Vintage Wedding SERVICES
Sustainable Vintage Weddings
At Vintage Bride we have a background in Fashion History and Environmental Studies. We are absolutely committed to helping you have a sustainable and uniquely special wedding without sacrificing taste and quality. Our dresses, veils, and accessories are all authentic vintage or antique and as such are 100% recycled using no new materials.
If you are interested in a couture vintage wedding gown, we have a large repository of vintage and antique materials that can be utilized for almost any project. Many of the textiles and laces in our collection are rare and no longer made. Perfect for designing a very special gown !
We also offer custom designed new dresses reproduced from vintage patterns as well as the re-design and alteration of existing vintage dresses to bring them into the modern era.
If you have your mom or grandmother's dress and would like to wear it on your wedding day but it is too small or you feel it is too modest for your tastes, perhaps re-designing it is an option. Book a design consultation to discuss how we can turn your family heirloom into your dream dress!
Restoration and Cleaning
A cleaning and full restoration is included in all dresses purchased at Vintage Bride.
We now are also pleased to offer cleaning and restoral services for heirloom vintage and antique dresses. This includes things such as: lace repair, stain removal and a cleaning and laundry treatment specifically tailored to the fabric content and style of each dress. Only in rare cases can nothing be done to restore a vintage dress to a wearable state.
Wedding Party Attire
We also have a selection of dresses suitable for bridesmaids and mothers of the bride.
THE PROCESS: PURCHASING A VINTAGE WEDDING DRESS
When you come to Vintage Bride you will see and have the opportunity to try on unique dresses that represent the "ideal" dress to be wed in times throughout the twentieth century. All of the dresses in our collection are one of a kind to our store and as such may need alteration to fit their new owner. With the exception of some very small dresses with specific designs, alterations are always possible regardless of the size of the bride.
Included in the cost of your vintage bridal gown is the cleaning and a full restoration. Since the dress is antique, it may have some age associated conditions that require repair. Such things as zipper or button replacement and lace reconstruction are included in the cost of your dress to bring it back to its original state. Likewise, the dress will be freshly cleaned for your special day. Dresses will be lighter in colour and a more vibrant tone after cleaning as years of fabric oxidation are lifted.
If you fall in love with one of our dresses you can put it on hold for up to four days while you think about it and possibly return to the shop with members of your bridal party to assist you in making the big decision. After the four days, a 50% deposit is required to hold the dress further. This deposit is non refundable but is transferrable to another dress or bridal accessories.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need to make an appointment to visit the salon?
Yes, please. We are a small atelier and can only focus on one bridal group at a time. If you come by unannounced we likely be unable to take you due to other scheduled appointments or commitments.
Want to come by today ? Give us a call to see if we have any appointments available on short notice!
What is a vintage wedding dress exactly ?
In the last few years the term “vintage” has widely been used as a popular catch phrase to describe things that simply have a retro style and as such are not truly vintage. Within the authentic vintage and antique industry a wedding dress is considered vintage if it is 30 years or older and antique if it is 75 years or older.
The wedding dresses at Vintage Bride are authentically vintage or antique and not just “vintage inspired.”
What are the average prices of your gowns?
The price of a vintage gown depends on mainly two things: quality and scarcity. Therefore, a silk gown with handmade lace from the 1920s (rare) will be more expensive than a polyester cocktail dress from the 1970s (common). That being said, the average price of our gowns is about $1275, with the range being from $700 to $4000.
How long will it take to get my vintage wedding dress?
When you purchase a vintage dress from Vintage Bride it is one of a kind and you are buying the very dress you try on. If alterations are not required, it will usually take only a week or two for the dress to be cleaned and ready to wear on your wedding day.
If alterations are required, it normally requires a minimum of three fittings to complete the changes to perfection. Timelines do vary according to project and season.
If you are interested in a sustainable couture dress at least three months and preferably five is required to source fabrics, consult on design and fit it to you.
Where do you get your vintage dresses ?
The most common source is people in the community that have a long stored family member’s or personal gown that they want to rehome. Often the dresses have been kept for years with the hopes that another family member will want to wear it in the future. When that is not the case, they bring it to us to find a new loving home and so the love carries forward !
