Unique Wedding Ideas: Everything Old is New Again - 5 Fun Tips for a Retro Wedding

Magazines and websites are bursting with the latest trends in wedding ideas and themes - and just trying to sift through them can be as overwhelming as actually planning an entire wedding! So take a deep breath, relax and consider this: some of the most unique wedding ideas can be found by looking back to fashions and trends of days gone by. If you're considering going the black-tie route, how about an Art Deco 1930s look? It was an era that is reminiscent of elegant Hollywood-style glamour, and you'd be surprised at how much you can accomplish on any budget, large or small. And for something completely different: what could be more fun than a wedding that evokes the spirit of the groovy 1960s, a time of "peace, love and understanding" - could there be a better theme to start off your married life? 

Whether you're going for funky or formal, here are some suggestions to help plan your idea of a retro wedding:

Polaroid Instant Photo Guest Books

Capture every moment of your wedding day with Polaroid instant pictures and hand-written sentiments from your guests! Polaroid instant photo guest books buck the digital trend and are all the rage among brides today.

Polaroid cameras and photos are definitely retro, and they're making a 'new age' come back because unlike digital or 35mm photos, the Polaroids develop instantly. When they're combined with notes from all your friends and family the instant photo guest book becomes a memento filled with memories that will last forever!

Hint: Put a couple of outgoing friends in charge of taking the photos and making sure that all your guests write something in your instant photo guest book. They can either circulate during the reception taking the pictures and getting the notes or you can set up a table for guests to visit. And be sure to have a back up camera and plenty of film for "do-overs"!

The Honor of Your Presence is Requested ... Retro Wedding Invitations

Set the tone you're trying to create from the start with wedding invitations that reveal the theme you've chosen for your wedding. Custom designs can be easily accomplished with just a few keyboard strokes! Display 1930s-era sophistication with heavy, cream-colored paper stock and deco-style type fonts which can be further accented with period clip art. For your 60s-style invitations, use paper stock in the pastel colors that were popular then - or go all-out and have tie dyed invitations! Think about including flowers in the design as well. These can be printed on the invitation itself - or how about adding some dried wildflowers inside the invitation envelope?

Hint: You can order custom-designed stamps from the Post Office that will reflect the mood you're trying to convey before your guests even open the invitation envelope! (Some suggested examples: New York's Deco Rockefeller Center or Empire State Building, vintage cars, a yellow happy face icon, even a Grateful Dead logo)
Dressing the Part ... Retro Bridal Ware

There's no need to wear a bandana or headband or go barefoot on your big day, but a lace dress (mini in length if you dare!) will evoke the hippie era nicely, as will a floral headpiece and bridesmaid dresses in pastels or bright floral prints. If you want an early 60s look, consider a cocktail dress or Jackie Kennedy-style sheath with a white pillbox hat and a netted veil. For a Deco glamour wedding idea, sleek and satiny 1930s-era dresses can be found in vintage dress shops or even at flea markets or thrift shops (there are vintage clothes and used clothing boutiques all over!) They can also be custom made using new or vintage fabric and old patterns - these are often reissued by pattern manufacturers or easily found on eBay.

Hint: When planning your retro wedding, eBay and other shopping websites are terrific resources for all sorts of period bridal ware, decorations and inspirational wedding ideas.

Flour Power ... Wedding Day Cup Cakes

Nothing says retro like a tasty, frosting-topped cupcake. You loved them as a kid, and now they're back in vogue as the height of food fashion. Delicious, colorful cupcakes can be served as the main wedding dessert attraction, substituted for the traditional wedding cake or in addition to a conventional wedding cake. Stack them like a skyscraper or arrange them in a circle to make a peace sign. Cupcakes can easily be decorated in day-glo icing colors for your 1960s look or with silvery accents for a Deco finish.

Hint: Make sure there are enough cupcakes so that your guests can take one home to enjoy later!

A Few of my Favor-ite Things ... Retro Wedding Favors

Since your wedding is the start of your own personal love-in, treat your guests to some retro style wedding favors like love beads or peace sign jewelry. Or how about putting together a custom-made CD of classic rock tunes? For the 1930s wedding theme idea, linen handkerchiefs for both men and women will add a nice vintage touch. Or DVD copies of your favorite old comedy movie are sure to delight your guests - and the cover can feature you and your groom in place of Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn for a fun reminder of your own classic romance!

Hint: If you're making custom CDs as favors, take a picture with you and your husband-to-be in some vintage clothes to use as cover art to remember the day's unique wedding idea "old is new"!

Tips for Retro Kitchen Decorating

A retro kitchen is one of the most popular decorating ideas when it comes to kitchens these days. It implements the use of newer and vintage items. This means whether you're into the nostalgic 1930s or the cool 1960s, you can easily integrate retro styles into your kitchen. 

The first step to achieving this style is to select a color palette for your kitchen. The best would be to make use of mod colors like oranges, browns and blues. These colors are regarded as the "true retro colors". Then, get paint cards that can match your color scheme. Just carry these cards when you go shopping for accessories so you won't fall off the color matches.

Before buying kitchen decor and accessories, consider your kitchen windows and walls. Visualize how they may look with retro colors. You can also try window treatments to achieve that retro kitchen theme. What can be more suitable to these windows? Of course, vintage curtains! Another area to consider is lighting. This is where overhead and task lighting fixtures will become handy. Implement lighting that looks vintage with that funky appeal.

Choose drop lights that come in various colors and styles. These days, there are numerous lighting fixtures you can get for this theme, but make sure you choose them for practical reasons and not only for visual appeal. For retro kitchen decor, furniture and accessories, there are lots of stuff you can easily find to compliment this theme. You can try using pottery and dish towels. You can also have retro kitchen chairs as well as tables. Use the fun retro style by implementing chrome furniture or even modern styles coming from the 1960s. Make sure you choose your furniture and accessories wisely so you don't end up wasting money by buying new pieces all over again. Go for vintage pieces.

This is perhaps the best way to achieve that retro kitchen look. You don't need to shell out lots of money for these pieces. You can find good ones in garage sales, thrift shops and even on your attic. You can go as far as going to your relatives as well as friends and ask them if they have unused stuff you can look at. Once you find something suitable for your kitchen, ask them if you can buy it. Most relatives and friends will just give these things away. You can also hang artwork and atomic clocks throughout the room. You can also add some shelves where you can place cool vintage collectibles such as salt and pepper shakers. About flooring, you can just put retro style rugs or shags in orange, brown, avocado or aqua colors. It is in the final decorative touches that showcase how you've successfully achieved the retro kitchen theme. It is in this part where you can come up with unique ways to enhance the look of your kitchen.

Whether it's a mod donut phone from the 1970s or Dansk wooden accents, it's up to you and up to how creative you can become. However, never overdo your retro kitchen decor and accessories. Try to put a limit on the things you put and make way for the more important stuff inside the kitchen like cooking tools and the fridge among others. If you feel that you still haven't fully achieved that retro kitchen theme, there are many magazines, books and even online tips that can help you. Browsing and looking for retro room designs and replicating them on your kitchen can do wonders.

 

Zone retro school road

Omg i'm so retro

Flat Caps Headstart Hats Retro Classic Headwear for Ladies and Gents

The Saucony Jazz Original Sneakers

If you have an affinity for old school classic sneakers, then I am sure you can appreciate the Saucony Jazz Original. These sneakers have been around for a very long time and these shoes are still highly regarded as being cool. The older and younger generations both can appreciate this sneaker for what it has to offer. Last year saw an increase in the demand for the Jazz and this shoe is really seeing an increase in popularity. If you are looking to get in-depth and comprehensive information on this shoe, then it is a good idea to check this article out. We will provide a general overview of the shoe and what you can expect if you are thinking about getting a pair. If you want to know about some of the best retro sneakers, then the Saucony Jazz is really one of the best out there. This sneaker has been around for a very long time and the shoe is still popular today, as when it first made its debut. This sneaker has a lot going on for it. The shoe was originally created to be a running sneaker, but over time, people have worn it more as a casual shoe, simply because it is very comfortable and it also has a really nice look to it. The Saucony Jazz is known for three things, having a great look, being comfortable and also having excellent performance. This is one comfortable sneaker and this can be seen in the midsole of the shoe. The shoe has a footbed that provides extra comfort and also amazing shock absorption. For even more comfort, the tongue of the shoe is padded, as well as the collar. When it comes to stylish design, the Jazz features an upper that is crafted out of Nylon and Suede. These materials help to give the shoe the look that people have loved for ages. The outsole will also add to the performance of the sneaker. It is responsible for the great grip that the shoe has.

There are many different reasons for the popularity of the Saucony Jazz. One of the most important has got to be the style that the sneaker affords its wearer. These are some really fashionably and stylish sneakers and one thing that is certain, is that these shoes go well with so many different outfits. If you want sneakers that look good on the feet, then the Jazz are it. What makes these shoes so fashionable is that the design is pretty cool. It has a nice retro feel and it is really one of the better looking shoes on the market. Another thing that sets the sneaker style is that the color selection, it is really cool. All the color combinations work pretty well together and this is one of the sneakers major selling points.

Retro sneakers will always have their place in the world of shoes. These sneakers have style and performance that people absolutely love. One of the best retro shoes has got to be the Saucony Jazz. These sneakers are fashionable, comfortable and offer amazing performance. If you do not own a pair of these shoes, then you are really missing out. Go out and get yourself a pair today, you will not regret it at all.

Retro Hat Knitting

Military Indie Style Cadet Cap, check out The Headstart Hats range of cadet caps

Military Indie Style Cadet Cap, check out The Headstart Hats range of cadet caps

retro wallpaper retro hats

retro wallpaper

 

Retro Hats

How to Upcycle A Zooey Deschanel Dress

What is it about the cute vintage dresses Zooey Deschanel wears on and off screen that makes everyone go gaga? 

Zooey’s dresses are pretty, but they’re made for modern life.  How to re-create this look without spending a fortune?  Starting at your local thrift store or vintage shop, it’s possible to upcycle a completely one of a kind dress a la Zooey.   

Here are a few tips to start with.

 

 

1.  The Pretty Factor.  Zooey’s look is feminine without being overtly sexy.  Look for second hand dresses with retro-style details like gathered or pleated skirts, peter pan collars, small florals or other subtle patterns, lace, pintucks, etc.  In general, these are dresses that hug the body only at the waist.     

2.   Quality and Condition.  Be sure everything’s in good condition.  You don’t want to get home and find the zipper is broken or the armpits are stained!   

If you buy from a vintage clothes shop online, the seller should describe the item’s condition in detail.  Don’t buy from a seller who only says “good condition.”  You need all the facts.   

Some problems are relatively easy to fix if you want to take the time.  For tips on getting stains and smells out of second-hand clothes, look here.  And here’s a tutorial on replacing a button. 

3.  Making it Modern!  Looking at the examples of Zooey’s dresses above, they all have this in common:  They hit above the knee—farther above than most dresses were worn in the past. 

Now, a lot of thrift-store dresses aren’t short.  Those from the 1980s and 1990s hit about mid-calf (which, incidentally, is generally very unflattering).  But lots of these dresses are still great candidates for upcycling a la Zooey because of other details.

Sometimes all you need to create a cute modern vintage look is to shorten a dress above the knee.   You can get a seamstress at the dry cleaners to do it—generally about $15. Or you can do it yourself.  I recommend this tutorial.

The second change you might make to a thrifted dress is to take out those big ol’ shoulder pads.  These are usually very easy to remove; but if you’re nervous, here’s an article with instructions.

Unless the pads are reeeeally huge, taking them out won’t change the way the dress hangs.

Here are a few dresses in my my online vintage shop that have gotten the complete Zooey-fying treatment.  At less than $40 each, they’re still a bargain for a cute, well-made dress that’s one of a kind. 

 

Peter Pan collar dress, size 6, $35. 

Indie Secretary Dress, M-L, $30. 

Yellow Floral Dress, M, $38. 

love,

sallymandy

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