Wedding Blog: Love My Dress

Annabel Beeforth - Photography by Karen McGowran

Whether you like the elegant glamour of the 1930s, the bold dresses of 1950s or the simplicity of the sixties, it is becoming easier, and cheaper, to add a vintage touch to your wedding. Wedding blog, Love My Dress, features beautiful real vintage weddings and showcases the best specialist suppliers. Love My Dress founder, Annabel Beeforth, describes her 1930s inspired wedding to Philip in Whitby and her tips on how to evoke nostalgic glamour to your big day.

[pic: Annabel on her wedding day by Karen McGowran Photography]

Why did you decide to start Love My Dress?
I fell in love with everything 'wedding' during the 15 months I spent planning my own. Once the big day had been and gone, I documented my experience and shared it with other brides on an online wedding forum. I had such an amazing response and so many compliments on my writing style that I thought I'd try my hand at writing a blog. I wasn't sure at first exactly what I wanted to blog about, but the content just flowed and 12 months later, I have a loyal readership.

What do you enjoy about writing a wedding blog?
I find it hugely rewarding being in a position to support up-coming brands by providing a platform to showcase their talents. Working in a field with so many creative individuals is a blessing and I regularly connect designers and photographers to work together on creative photoshoots. I am inspired by them every day.

[pic: Cathy & Billy by Oliver Collinge]

What is your favourite wedding you have featured on your blog?
The highlights from 2010 were the wedding of Cathy and Billy - a profoundly deaf couple who, after years of dealing with the prejudices of society, had the wedding of their dreams with an amazing reception in a yurt. Another favourite was the wedding of fellow blogger Anna and her husband Bean. And, finally, Jen and Matt's fabulous Coco Chanel, 1920s-inspired affair – I'm a sucker for bright red lipstick on a bride.

Annabel Beeforth Wedding 2 - photography by Karen McGowran

[pic: Love My Dress blogger Annabel and Philip by Karen McGowran]

What was your wedding like?
We had an intimate wedding with 50 guests at the Dunsley Hall Country House Hotel in Whitby. Whitby is very special to us as we spent a lot of time there in the early days of our relationship, and we wanted our guests to experience the magic of the area. We didn't have any particular theme, though there was a sense of vintage about the day, including my dress. We celebrated the location by naming each of the reception tables after a picturesque nearby village and used shells collected from the area to decorate them.

I worked very closely with my husband, Philip, on the styling and decor. Being a graduate in fashion design and naturally very creative, he enjoyed taking a hands-on role. With the exception of my bouquet, Philip grew and arranged all the flowers. He made his own cravat and even spent hours one evening shelling a load of mussels so the shells could be used to decorate the wedding breakfast tables.

What was your wedding dress like?
I wore a beautiful Jenny Packham gown, evocative of 1930s fashion, as I wanted that red carpet Hollywood glamour look and this meant full-on red lipstick and finger curls. I wore heels by Emmy and a matching haircomb and cuff by the wonderful Flo & Percy.

> Wedding Hairstyles: Updos
> Wedding Hairstyles: Loose

I carried my lipstick and a lucky sixpence in an art deco-style sparkly clutch bag. I also had Mum's pretty, old-fashioned handkerchief, with the letter 'A' embroidered onto it, as my 'something borrowed'.

Jens Wedding, photography by Sarah Rhodes

[pic: Jen & Matt's 1920s-inspired wedding by Sarah Rhoads]

What did you find the hardest part of planning your wedding?
Definitely the guest list: who to invite, who not to invite. It's very hard to know where to draw the line before you end up inviting your third-cousin-twice-removed and Aunt Hilda that you haven't seen since you were three! I was so worried I might offend someone, but in the end, I realised I was being ridiculous and so went with my heart. My advice to brides would be to go with your gut instinct when it comes to similar concerns or dilemmas.

I also made all of our wedding stationery, from the invites to the table plan, to the Order of Days and it was hard work but absolutely worth it. Another hard part was budgeting for various different aspects of the day. I got a little caught up in the whole process and spent money on things I really didn't need to. I would strongly advise brides to think twice before paying out lots of cash for any element of their wedding day, and ask yourself: 'Do I really need this?' The two exceptions to this are the photography and dress!

> How to Buy a Vintage Wedding Dress
> How to Buy a Second-Hand Wedding Dress
> Wedding Dresses by Body Shape

Annabel's Top Vintage Wedding Tips

1. Focus on the wardrobe, the décor and the entertainment
These are the three main areas that will have the greatest influence in the styling of a vintage wedding.

2. Use music to create nostalgia
One way to evoke a fun sense of nostalgia is with great music; acts like The Tootsie Rollers, 'It's A Windup!' and Simon Partridge will be able to evoke a sense of a bygone era and will entertain your guests the retro way.

3. Small vintage elements create a big visual impact
You don't have to spend a fortune for a vintage wedding. You can add small and simple elements of vintage throughout your day that will have a big visual impact. Instead of paying hire fees for art-deco vintage china, collect your own mismatched china cups and saucers from your local charity shops and car boot sales. Enlist your family members to do the same and you'll soon have enough for all your guests.

4. Remember vintage wedding dresses are smaller sizes
If you want an authentic, vintage wedding dress, be wary about sizing. Sizes tended to be smaller than they are now, so don't expect your usual size to fit, or if it does, it might be tight. Also be sure to ask about stains and tears that might be irreparable. Alternatively, you could consider buying a reproduction dress. Find your local seamstress and take photos and images of the styles you like. A good seamstress will be able to pull together a toile - a sample dress made from cheap fabric for you to try, before committing to making the real thing. Companies, such as Magpie Vintage and Flo & Percy, specialise in reconstructed jewellery and accessories.

5. Find a specialist vintage hairdresser
Many salon stylists are inexperienced in creating 1920s finger curl styles or the Marcel waves of the 1930s. Instead, find a specialist service, such as Hepburn Collection, who will travel UK wide. And always have a hair and make-up trial before the day itself.

> Hairstyle Ideas & How-To Videos

6. Don't forget the groom
Black tie transcend the decades and pinstripe suits also have that timeless look and look fabulous with a pocket watch and chain. Or you could go for a more authentic look, like Lee and Judith's garden wedding, where the groom hired a Victoria frock coat with a beautiful regency waistcoat from the National Theatre in London.

Personally, I'm not really a traditional top-hat-and-tails person. I prefer a groom in a clean-cut, tailored suit. My advice to any groom would simply be to wear what you want - but make sure it fits. I've lost count of the times I've seen ill-fitting suits, jackets that don't fit across the shoulders or trousers that are too long, and it's not a good look when you are paying a small fortune to have the day photographed.

7. Try the high street, internet and specialist designers for bridesmaid dresses
Designer bridesmaids' dresses can be expensive. Shop around the high street for evening dresses instead; shops like Monsoon have evening dresses that work beautifully as bridesmaids' dresses too. Don't be afraid to order pre-made dresses from a reputable overseas supplier. I did this and saved several hundred pounds, but beware of customs tax. You can also look to brands not traditionally associated with weddings, such as Vivien of Holloway, who creates the most glorious 1950s-style frocks.