Top tips for buying a vintage wedding dress

Check your vintage wedding dress for stains and tears

Any wedding dress will very often end up with some sort of wear and tear on the one day it's worn, but if it has been inappropriately stored as well then it’s likely there will be some damage. Some problem areas can be discreetly covered up with embellishments or fixed with some skillful sewing, so think creatively if you discover any issues. Don’t rush for the stain remover or scissors just yet – make sure you always get professional advice, as vintage fabrics are often very delicate.

Sizing and measurements of your vintage wedding dress

You'll know if you've previously worn vintage clothing that sizes have indeed changed over the years (on average, we're bigger than folk used to be), and you probably won't fit into the size you're accustomed to – you'll need to go at least a size larger, if not several. The easiest way to deal with this is to know your measurements. If you're worried about getting this right, you can pay a small fee to a seamstress or tailor to be really sure you have the correct measurements, especially if you're buying online. When you're trying gowns on, it's much easier to take in a vintage gown than let it out, so lean towards the larger sizes than the skin-tight ones. Attempting to match up appropriate fabric to a vintage gown will be a nigh-impossible task.

Act on impulse when choosing a vintage wedding dress

If you find a wedding dress you love, there's not much room for thinking time. Dawdling may result in another bride snapping up your dream dress, so try not to hesitate too much. Find a tailor you trust so that if you find a dress that's a hemline, bow, or lace decoration away from perfection, you know you have the option to transform it into the wedding dress of your dreams. With the perfect vintage wedding dresses being few and far between, as fashion and body shape have changed so much over the years, you should hold on to the one you fall for – just like your hubby!

Don't set your heart on vintage wedding dresses

Whilst you may have your heart set on a vintage wedding dress, it's always a good idea to ask yourself why. If it's about silhouette, there are many modern designers who are channeling the vintage style with panache, and you may find your perfect vintage style gown in their collections. There are many wedding dress retailers out there that base their ranges entirely on the vintage style, meaning you can bag your ultimate vintage dress with the benefits of it being brand new.

Where to buy your vintage wedding dress

The chances of finding your dream vintage gown at your local charity shop are slim, but a better bet is to visit shops specialising in vintage clothes, and specifically vintage wedding gowns. You may need to spend some time rifling through decades of clothes from the past, but if you discover a gem of a wedding dress, then you will not only have your wedding wardrobe ticked off, but also the satisfaction of finding a needle in a haystack!

Above all else, enjoy your vintage wedding dress hunt

As long as you leave yourself enough time to hunt for your wedding dress, then it should be an enjoyable experience. You want to have fun with your bridesmaids and mum, trying on the different styles from decades passed, and experimenting with accessories and shoes to bring your vintage wedding dress into the modern day. The main thing to remember is the wedding day itself – while delicate embellishment or an extravagant train is suitable for the fitting rooms, they may not work so well when you’re walking down the aisle or on the dance floor.