the front lot since there was no way to get out once you got in. 

On a final note: Everyone who goes to these shows attends in hoping they will win a great prize. Well...I WON something! Inside the gift bags they handed out, we were told to look and see if we had a map with a prize card attached. Mine was for Mary Kay! I won a FABULOUS gift certificate for $75 to use towards makeup or a wedding trial. I think me and my mom are going to use it for a wedding trial just to see. I have never had anyone do my makeup before so it should be a lot of fun! 

I also got an e-mail saying I won an engagement photo session. I was beaming until I realized when you win a "photo session" this does not mean you win the photos. I was SO BUMMED when I e-mailed the photographer and asked about the photos because I was told that while we would get a single printed 8X10, if we wanted the digital photos it would be $300. Yea...sorry but I will not be forking over $300 for pictures taken of me and my fiance in hockey jerseys. My mom agreed that when the weather gets better we will go to Mounds Park and she can use my "fancy camera" to take pictures of us to use for our wedding website. From now on I WILL ASK photographers before I enter contests what "winning" a prize from them really means. I was really disappointed the session would not come with the photos.

Buying Vintage Wedding Dresses - Things to Consider & Crafty Options

Painter Poet Muse - Etsy

Over the years I have sold several vintage wedding dresses. Most of them were from the 1970's and 1980's and they were sold primarily for the fabric or Halloween costumes for less than $30 each. It is much less common to find a vintage gown from the 1960's or earlier. 

Most gowns from the 1950's through the mid 1960's were mostly made of Chantilly lace, slipper satin, and tulle - whereas gowns from the late 1960s through the 1990s were made of raw silk, organza, non-silk satin, and synthetic fabrics like polyester and acrylic.

Lace and tulle have made a major comeback in the last 10-15 years and are so popular they have sparked "vintage" lines being sold at David's Bridal and vintage inspired looks from designers like Maggie Sottero. For many brides, the ease of buying a vintage inspired dress is simply a no brainer. Why go to the trouble of finding a true vintage gown when you can have a new gown ready to wear from your local bridal shop?

As a vintage dealer myself, I earn a living selling people vintage clothing. It is my job to illustrate how a garment made 50 years ago is still very relevant and fashionable today. For bridal however, there are SO many issues you can run into that it may not be worth it to purchase an authentic vintage gown UNLESS you can try it on and have the option to return it. 

Here is a list of things to consider, ask, and mill over if you are thinking of buying a vintage gown: 

Saweran

Size - Length:

The average American woman was much smaller 50-60 years ago than they are today. Most women in the 1950's were petite with small frames. Even taller women, like Grace Kelly (pictured above circa 1956) who was almost 5' 7", tended to have very dainty frames. Because of this, it might be a nightmare for a seamstress to alter a vintage gown if it is too short or too tight. 

Most of the gowns I have either sold or looked at online were made for women who stood 5 feet to about 5 foot 3 inches tall - and therefore dresses were made to their heights with extra length for the standard 2 inch heels of the 1950s and 1960s. I am 5'8", so I know it would be almost impossible for me to find a vintage wedding dress long enough.

If you are looking at dresses online at Ebay or Etsy, make SURE you ask the seller how tall the woman was who owned the dress (if they know). If they do not know this information, take the length from the shoulder to the bottom hem of the dress and compare it to your size - the top of your shoulder to the floor. Then, subtract 2 inches from the dress length to account for heels. This will help you determine how tall the woman was who owned the dress. If you are 5 feet to 5 feet 4 inches tall, you will have a much easier time finding a vintage dress that will fit. If you are taller than 5 feet 4, it will be much more difficult.

Breanne Faouzi - Etsy

Size - Sleeves:

Since many vintage gowns have long sleeves and/or high necks, if you want to keep the sleeves you will need to measure every aspect of your arm to make sure you can wear it. Sleeves on vintage gowns are almost always made of lace. 

I would imagine it would be very difficult to match new lace to vintage lace to create an expansion area for the arm if the sleeves were too tight. 

Also, vintage lace DOES NOT STRETCH. Whatever you do, do not ever try and force your arm down a lace sleeve because it will rip and lace cannot easily be repaired without it being obvious! If you were to rip one sleeve, you might end up removing the sleeves if they could not be repaired to match and look right. 

This is not that much of an issue if you planned on removing the sleeves all along, but if the sleeves are one of the main reasons you are looking at vintage make sure your arms will fit. Most online sellers do not provide detailed arm measurements in regard to circumference unless you ask.

Vintage Runway - Etsy

Size - Shoulder to Waist to Hip Ratio:

Remember how I said earlier that women were much more petite 50 years ago? Well, overall length is not the only thing to consider. In fact, the shoulder to waist to hip ratio is much more important in terms of the DISTANCES between each of these areas on your body. Wedding dresses are fitted and they do not stretch. If the dress is not long enough from your shoulder, OVER YOUR BUST, to your navel, the dress will not fit. DO NOT FORGET THE BUST!

You will need to contact an online seller to ask how they measured the shoulder to waist measurement. If it was measured flat, then likely the bust will not be accounted for. Most wedding gowns will have "peaks" for the bust. You can get a better idea of how much volume the "peaks" will accommodate if you have the measurement of the dress just below the bust. This is of course much easier for a seller to measure if they have a mannequin or live model as well.

Now, hips! Most vintage gowns come in very small at the waist, then the skirting for the bottom starts just below that point. The idea behind this is that your hips will make the A-line flow outward (remember vintage gowns were worn with hoop skirts or crinolines underneath in most instances). If this is not accurately measured, the dress will be much shorter than you imagined. 

Farmstead Vintage - Etsy

Alteration Issues:

For obvious reasons, it is easier to take a dress in than it is to let one out. Since most vintage gowns are on the small side, it would probably be very obvious if expansion areas were added. This is not to say a skilled seamstress could not do an impeccable job. I would be more concerned about the vintage fabric not matching new fabric since vintage whites tend to yellow, darken, or take on a "tea stain" that cannot be exactly replicated. You can run into this issue if you have to make a dress longer as well.

If you need to alter a dress that has appliques, most likely they will need to be removed for alterations - then reattached. I have owned some vintage dresses in the past where appliques and features like rosettes or petals feel "crispy". I would not say they are brittle like old paper, they just felt like they could tear like paper if put under enough stresses. Vintage netting is also very susceptible to becoming brittle to the point where if you tug on it slightly, it will easily tear. Wedding dresses were not exactly preserved in the 50s and 60s like they are today. Usually they would be wrapped in tissue and stored in a cedar hope chest, left to hang inside a garment bag, or *shudder* put in a cardboard box and shoved into the attic or basement. Moisture and extreme heat can wreak havoc on fabrics and if you are dealing with an inexperienced vintage seller, they might not know what to look for in terms of fabric fragility.

Pattens Attic Treasure - Etsy

Condition Issues:

I have had to pass up many vintage wedding dresses over the years due to damage from improper storage. Metal clothes hangers should have never been invented for one. They will destroy an illusion neckline and will poke huge holes in the shoulders of lace sleeves. Then gravity takes over and the whole top of a vintage gown is ruined. Silks will get eaten by moths or other closet bugs - or they will get stuck and die on the fabric and leave a stain. Old underarm stains can also compositely ruin the top of a dress because you cannot wash it out so all you can do is cut it out or cover it up. Then you get into moldy mildew smells or cigarette smoke...

If a dress is terribly soiled, some fabrics are just too fragile to wash and they will come apart in the tub. I have had success washing lace...after it has been removed from a gown then sewn back on. Some gowns if they get wet, the base fabric will shrink up and pucker and ruin the gown.

Once you get into where you are going to have to have a seamstress or tailor basically take apart and remake the dress, you might be up to $500+ in alterations. Add this to whatever ht initial cost of the gown is and you might have been better off simply getting a vintage inspired dress.  

Dandelion Girl

Other Ideas:

I regularly find vintage wedding dresses at Goodwill, flea markets, vintage shops, and places like that. Usually, they have been worn and they have issues like stains, rips, holes, smells, and so on. BUT, this can be a positive for you! The image above is of a very popular Pinterest pin illustrating how you can sew vintage slips and negligees together to make a slip dress. You can do the exact same thing with pieces of various wedding dresses. It might make more sense for you to buy 2-3 dresses inexpensively and have a seamstress just make you a new dress. I mean really, if you buy one dress and have to have $500 put into it anyway, you might as well go custom and get the dress of your dreams! 

For example, I bought a 1980s lace dress at a yard sale for $4.00 last summer. The entire thing is made of layers, and layers, of white lace. The cathedral train on this thing is 8 FEET LONG. That is correct, it drags behind you for 8 FEET. Guessing from the amount of lace and detail, I would guess it cost $2,000 when it was new in the 1980s. Lace is just as expensive today as it was 25 years ago so why not use vintage to achieve the same look? 

You can also get a $15.00 veil from Hobby Lobby (located in the wedding aisle) and have someone sew vintage lace on the hem for a dramatic look. These cheap veils might be enticing - but they are almost always uneven and they have a "mosquito net" look. I took one out of the package one day and I found that you would also need to have them steamed and puffed up by a professional to make it look decent. However, you might save $25 or so on buying a cheap veil and having it altered to make it more fancy and presentable. 

Brilliant Bride - Etsy

You can also take lace or rosettes from a vintage dress and make your own garter quite easily. You can use vintage lace to make wraps for your bouquet and those for your bridesmaids. You can add lace, pearls, or beads to boutonnieres for a subtle sparkle on your grooms lapel. You can even make a Bohemian or hippie style headband from vintage appliques or lace. 

Love in a Mason Jar - Etsy

Do not stop there! If you find a vintage dress like mine with a mile of lace, you could easily deconstruct it and wrap at least 20 Mason jar center pieces with lace for your tables. You could tie it around silverware packets, candlestick holders, or even make bows for head chairs. 

You can even cover a pair of white Keds or Toms slip on shoes in vintage lace and pearls to make your own fancy ballet flats to wear after you walk down the aisle! I mean really, do you want to dance for 6 hours in heels? The possibilities are really endless!!!

The Verdict:

I really see nothing wrong at all with buying a vintage wedding dress! In fact, I totally encourage it especially if you are on a budget. My only suggestion is that if you are buying online, make sure they have a return policy. Since gown are made and altered to fit one person, you can run into so many problems regarding fit. BUT - if you find your dream dress and you cannot return it, have plan on what you can do with it in case it does not fit. You can resell the dress or deconstruct it and use it in a plethora of ways! Don't get discouraged! Give yourself ample time to find a dress that will likely fit you. I would suggest visiting a tailor you would probably already use and have them give you measurements so you know various sizes on your body for sure. If you are in close contact with a tailor, you can also ask them for their opinion on certain dresses before you buy so you will know if it can be altered to fit you or not. 

Vintage & Antique Wedding Rings

Isn't it FABULOUS!? My amazing fiance surprised me two weeks before Christmas with this authentic Art Deco engagement ring. It even has the matching wedding band, but of course I will not wear it until our big day :). We never shopped for rings together, or even really discussed it. The proposal was a complete and total surprise! He just knows me so well, he knew what would suit me best. 

He spent a whole year...yes a whole year looking for the perfect ring. I mean, it even has emeralds flanking the sides! The green of course represents peas, since we are two peas in a pod. I think he might have been a little intimidated by the fact I have been selling vintage jewelry and clothes for almost 13 years and he wanted to find something special. However, I told him he could have proposed with a funny gumball ring and I would have been thrilled. I really do not think he could have found a more perfect ring for me!

Now the quest begins for me to find him the perfect wedding band. He just wants something simple, but I think he needs something with some flair to it. I still have a while to look, but I already know I will get him a vintage ring.

TB Dress

With vintage themed weddings being all the rage today, I am surprised authentic vintage engagement jewelry has not skyrocketed in popularity. However, I can understand that most young couples like the ease of going to a modern jewelry store and trying on rings - which can lead to ladies falling in love with a particular modern style. Vintage and antique rings also have sizing limitations which is something you do not typically run into at a modern store since they can order whatever ring they have in stock in the needed size.

The most popular style today is still the tried and true round cut solitaire. In recent years cushion and oval cuts have become more popular, as well as diamond encrusted bands and halos around the center stone. I still do not think anything can beat an authentic vintage ring. The quality and craftsmanship just cannot be beat! 

If you are thinking of getting a vintage ring, here are some things to consider:

 Size:

If you are shopping for a vintage ring, it is best to get one that is your size or close to it. This is true for ladies and gentlemen alike. If you are not sure of your size, there are a zillion charts online to measure and size your finger. The best way however is to go to a jeweler and try on rings. The THICKER the ring, the more snug it will fit on your finger. This is important to keep in mind for the ladies because if they will be wearing a wedding band or even a third eternity band with their engagement ring, they might not need it to be as small as they think. Sizing can also be a problem for vintage rings. 

If the ring has a design on the top or down the sides of the shank, it can only be sized down so far. For example, my ring could only be sized to a 4 even though my finger is a size 3 1/2 (yes, my hands are freakishly small). Some rings cannot be sized any smaller than a 5. But not to worry! Some jewelers can add a sizing bar onto the inside of the shank or even sizing beads that are typically used when a ring "spins" on the finger.

Size is also important for the gents too! If a vintage wedding band has milgrain, chasing, or some other design, it CANNOT be sized down without leaving a seam or break in the design. Vintage men's rings can be sized up very slightly by stretching - but not much. 

Vierk's Fine Jewelry - Etsy

 Style:

Both vintage and modern styles can have their drawbacks - but I am not talking solely about a matter of taste. Some ladies vintage solitaire settings can set up really high, and I mean really high. While it might look impressive to have a high-set ring on your dainty finger, you might find that it will get caught and hooked on everything from your clothes, to hair, to furniture, etc. Another thing you need to consider is that if you use a retro cocktail ring as your engagement ring, it might be very difficult to find or have a wedding band made to wear with it. Many vintage cocktail rings are asymmetrical and not meant to be worn with another band.

One major drawback to the new styles of men's rings I have found is a profile issue. My fiance said a lot of the new gents rings he looked at online for ideas have a really high profile - meaning they come up instead of down toward the finger. To him, this makes the rings look like washers or nuts from the hardware store. This can also be very dangerous because this style is prone to getting caught or hooked on things. My fiance works with pipe and other construction materials and the first thing he said to me when he saw how high they stick up on the sides was, "Yeah, I would get that caught and it would rip my finger off".

If your groom works with his hands - carpentry, plumbing, concrete like my fiance does, you will also want to discuss this with a jeweler. Some finishes are not forgiving when it comes to scratches. A jeweler also told me recently that modern rings made from tungsten or stainless steel are EXTREMELY difficult to remove or cut if the finger were to swell due to jamming or other injury. It is for this reason that a vintage gents ring might be right up your alley because unless they have been polished and restored, they will already have some great character (small scratches and dings) associated with age and wear.

Handmade Spark

Materials:

Today, there is a whole other world out there in terms of materials to use instead of gold, silver, and platinum. Vintage rings will in almost all cases be made of sterling silver, gold - yellow, rose, or white, or platinum. Almost all vintage men's rings are gold and very rarely will one be made of platinum. Today however you have a choice of stainless steel, tungsten, titanium, carbon fiber, mixed metals like silver & copper, wood, ceramic, palladium, or glass in addition to gold, silver, and platinum. You also have hammered or peen finishes, brushed, oxidized, satin, textured, etc.

One drawback I see with these new materials is that in years to come, they might not be in style anymore. While most men likely would not care at all if their wedding band was out of style, it might look odd to have a black carbon fiber ring when all his buddies have timeless gold rings 20 years down the road. This is the beauty of a traditional gents band, it will never go out of style. 

Another problem I have with some of the unconventional materials is damage. While I was initially drawn to some of the new wood and mixed metal rings, I would really not count on the wood part lasting a lifetime without it cracking or getting chipped. Rings with copper on them will eventually oxidize and turn green, which means they will need maintenance. A jeweler was happy to show me, but straight away told me to NOT buy a ceramic or glass ring because they WILL crack within a year or two - then they cannot be repaired.

The Verdict:

Despite the fact that the new materials of rings looks really cool, modern, and futuristic, I think down the road they might not be as popular or become as "timeless" as a conventional band. Since traditional bands have been relatively unchanged for the last 100 years, I will be looking for the perfect vintage ring for my fiance. But, I really do hope to find something as unique and distinctive as he found for me!

Practical Wedding Place Settings on the CHEAP!

My focus of this post is to show the pros and cons of using certain types of plates for a place setting at a wedding and what I am personally choosing for my wedding.

My fiance and I decided early on to have an inviting, casual, outdoor wedding. Basically, my idea is to have "rustic elegance" as the theme but not have it so "frou-frou" that guests feel out of place. Most of the men at the wedding will be construction workers or farmers so the laid back atmosphere should go over well. The above image I found on Pinterest and I just love the moss/pine cone/bird decor with white plates! We are renting a massive tent for our big day and the reception will be held under it. I am hoping it will be sunny and 74 on our wedding day (hey, don't we all!?) so we can have an indoor/outdoor thing going on but October in Indiana can basically come with any weather condition you can imagine. Because of this, I did not want a caterer, guests, or any servers/attendants to be encumbered with dealing with china/glass dishware. My reasons for NOT going with china will be detailed below.

Now, all this would be different if we had wanted a sit down plated meal. If you opt to have a plated meal, generally a caterer will provide their own dishes and flatware and will deal with cleaning/storing them - some however offer this at an extra cost per person or per plate. When we looked into having a plated meal catered, it came out to about $25-$35 PER PERSON for the basic two entree/two side option. I am wanting to have this wedding as inexpensively as possible, so having a meal cost that much is out of the question. Instead, we are having a barbeque picnic style meal - which would better suit us anyway. The caterer we are going with does provide basic foam or paper plates. While this would be just fine if we were having a Super Bowl party or general get-together with friends, I feel that this sort of table setting would be too casual for a wedding.

This got me thinking of plate options. I knew right away I did not want paper plates. Despite the fact that you can get both round and square paper plates at Party City in any color you desire, I feel that most basic paper plates just scream birthday party and not wedding. Furthermore, when you are at a buffet piling on delicious eats the last thing you want to happen is for your plate to "sag" or bend. The inexpensive plates you get at the party store tend to be very thin and flimsy which leads to double or triple layering to make them sturdy enough. Not only is this wasteful, but impractical since the plates will be thrown away anyway. So, instead of each guest throwing away maybe 2 plates each, they are throwing away 6. Doesn't make much sense right? The "premium" plates pictured above I found being sold through an Ebay seller in "Embossed Citrus Green". While I LOVED these, they are $0.99 EACH when you add in shipping. Again, I do not want to spend $200+ on plates to be thrown away. PLUS, I would have to also buy dessert plates on top of the entree plates.

The next option is plastic. Again, like paper plates, with plastic you can run into the same problems with sagging and bending. Some of the cheapest plastic plates will also crack in the centers easily under the weight of food. Another problem with plastic plates is that they can get really hot if there is hot food on them - even more so than with paper. I remember being at a party last summer and I almost flipped a plate with baked beans on it because the plastic plate got so stinkin' hot in the center. Again, this will lead to people doubling or tripling the layers of plates creating unneeded waste. The plates pictured above I thought were SO cool - not really fitting with our theme - but SO cool nonetheless. They too were being sold by an Ebay seller and they are called "Luncheon Wedding Plastic Plates". I had a sticker shock moment however when I added in shipping, they were $1.60 EACH. The silvery lace on the outer edge commands a premium and they are beautiful - but really, if you are going to spend $1.60 on ONE plate, you might as well get china.

When I went to GFS with my mother and we were pricing out their plastic plates, I found their prices were comparable with online prices. They had "basic" clear plastic plates with a scalloped edge for $11.49 for a pack of 18. They were "OK" but with tax they would be about $0.65 each. The matching cake dishes were $5.99 a pack for 18 or about $0.35 each. I was pretty happy with the price being at about $1 per guest for dinner and dessert plates combined. But...well...the plates were boring, basic, and just not cute. They did not look elegant, or special, or interesting. And again, I was worried that they would be too thin and would need to be doubled and that would eat into costs unnecessarily. I was about to give up at GFS until I found THIS:

GFS sells these awesome packs of plates by Mozaik. The plates inside are quite sturdy plastic. They are white with a silver metallic edge, and you cannot tell they are not real china! At GFS, they have this 40 piece set for $9.99. It is a full service for 8 WITH "stainless steel look" utensils. There are 8 entree plates, 8 dessert plates, and 8 each of plastic knives, spoons, and forks. That comes out to about $1.28 with tax per guest. You can find these exact same plates online with a gold edge too, but they did not sell the gold version at GFS. Considering there are utensils with this makes it a great deal. BUT - I just knew I could get a better deal if I looked.

And I DID find a better deal on the EXACT same plates! I had a hunch that the Dollar Store might carry these...Some of the local Dollar Stores DO carry the entree plates - 4 for $1. They also sell the small dessert plates - 6 for $1 and they sell small packs of the stainless-look silverware. I priced it out compared to the boxed set at GFS and found that by buying the plates and utensils separate, it is about $3 cheaper for a 8 person place setting. The only issue with this is that often times, once discount stores like a Dollar Store or Deals run out of an item, they might not ever get more in. This month I am planning to visit all the local "dollar" type stores to see if I can score enough plates for everyone and get it out of the way.

One of the main reasons I wanted to go with these particular plates is because I really do not want people to throw them away per-se - but I want them to be thrown into a plastic bag where they can be dealt with later.

Allow me to explain. 

Initially, I had this grand idea that I would use mismatched vintage china plates for the wedding meal. I found this picture above on WeddingBee and it is pretty representative of my own vintage plate collection. This style of place setting is very on trend for rustic weddings and it would have gone with my theme perfectly. My every day plates are made of mismatched floral bone china that I have picked up over the years from yard sales and flea markets, so I had planned on just going on buying trips and picking up more plates here and there. But then I got to thinking...as a vintage dealer for 13 years I know the problems you can run into with vintage dishes. Here are a few problems you can encounter with using vintage plates:

Fragility:  

Vintage plates often have hairline cracks and crazing due to age. While this can be very appealing as a display on a wall or in a hutch, if you use them for food you have to be very careful what kind and how much food you put on them. Very hot foods can cause hairline cracks and fissures to open up and a plate can literally break in half as it sits on a table with hot food. If you have a weighty pile of food it can also cause a sudden break right down the center of the plate. If you have foods with sauces or drawn butter, it can leak through these cracks as well and dirty your table cloths and mats. Vintage plates are also often made of English bone china or Japanese porcelain and the second they "tap" another plate or glass they will chip.

Practicality:  

If you have 150+ entree plates and 150+ dessert plates, someone will have to be in charge of taking them into the kitchen and washing them. Unless you have a wonderful family member or friend willing to stand in the kitchen for 2 hours washing dishes, this will likely be more of a pain for YOU as a bride than what it is worth. Vintage plates make this even more difficult to address. Vintage plates cannot be put into the dishwasher. The high temperatures of modern washers will cause plates to bust and chip during a cycle even if they are not touching each other. You also cannot stack heaps of vintage dishes together and carry them together for the same reason. So, you will have attendants making many runs from your tables to a washing area where dishes will pile up until they can be washed and properly stored. I would imagine this would cause breakage of probably three-fourths to half of the plates in all honesty.

Storage:  

What are you going to do at the end of the night with 300+ plates? No, even more importantly, where are you going to store these before the big day? Since vintage plates are so fragile they really need to be wrapped separately and stored in something like a big plastic tub with a lid. As you would be making endless trips to Goodwill and flea markets collecting your dishes, you would need to make sure they were being stored so they would not get broken in the meantime.When I was looking for Ball jars for drinking I did find that some vendors in the south rent out vintage plates.

The Verdict:  

Because of all these reasons, I decided that the white plastic plates with silver rim would work best for me and my guests. I am also thinking that just in case they may not be sturdy enough that I might see if a simple plastic changer would help dress up the table. My plan is for people to "discard" the plates into bins outside where they can be bagged up and tied off after the meal to avoid smells or bugs. I will have no problem washing them myself the following day and either reselling them or renting them out. As a bride on a tight budget, I am going to maximize the re-usability of everything I buy for my wedding to recoup some of the expenses after the big day.