A Model Family Part 2 – Victorian to Edwardian wedding style.

Dear Reader,
In our last post, we started a thread of fabulous and historic wedding photographs from the family of Patience (who you can see modelling my own Heavenly Collection of vintage–inspired wedding dresses). 

125 Years of Vintage Wedding Dresses:
Fanny & The Wedding Party, 1888

This elegant 1888 Victorian wedding of Fanny, Patience's own Great–Great–Grandmother (above) is where we began. Now let's roll the clock forward to the next generation of society brides in wonderful Victorian and Edwardian wedding dresses...

125 Years of Vintage Wedding Dresses:
Great-Great-Grandmother Gladys' wedding, June 1903

You may notice some of the captions are in red (for Patience's maternal lineage) and some in blue (for her paternal line). It's fun to trace the likeness down the generations…

125 Years of Vintage Wedding Dresses:
Gladys in beautiful honeymoon outfit, 1903

Gladys' wedding to Walter, from The Times 1903
“Each bridesmaid was attired in a Romney costume of white muslin, with belts 
of pale blue silk, a fichu of white muslin being draped round the shoulders 
and caught in front with a single La France rose...”

Gladys’ "wedding dress and travelling costume and bridesmaids’ toilette" 
from The Times 1903

125 Years of Vintage Wedding Dresses:
Great–Great–Grandmother Apphia Elizabeth's engagement photo, 1904

125 Years of Vintage Wedding Dresses:
Great–Great–Grandmother Apphia, 1904

Great–Great–Grandmother Apphia, 1904

125 Years of Vintage Wedding Dresses:
Great–Great–Grandmother Apphia, 1904

The wedding of Great–Great–Great Aunt Irene to Francis, 
from The Times 1910

Great–Great–Great Aunt Irene’s "wedding gown and bridesmaids’ toilettes" 
from The Times, 1910

Don't forget to check back soon for the next instalment in this fascinating history of a remarkable family. I have some wonderful images from the 1930s to today to show you!

Love

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

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White Horses, White Sands... and White Vintage Wedding Dresses.

Dear Reader,
I have gorgeous pictures for you today – all featuring one of my original vintage wedding dresses…




The model is wearing a beautiful 1930s lace dress with a rayon satin slip… dainty and delicate as can be.

It's a classic dress from a wonderful era – simple and romantic, yet with very clever pattern cutting.


It's this quality I've aimed for in 1930s–style Angel and Butterfly, from my own Heavenly Collection... Elegant simplicity, underpinned by the finest fabrics and clever cuts.

These gorgeous beach images are from a shoot by charming Kent wedding photographer, Sam Riley, with the help of stylist Lisa Nicolaou and hair and make-up artist Hannah Sorcha. 

And these lovely wedding blooms are by Wild Things, Mayfair.


One of my vintage veils also features in the pictures. You can see many more at my studio, or even have one specially made to complement your dress...

If you love the dress, I have a few similar 1930s wedding dresses at the moment – priced between £695 and £995. Do contact me if you'd like to come and see them. 

And of course, I have a full range of vintage–inspired wedding dresses in my Heavenly Collection. You can view these in the luxe surroundings of my stockists Luella's Boudoir (London) and Vintage Bride (Dublin).

White ponies, white sands, white dresses… Heavenly!
Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides


All beach photographs with thanks to Sam Riley
Art Direction & Styling: Lisa Nicolaou
Hair & Make-Up: Hannah Sorcha
Flowers: Wild Things, Mayfair
Film Scans: UK Film Lab
Shot on location at Camber Sands exclusively on film using Fuji 440H with Contax 645 and Canon EOS 1 cameras

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Friday Inspiration – 1960s wedding dresses from Vogue.

Dear Reader,

Friday has come early this week!

A vintage wedding dress in The Tuileries, Paris, from Vogue 1961

Or maybe I just couldn't wait to share my Friday Inspiration post…! I've just discovered these sumptuous vintage wedding dresses from a 1961 Vogue fashion shoot by photographer Frank Horvat...

Vogue Brides, 1961, Kent, England and Paris

Paris 1961

Of course, each of these 1960s wedding dresses in stunning, as you'd expect from a Vogue fashion shoot. But don't you think Horvat's pictures are so beautiful in themselves too? They look so fresh and natural, and bring 1960s Paris to life again.

Champs Elysees, Paris, 1961

His work can be seen in museums and galleries all over the world – including his native Paris where most of these beautiful images are set.

On a Paris bus, 1961

Montmartre, Paris 1961

Amazing 1960s wedding dresses, and an amazing talent! What a combination.

Love

Helena

Heavenly Vintage Brides

All photos with thanks to Vogue and photographer Frank Horvat.

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Jen in original 1940s vintage wedding dress: our Vintage Bride of the Week...

Dear Reader,
Today I'd like to share these charming images from Jen, whose wedding to Dan took place in the romantic surroundings of  Augill Castle in Cumbria...

Jen chose an original 1940s vintage wedding dress in rayon crepe with an elegant 'French knot' pattern – sophisticated and glamorous. With its elegant long sleeves, puddle train and pretty keyhole back, it suited lovely Jen to a T!

Jen prettily teamed it with Rachel Simpson 'Blossom' bridal shoes, roses from Petals of Cumbria and a bespoke jewel necklace. My brilliant seamstress Grace created her pretty headpiece from original vintage brooches. 

The wedding's theme was peacock feathers, so luscious jewel blues and greens were everywhere – from the stunning silk bridesmaids dresses (handmade by wonderful step-mum Susan, with a teeny bit of help from Jen) to the gorgeous cakes by talented sister Vicki… and even personalised bunting created by a family friend!

Beautiful bridesmaids! Chloe, Lauren, Sian and Evie...

…and little Rosie too (bribed with marshmallows to sit still for a moment)!

Jen and her darling family loved the experience of choosing the dress…

"Step-mum Susan, my sisters and I loved poring over your blog and website when I was making the choice of where to find my dress. As soon as we read your pages we knew that was it –  I didn't need to look any further.
And the whole experience of picking the dress at your lovely house was so enjoyable for my step-mum Susan and I to do together... so much so I wish I could do it again!"

The day itself was perfect too: an intimate family wedding with just 46 guests (ranging in age from 6 months to a fabulous 103 years!)…

And with super-stylish Grandma Irene (103 years young!) in raspberry pink cocktail dress

"The castle was gorgeous – the most stunning setting, with lovely vintage interiors and wonderful service. It even snowed bang on three o'clock as our ceremony started! While we were doing the speeches a deer wandered across the front lawn in front of the windows. Just perfect!"

Congratulations from Heavenly and all our readers to lovely Jen – you look stunning. And of course to lucky husband Dan too!
Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post, please check out...
1940s Inspired Wedding Dresses… 

And for more Real Vintage Brides, check out my website page here...

Venue  Augill Castle, Cumbria
Headpiece by Grace Lamming
Shoes by Rachel Simpson Wedding Shoes
Necklace by Etsy
Flowers by Petals of Cumbria
Photography by Janet Ridley Photography

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Clare in 1960s-style lace wedding dress – our Vintage Bride of the Week.

Dear Reader,
Meet Clare – in 1960s-inspired lace wedding dress 'Stella'…

For her wedding to Ed, Clare teamed the all-lace Stella dress with a gorgeous 60s-style updo and fabulous super-high heels for a chic and slinky look. (Look close further down the post and you'll see she cleverly has a pair of flats on standby for dancing in!)

Clare talks about her experience of choosing the perfect vintage wedding dress…

"I found Helena on a last minute hunt for a dress after another option fell through. It was the most welcoming and relaxed experience. 

I shopped around a bit and didn't find anywhere else that offered such an individual and special approach. 

All Helena's dresses are beautiful and as well as finding the right dress for me I had a brilliant time trying on a selection – some vintage and other originals all made or altered by Helena. They're all unique and alterations are offered by another lovely lady called Grace who Helena works with. (I've already recommended them to many friends!) 

I loved wearing this dress on a day that I enjoyed more then I could possibly have imagined."

"I have never been a girl that has dreamt of the perfect wedding day or much of weddings at all to be honest but I absolutely loved it. I knew we'd have a lovely day but I had completely underestimated how very special it would be and as a memory always will be. 

To have all the people you love with you to celebrate your future together is like nothing else. A day full of smiles, warmth, tears and much much love, topped off with dancing into the early hours."

And let's give gorgeous vintage bride Clare the last word today,

"...Happy wedding days and future journeys where ever they may lead!"

Love
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides

If you like this post, please try
My Top 7 vintage brides of 2014

And for more Real Vintage Brides, check out my website page here...

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