How to Style a Modern Vintage Wedding with Bespoke Wedding Stylists Darby & Joan

Oh boy have we got some super stylish wedding inspiration today… So much so this intro is short and sweet so we can get to the good stuff!

I’d like you to give a very warm welcome to Karen from Darby & Joan – wedding stylist, vintage lover and Coco cheerleader. Karen is here to show you how to give a fresh and modern twist to the beloved vintage wedding trend.

Enjoy!

Hello Coco! To say I was thrilled when Emma invited me to contribute to her beautiful website was an understatement.

I’ll start by giving you a little background on me – my company Darby & Joan is a hub of all things weddings – styling, prop hire, VW hire, staffing and catering. Our real love is to work on quirky and vintage styled weddings, whether that be a rustic style with haybales and hessian, a glamorous high tea affair with crystal and silverware, a relaxed village fete theme with masses of bunting and cakes or a festival vibe in a tipi. A lot of our couples break with some of the usual wedding traditions and want a day that reflects them, their loves and their style.

Vintage weddings have been immensely popular over the last few years and this post is to show how you can keep the look fresh by including modern touches.

Mid-Century Fever

Top Row Left and Bottom Row Left: Images by Steve Cowell Photo via 100 Layer Cake. Top Row Right and Bottom Row Right: Image by Ellie Koleen Photography.

We have just bought a set of 1950’s Danish dining chairs and a low and long coffee table for our main living area at home and I can see us buying more! Mid-century design could easily be the starting point for your wedding if you want something old, but not necessarily the ubiquitous lace, mis-matched crockery and bunting.

Beg, borrow or hire in a gilt cocktail trolley, champagne saucers, low furniture and moulded chairs which can all be used to create a cool and retro vibe.

The long & The short of it

Top Row Left: Image by Branco Prata Photography. Top Row Right: Image via Pinterest. Bottom Row Left: Image by Tonya Peterson Photography via Elizabeth Anne Designs. Bottom Row Right: Image by Urban Bridesmaid via Whimsical Wonderland Weddings.

The idea of a short wedding dress adds a contemporary look to any bride. Sassy and sexy, this style of dress is definitely made for twirling on the dance floor.

A long and sophisticated dresses with beautiful beading and lace are the perfect fit for an elegant wedding channeling the glamour of the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Top Row Left: Image via Johanna Johnson. Top Row Right: Image by Alison Conklin for BHLDN via 100 Layer Cake. Bottom Row Left: Image by Erin Jean Photography via Style Me Pretty. Bottom Row Right: Image via Temperley London.

If you want a modern veil for your shorter, swishy dress, then my own thoughts would be to go for a birdcage veil. Very youthful and quirky.

For your longer gown, then there are some truly beautiful boho-inspired headpieces too that would work perfectly with the elegance and sophistication of your dress.

Top Row Left: Image by Maria De Faci Photography via Coco Wedding Venues. Top Row Right: Image via Want That Wedding. Bottom Row Left: Image by Rebecca Goddard Photography via Coco Wedding Venues. Bottom Row Right: Image by Jose Villa.

Table Flowers

For a more traditional vintage table, in recent years we have seen a lot of baby’s breath and blousy flowers like peonies and hydrangeas being used. Wild field flowers in a riot of colour and single stems in vintage bottles, old tins, interesting crystal vases and little jugs have graced the tables of many weddings, giving an eclectic and ‘anything goes’ kind of style.

If you wanted a more modern take on a vintage table, then look at a slightly more structured style and think about keeping to a colour palette of three of four shades.

Top Row Left: Image by Matthew Ree and Judy Pak  via Style Me Pretty. Top Row Right: Image by Erich McVey. Bottom Row Left: Image by Greg Finck Photography. Bottom Row Right: Image via Pinterest.

One for the Guys

The groom.

I am a huge fan of brown brogues, and a quirky accessory (but only the one!) for a groom. I love nothing more than a dark navy suit with a pair of polished Grensons. For a more laid back wedding, then a bowtie in a neutral shade is great, as is leaving the jacket at home and rolling up your sleeves – okay this look may be more for a groom of a certain age, but it’s still a winner!

Top Row Left: Image by Daniel Lateulade Photography via Style Me Pretty. Top Row Right: Image by Leslie Hollingsworth Photography via Style Me Pretty. Bottom Row Left: Image via Pinterest. Bottom Row Right: Image by Ali Harper Photography via Southern Weddings.

For a more formal vintage inspired do, then you can’t go wrong with my favourite dark navy, impeccably tailored suit or go for broke and wear a tux.

Top Row Left: Image by KT Merry Photography via Style Me Pretty. Top Row Right: Image via Pinterest. Bottom Row Left: Image by Photography by Bea via bloved. Bottom Right: Image by KT Merry Photography via Once Wed.

Choose your Colour

Many of the vintage styled weddings that we have worked on in the last few years have chosen not to have a strict and specific colour palette, instead brides have opted for a relaxed mix of either a few soft pastels or go for a brighter, more confident colour spectrum. For a modern take on your colour pastel, think about sticking with one or two brave shades and using these as a basis to start to plan your stationery, bridesmaids, flowers and tables.

The lovely people at Pantone produce a colour report for each of the seasons, wedding bloggers, stylists, interior specialists and designers take inspiration from these guys and who knows, it may give you a colour inspiration for your wedding too.

Top Row Left: Image by Kings + Queens. Top Row Right: Image by Ellie Gillard via Love My Dress. Bottom Row Left: Image by Vicki Grafton Photography via Burnett’s Boards. Bottom Row Right: Image by Michelle Sullivan Photography.

We are loving this modern zesty orange and green palette (or tangerine and aqua if you are feeling creative!)

For a softer and more romantic look, this aquamarine is stunning.

Top Row Left: Image via Pinterest. Top Row Right: Image by Claire Graham Photography via Burnett’s Boards. Bottom Row Left: Image by Sylvie Gil Photography. Bottom Row Right: Image by Elizabeth Messina Photography via Style Me Pretty.

So there you have the Darby & Joan take on how to bring your vintage wedding up to date with a fresh and modern style.

Thank you so much to Karen for popping by today!

Lots of love…