50s Style Wedding Hair and Make Up

From personal experience, I would highly recommend calling in the professionals when it comes to hair and make up for your 50s style wedding (if only to keep stress levels down!) I've put together some inspiration from the best in the business that I hope will give you some ideas.



1&2 by Lipstick and Curls. Lipstick and Curls are retro hair and make up specialists Amanda and Natasha who are available for weddings and hen parties amongst other occasions.

3&4 by Beauty Call - a fab team of hair and make up artists on call for retro weddings, receptions and hen parties in England and Wales.

5&6 by Nina's Hair Parlour. Nina's (pictured below) is the UK's first specialist vintage hair and make up parlour and is situated in London. Nina's also welcomes hen parties as well as wedding bookings.

50s Style Wedding Dresses by Once Upon a Time

When Dana from Once Upon a Time sent me pictures of her gorgeous dresses I just knew I had to share them with you!

Dana has many years experience designing and making wedding dresses and offers a personal, bespoke service specialising in vintage and 50s designs. She is currently working on creating gorgeous new vintage prom styles with soft fabrics and cute detailing. For more information visit the Once Upon a Time website.

50s Style Wedding Cakes

Researching for this post made my mouth water, there are so many scrumptious looking cakes out there to compliment a 50s wedding theme. The fab polkadot wedding cake below was made by Caketasia, I just love the big bow on top!



For something a bit more quirky, how about a cupcake tower especially made to match your scheme? If you don't fancy decorating them yourself (as I did), then Crumbs and Doilies can make them for you in an array of gorgeous designs!

And if you love cupcakes, you will love the giant cupcake that our featured couple Debbie and Rob had made for their 50s style wedding. You can buy a giant cupcake tin online from Amazon.

Presenting your cake on a vintage style stand is another way to give your cake the 50s factor. Check out Clara French for some of the most beautiful cake stands you're ever likely to see.

Afternoon tea for vintage brides to be

Miss Polly, one of our vintage loving readers, has come up with a fantastic idea to bring together vintage style brides to be in the East London area! Please read on for more details . . .



Hello lovely ladies,

I am hosting a fantastic vintage style afternoon tea for brides to be who have a love of all things vintage. This will be held at my marvellous retro home in East London and will be a great chance to meet other like minded ladies and share ideas, contacts and get some great vintage inspiration for your big day. There shall be champagne, cakes, tea and scones with clotted cream, all served the proper old fashioned way! No men folk allowed! Hoping this could become a regular event and have pencilled in the provisional date of Sunday 17th January.

If you would like to come please email me on pollypoppet@live.co.uk

Look forward to hearing from you,
Miss Polly x

Emma and Nick's 50s Style Wedding

Emma and Nick chose the gorgeous setting that is Ness Gardens on The Wirral for their wedding this summer. Joanne Flemming Design in Brighton made Emma's beautifully elegant 50s style wedding dress, and her Audrey Hepburn style veil was made specially made by Kelly Spence. The bridesmaids looked fab in black polkadot swing dresses with a pink petticoat and matching hair flower.



The couple completed the retro feel by hiring a traditional red London bus from Routemaster Buses to transport their guests!

Thank you to Elegant and Wild for the fab photographs.

Candy Anthony 50s Style Wedding Dresses

Candy Anthony is a designer boutique-atelier based in London, specialising in made-to-measure 50s inspired wedding dresses. I've posted up some eye candy here (excuse the pun), but check out the website for more stunning dresses which range from funky leopard print to romantic tulle styles!



Candy Anthony, Candy Anthony wedding dress, 50s wedding dress, 50s style wedding dress

Tweet Tweet!

Click here to follow us on twitter and keep up-to-date with posts, and exciting in between post stuff!

50s Wedding Decorations

I stumbled across a brilliant website today and just wanted to share it with you all! A Most Curious Party... was set up by vintage enthusiast Rebecca Hoh-Hale (pictured top left) after she'd spent two years collecting all sorts of weird and wonderful Objet d’Arts for her own wedding.



Rebecca now hires out the items which include home made bunting, chintzy crockery, tablecloths, vases, fabric, peacock feathers, wallpaper, strange and beautiful ornaments, artwork, music from the 20s-50s to help set the scene at vintage and retro themed weddings and events. Team all this with some fitting wedding flowers ideas and you have the perfect package!

And if you'd like to take your 50s theme right through to your hen night, then look no further! Rebecca recently styled a Breakfast at Tiffany’s themed hen party where the girls had their hair done 40s and 50s style and dressed as retro screen sirens, sounds like fun!

For more information visit www.amostcuriousparty.co.uk



50s wedding decorations, Retro wedding decorations, 50s themed hen night, 50s style wedding decor

Audrey Hepburn Auction

How do you fancy walking down the aisle in one of Audrey Hepburn's own gowns? Well now you could (if you're feeling flush), because Kerry Taylor Auctions will be selling some of Audrey Hepburn's finery at their "Passion for Fashion & Fine Textiles" auction on 8th December 2009!



Lots include a 1950's Paquin couture ball gown (lot 140) and the ivory satin bridal gown designed for Audrey Hepburn by the Fontana Sisters for her marriage to James (later Lord) Hanson in 1952 which did not take place (lot 333). For more details and to view all the lots click here.

Audrey Hepburn wedding dress, 50s wedding dress, Vintage wedding dress

Retro Wedding Favours

Give your guests a day to remember by tying your wedding favours in with your 50s theme. There are so many brilliant ideas out there for retro wedding favours that I think I may have to do several posts to cover them all, here's a few of my favourites to start off with!



Why not give the archetypal favour (i.e. a bag of sweets) a twist by using retro sweets such as Love Hearts, giant candy lollipops, popcorn, custom sticks of rock, or a even personalised gumball machine! A boxed cupcake for each guest would look the part and go down a treat at a 50s themed wedding. For a winter wedding, what could be more fitting than a home-made shiny red toffee apple!

If it's a non food treat you are after, then how about a custom mix CD disguised as a vinyl record, perfect for the music loving couple! Other retro gift ideas include personalised lemonade mix, vintage style fans, cupake lipgloss and glider kits (thanks to Laura and Scott from our October wedding story for the last two ideas!)

"So where can I get all this fab stuff?" I hear you cry! Retro sweets from Retro Tuckshop, lollipops from Favors and Flowers, customised rock from The Rock People, cupcakes from Truly Scrumptious, vinyl CDs from Escape Concepts, popcorn, gumball machine, lemonade mix, fans, lipgloss and gliders all available from Wedding Things, also check out Escape Concepts for a range of wedding favours and table decorations.




Retro wedding favours, 50s wedding favours, Cupcake wedding favours

50s Style Wedding Dress and Shoe Lust!

When Erica and Fergus tied the knot the bride chose a gorgeous 50s style Dolly Couture wedding dress, a birdcage veil from birdcageveils.com, and the most amazing contrasting cherry red shoes to set it off just perfectly!

Ian Arthur Photography has captured the 50s feel perfectly with this classic retro pose!

Wedding Dress Poll

Would you consider buying your 50s style wedding dress off ebay? Cast your vote now in our poll in the sidebar!

Lynsey and Rhydian's 50s Style Wedding

Lynsey and Rhydian looked every bit the retro couple on their big day earlier this year. I am just in love with Lynsey's polkadot wedding dress and veil, and the pastel candy colour scheme they chose for the bridesmaids, flowers and cake is so yummy. Every detail was taken care of in true retro style, even down to the transport!

Thank you to Alun Williams Photography who made it possible for us to drool over this fab retro wedding!

50s Wedding Veils and Fascinators

If you're planning on wearing a 50s style wedding dress, then you may also be looking for something other than a standard veil. From birdcage veils to feather fascinators, there are plenty of stunning hair pieces out there to help you complete that retro look.

1 Feather fascinator Pinup Girl Clothing, 2 Birdcage veil Velvet Owl, 3 Pillbox hat Boring Sidney, 4 Bow hairband Talulah Rose, 5 Birdcage veil Velvet Owl, 6 Rose fascinator Pinup Girl Clothing, 7 Sinamay flower fascinator Pink Tigers Den, 8 Birdcage veil Brenda's Bridal Veils

50s Style Wedding Dress Alert

50's style brides on a budget will love this dress from our very own Honeypie Boutique. It's available to order now from £149.00!

Update: New website with lots more designs now live!

50s wedding dress, 50s style wedding dress, Tea length wedding dress, Cheap 50s wedding dress

Debbie and Rob's 50s Style Wedding

Debbie and Rob made sure that their big day in Berkshire was one to remember! Debbie chose a striking red Candy Anthony dress, and her bridesmaid's dress was made up from a vintage pattern. Continuing the retro theme, Rob's mum made the most amazing giant cupcake for the couple, yum!

The wedding certainly reflected the couples' personalities, as Debbie revealed that she makes and sells vintage inspired fascinators and gifts in her Etsy shop www.talulahroseonetsy.etsy.com

KT Bruce Photography did a fantastic job capturing their special day on camera.

Retro Wedding Hair

Take a look at this video for tips on how to create a Dita style retro hairdo. Just finish with a flower, fascinator or birdcage veil to add the wedding factor! Even if you're not doing your own hair on the big day this is lots of fun to try.

Dolly Couture 50s Style Wedding Dresses

If you're searching for your 50s style wedding dress you'll want to check out Dolly Couture. Specialising in 50s style dresses, Dolly Couture offers a beautiful collection as well as a custom service which can be shipped anywhere in the world!

Pictured above: The Los Cabos, and below clockwise from top left: The Milan, The Beverlywood and The Pasadena.

Day to Night in Candy Anthony!

Joanna and Lee got married at Caerlaverock Castle in Dumfries this summer. The bride to be knew she didn't want a standard A-line wedding dress and had always loved the timeless elegence of the 40s and 50s. Joanna was so blown away on her trip to Candy Anthony that she chose not one, but two dresses to take her from day to night in fabulous 50s style!

Danielle and Rob's 50s Style Engagement Shoot

Engagement shoots are becoming more and more popular with married couples to be who want some special photos with each other. Danielle and Rob really made the most of their shoot by giving it a 50s theme. Danielle wore a fab 50s oufit and they chose an idyllic spot along the North Norfolk coast for Emma from Little Flowers Photography to work her magic!

Sophie and Tim's Retro Wedding Party

Sophie and Tim's Circus themed wedding party was a big hit with their guests! Sophie wore a beautiful 50s style wedding dress with a pretty pink gingham sash, and the bridesmaids looked the part in pink polkadot dresses. The couple entertained their guests with a coconut shy and a VW Camper van bar (OK I know it's not 50s but it's very funky), and photographer Paul at PJA Photography did a fantastic job capturing the day!

Petticoat Perfection!

I just had to post this gorgeous shot by Nigel at Affinity Wedding Photography. How can you not love that fabulous 50s petticoat?!

50s Style Wedding Make-Up

Here's a handy video on pin-up style make-up for those brides clever (or brave) enough to be doing their own on the big day!

Laura & Scott's 50s Style Wedding

Laura and Scott tied the knot in September after nearly 10 years together. In true 50s style Laura chose a beautiful swing style dress for the big day. The couple also hired a stunning 1951 Buick Special which, teamed with the expertise of photographer Mike Dearden and the gorgeous couple, made for some fabulous photographs!

50s Style Wedding Invitations

If you're planning a 50s themed wedding and are anything like me, you'll want to set the scene right from the word go.

You might want to have a go at making your own invitations if you have an eye for design. However, if you are not that way inclined, there are plenty of talented designers out there to lend a helping hand!

Whether you're taking the DIY route or delegating, here's some of the coolest retro wedding invitations around...

I just love this fabulously retro invitation designed by Heather Ackley.



This one's for all you polkadot brides, the colours are just yummy! It's designed by Ceci New York and now available as part of their ready to order collection.



If Rockabilly's your thing, check out this tattoo inspired creation by masters of alternative invitations, Royal Steamline!

Where It All Started . . .

Since it was my own 50s style wedding that inspired me to start this blog, I thought it would be a good place to begin.

We had been putting off our wedding for quite some time, citing a serious lack of funding as our major stumbling block. A mere 13 years on (yes really), and still brassic, we decided it was 'now or never' and dived into organising our 50s style wedding on a budget!

Our June date was agreed and we booked a civil ceremony in a quaint village hall in Willaston on The Wirral, followed by a party with a hog roast for 180 guests at a larger village hall down the road.

A friendly neighbour provided his fabulous 50s car at a snip and I had organised to have my dress made at a very reasonable price. My lovely mum put the finishing touches to it which made it truly unique!



We accidentally found the most amazing photographer who was building her wedding portfolio at the time www.annaoakdenphotography.com. It was a stroke of genius by Anna that lead us to our perfect photo location, a railway station preserved in all its 1950s glory, which happened to be just down the road from the hall!

We worked really hard on the days leading up to the wedding, and with the kind help of our friends and family made all the decorations including bouquets and buttonholes from pink flowers, our cupcake tower, and a yummy candy buffet all in time for the big day!




All the hard work paid off and we had the most amazingly fun 50s style wedding day that we will never forget!

50s style wedding on a budget tips

Some of our money saving tips for budget brides to be:
• Get married as late as possible and go straight into the evening bash
• Have a local dressmaker create your ideal dress or try ebay
• Hire a village hall for the reception
• Skip the sit down meal and have a buffet or hog roast instead
• Make your own invitations, decorations and flowers
• Do your own hair and make up if you are brave enough!

Wecome to The 50s Style Wedding Blog!

Hello, and welcome to The 50s Style Wedding Blog.

I have become obsessed with 50s style weddings since organising my own in June this year! I have therefore decided to put my compulsion to good use in the form of a 50s wedding blog which will be a place of inspiration for 50s style brides to be.

Please get in touch if you have had or are planning a 50s style wedding and would be happy to share your photos and story with like minded brides. Also if you offer services specifically suited to a 50s themed wedding which will make for interesting reading/viewing please get in touch.