Saturday 30 January 2016

A 1940s-style vintage wedding dress for a cool Spring day.

Dear Reader, 
Choosing a vintage wedding dress for an English spring wedding can be a challenge. Of course, it must be gorgeous and glamorous. But it also needs to cover enough skin for our goosebump-inducing climate!
1940s style wedding dress, Florence with long satin sleeves
1940s style wedding dress, Florence, from the Heavenly Collection
Actually, I love winter and spring weddings. They're a great opportunity to wear elegant long sleeves and high necks that may simply be too hot in summer. And with this in mind, I've recently made some updates to the Florence dress from my Heavenly Collection of vintage-inspired wedding dresses
The original Florence vintage-style wedding dress, with puff sleeves
Vintage wedding dress with long sleeves and keyhole back
1940s style Florence wedding dress – new keyhole back detail.
This lovely new Florence has long satin sleeves, set into beautifully detailed shoulders. And the glamour quota stays high with the addition of a subtly sexy keyhole back – just enough to reveal a glimpse of skin.
1940s style wedding dress - full-length image with long sleeves
Long and elegant, 1940s style Florence wedding dress in silk satin
1940s style wedding dress, from the waist up showing puffed sleeves and v neckline
Puff sleeves and pretty lace detail at neck of 1940s style wedding dress
Florence dress from the Heavenly Collection, bodice and sleeves
And with lace flutter sleeves – 1940s style wedding dress, Florence
I've also introduced a stunning new colour, Sea Pearl – that positively glows in the light of a cold day.
1940s style wedding dress, Florence, with flutter sleeves
Flutter sleeves on 1940s style Florence wedding dress
1940s style wedding dress, Florence - original version
Long and elegant, with simple puffed sleeves: 1940s style wedding dress
A spring cover-up in white feathers over vintage wedding dress
Marabou feather wrap, perfect for a winter or spring vintage-style wedding
Spring and winter weddings also offer a wonderful choice of vintage accessories. Feathers or fur? Winter blooms in icy hues, or freshest spring flowers? The options are so romantic.
Frosted bouquet of pale early spring flowers
Late winter blooms, eucalyptus, pale roses and frosted berries
Perfect over a vintage wedding dress, a feathered wrap or shrug
Swan feather wedding cape – perfect with a vintage wedding dress for spring.
Try a feather wrap like my own above – made from ostrich and marabou. Or this beautiful swan feather wedding cape from Not on the High Street. Or fur is fabulous – whether a real vintage piece or faux if you prefer...
A fur shrug can keep you cosy through a chilly spring wedding day
Fabulous original 1960s fox fur stole
Black and white original vintage photo, marked 1947 on the reverse.
Glamorous vintage bride in faux fur, from a charming 1947 photo!
A cosy faux fur jacket or shrug can also work perfectly with a short-sleeved dress, such as Florence (below) with a lace flutter sleeve. I love the real vintage bride in the photo above – teaming her dress with that super-fabulous faux fur! 
1940s style wedding dress, Florence, with lace flutter sleeves
White fur stole – perfect to keep you warm at a chilly spring wedding.
If you like real fur, you can find wonderful vintage fur wraps and shrugs at Central Park Vintage. Another great place to seek out a fur or faux fur shrug is The Hammersmith Vintage Fair – I am a regular visitor for their great selection of accessories. 
Glorious pale blooms for an early Spring wedding.
And each version of Florence works beautifully with the current vogue for natural accessories. From the beautiful blooms from Brides.com to these stunning nature-inspired headpieces by Abby at Cherished.
Satin sleeves and lace overlay on 1940s inspired wedding dress
Nature-inspired hair accessories complement a vintage wedding dress
As pretty as real snowdrops! Delicate head-pieces for a vintage style wedding.
I am used to seeing beautiful hair accessories, but I've not seen anything quite like these by Abby at Cherished before - they are small works of art and could have been made to go with the Florence dress. (I can't wait to feature more of them very soon!)
Lovely 1940s-inspired Florence wedding dress, from my Heavenly Collection.
I hope my brides and my readers will love the elegant new member of the Florence family, as much as the original puff-sleeved and flutter-sleeved versions! If you'd like to make an appointment to see Florence in person, do contact me!

And I've hope you've enjoyed these ideas for vintage-inspired late winter and early spring weddings! 
Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

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Sunday 24 January 2016

A treasure trove of vintage–inspired wedding dresses and pretty bridal accessories, Luella's Boudoir.

Dear Reader, 
Have you met my friends at the delicious Luella's Boudoir yet…? 

Here in South London's Wimbledon Village, the lovely Philippa and Rachel and their team have created an informal and relaxed haven, where they offer gentle encouragement to anyone seeking their perfect vintage–inspired wedding dress and accessories. 


In the prettiest and girliest of surroundings – think pink satin and chandeliers – you can indulge your glamorous side as you admire their treasure trove of delicate accessories, handmade headpieces, vintage crystal jewellery and pretty evening bags. 

And of course I hope you'll be admiring their exclusive selection of my Heavenly Collection of vintage–inspired wedding dresses too!



Luella's have several of my range in stock, including two exclusive 1930s–inspired designs: Angel in a unique original Nottingham lace, and Butterfly in an exquisite beaded lace…
1930s style Angel dress in original Nottingham lace, exclusively available from Luella's Boudoir
These romantic lace dresses are perennially popular with my brides – they're super–flattering and wearable. And of course they reflect the 1930s, perhaps the most glamorous vintage era of all.
1930s style Butterfly dress in exquisite beaded lace, exclusive to Luella's Boudoir.
Asked why brides choose these dresses, Luella's say,
"All our range are carefully handpicked by the Luella team, and we have chosen Helena's Heavenly Collection for their exquisite detailing, their beauty and originality. What makes these Heavenly Collection dresses so special is that Helena really puts her heart into each design, making sure the cut and quality is absolutely perfect."


Whether it's advice or assistance you need, or simply time to browse through a wonderful collection of beautiful dresses and jewels, you'll find just what you're looking for at this pretty bridal boutique. Why not give them a call, and arrange an appointment…? Luella's Boudoir is at 78a The High Street, Wimbledon Village, London SW19 5EG. Telephone 0208 879 7744.

Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

Friday 15 January 2016

1940s–style wedding dress 'Bette', worn by vintage bride Caroline.

Dear Reader,
Today's gorgeous vintage bride is Caroline, who married Andy in a wonderful country wedding last August.

Caroline chose my 1940s–inspired Bette dress from the Heavenly Collection: a chic choice for a very stylish lady.


All of Caroline's family contributed to a wonderful day. Even Caroline's beautiful vintage shoes had originally belonged to her glamorous grandmother...

And the adorable bridesmaids' dresses, in Liberty print fabric, were made by her talented mother (with help from a friend too)...

Even the vintage wedding car – an elegantly appropriate 1940s sky blue Citroen – was driven by a friend from his uncle's collection of vintage motors...

And of course Dad always has a very special role on the day…!

Caroline and Andy continued their vintage theme even to their first dance: 1935's romantic 'Dancing Cheek to Cheek' (this time in a wonderful 1950s version by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald). 


The happy couple performed brilliantly. And as you can see, this is a dress you can REALLY dance in!

Caroline looks absolutely beautiful in her elegant vintage–styled outfit, as all her friends' noted. In Caroline's own words,
"Thank you so much for being such a warm and wonderful place to come and find the perfect wedding dress! We had such a wonderful day and literally everyone loved the dress! I'm now wondering whether I can wear it to other events!"
We say it looks too good NOT to wear it again! 
Caroline, thanks for sharing (and thanks to Sarah Farnsworth for the great photos). It's warming us up just looking at your lovely summer wedding.
Love 
Helena 
Heavenly Vintage Brides

For more amazing Real Vintage Brides check out the page on my website here




Tuesday 5 January 2016

Ruth in Edwardian lace wedding dress – an enchanting vintage bride for 2016.

Dear Reader,
The Happiest of New Years to you! 
I'd like to start our 2016 with an enchanting vintage bride in the prettiest Edwardian wedding dress. Meet Ruth!
Edwardian lace wedding dress on vintage bride Ruth, medium dress shot
Ruth and Conor were married in late Summer at St Mary's Parish Church, Kilmood, County Down in Northern Ireland. Befitting this wonderful couple, their whole day has a beautiful handmade and simple vibe that perfectly suited the innocent charm of Ruth's beautiful Edwardian cotton lace wedding dress.
Edwardian lace wedding dress on vintage bride Ruth with Groom Conor
To complement her vintage wedding dress, Ruth wore a charming floral crown together with an elegant fingertip–length veil in silk tulle (the veil was handcrafted by the bride's talented mother!) The overall effect is simple and stunning.
Edwardian lace wedding dress, Heavenly Vintage Brides, close up of veil and floral crown
The lovely, personal feel of their day continued inside the Church. Conor comes from a musical family, so Ruth walked down the aisle to a live performance by two family members of Simon and Garfunkel's The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy).
Edwardian lace wedding dress on vintage bride Ruth: confetti everywhere!
Their reception was held at Field of Dreams in Bangor, County Down. It's a stunning rural location – with a Scandinavian-style wooden lodge decked out in beautiful garlands, as well as marquee, meadow, lake and even a standing stone circle!
Edwardian lace wedding dress on vintage bride Ruth, Conor's speech at the reception
Inside a traditional canvas marquee – handsomely decked out with wooden tables, hay bales and floral garlands – a good friend played mixologist for the night, creating fresh juices and cocktails including Rhubarb Margaritas and Apple, Elderflower and Gin Rickeys. So good!
Edwardian lace wedding dress on vintage bride Ruth, table garlands shot.
Groom Conor is a Fine Bench Joiner and Cabinet Maker and made the stunning maple and birch wood tables himself! (He's since sold half of them to a bar–restaurant in the French Alps, but the couple are determined to keep one as a memento of their fab day.) 
A wonderful, casual meal was followed by many hours of dancing to great music, courtesy of a band of friends and family. The first dance was to Twist and Shout by the Beatles and Ruth reports that after that she didn't stop dancing until the very end of the evening!
Edwardian lace wedding dress - vintage bride Ruth dancing with groom Conor
What a beautiful day! I'll leave the last word to our fabulous bride Ruth...
"Thank you again for helping me find the perfect vintage wedding dress. It was amazing – just wonderful! So comfortable, flowed beautifully when I walked and danced (and I did a lot of dancing!!) and it felt like it was made just for me. I received so many compliments. My dress really was such a big part of what made the day so special."
Edwardian lace wedding dress on vintage bride Ruth, with bridesmaids
Edwardian lace wedding dress on vintage bride Ruth, from behind with groom.
Thanks for visiting my vintage wedding blog, dear reader. I hope you'll pop back again. If you'd like to see more of Conor and Ruth's magical day, click here. And meanwhile, I wish you a magical 2016.
Love 
Helena 
Heavenly Vintage Brides

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Sophie in pretty 1950s lace wedding dress – and sneakers!
And try more Real Vintage Brides on my website, here.
Heavenly Vintage Brides – Sophie in 1950s wedding dress, holding rose bouquet

Groom's suit by ASOS
Bridesmaids' dresses by In One Clothing
Flowers by Floral Creations
Photographs with thanks to Honey & the Moon Photography