What you wear on your wedding day is one of your most important (and photographed) expressions of personal style. Thankfully, weddings have become more flexible and creative than the past days of white satin and puffed Princess Diana sleeves. As a bride, you have the ability to choose a look and overall wedding theme that celebrates your personality, interests, and style. 

Heart of Haute dresses many brides and bridal parties who are creating a vintage or retro inspired wedding. This is a popular wedding motif that allows you to celebrate your future, and the past that brought you there. Even with a vintage-inspired theme, elements of contemporary fashion can be included to create a look that is as unique as your relationship. Here are our three favorite ideas picked out of the knot's article on The Top Wedding Dress Trends From Spring 2016 Bridal Fashion Week.

Bateau Neckline: Bateau or boat necklines run straight across the chest from shoulder to shoulder. The origin of this style comes from sailor’s tops and sweaters - the high but wide neckline made the top easier to remove in case of falling overboard! This stylish shape is also known as a Sabrina neckline due to the black cocktail dress that Audrey Hepburn wore in the movie Sabrina.

 

If you are looking for a casual wedding dress with a bateau neckline, try our Monique or Mitzi. Both have an A-line skirt and a waist tie for the perfect fit. A more formal shape with the same neckline can be found in our Mercedes dress, with a fully lined and princess seamed bodice, a matching belt, and a full circle skirt. 

 

Floral Prints: White wedding dresses did not become popular until the mid 1800s, and those early white dresses often had floral details. In 2015, plain white or ivory are not your only wedding dress options. Floral print wedding dress are frequently seen, particularly for spring weddings. Floral options are also a striking choice for retro bridesmaid dresses - think beyond solids while working within your wedding color theme. Heart of Haute has florals from bold to soft. Try the Marseilles dress in Blush, or the Milan Dress in Rose Garden. Mint has continued to be a popular wedding color, and our Bouquet fabric has gorgeous hydrangea flowers on a mint background. 

Bridal Suits: The two piece wedding suit is perfect for a casual modern wedding, but it is far from a new idea. Beginning in the era of the Great Depression, brides often married in their best outfit, not a special dress that would only be worn once. Many 1940s wartime brides were married in this casual (and less expensive) look. Bigger, more impractical white dresses returned with the economic boom after World War II, but style icons from Marilyn Monroe to Carrie Bradshaw continued to rock the bridal suit.

  

If you are ready to try this unconventional yet classic look, our Diva Suit comes in wedding-ready Ivory, and the even more daring shades of Red and Navy. Whether you want an authentic 1940s vintage wedding look, or a memorable modern silhouette, a wedding suit will get you noticed.

 

 

At Heart of Haute, we love helping to make your wedding day dreams come true. We have loads of experience making magic happen for bridal parties of all sizes. We offer free shipping to bridal parties, and can custom cut dresses in special sizes, including for children. We will custom cut and make your dream dresses to order right here in California, but don't delay as many of our unique fabrics and styles sell out quickly!  

Vintage wedding dresses are eternally popular - whether it is wearing a family heirloom, or just wanting to emphasize the timeless nature of love. Vintage dresses are one of a kind (just like you), and that is what makes them amazing, but also a problem. There is no range of sizes, and alterations can be impossible. Heart of Haute creates vintage style wedding dresses for uncommon brides in modern fabrics, and sizes ranging from extra small to plus size 3x. We have loads of options for the creative bride who is looking for a memorable retro look, even if you want to keep the tradition of a white or ivory base. All of these remarkable retro wedding dresses are under $200 - cut and made to order right here in Southern California. Classic Retro Bride Style with a Twist: The Milan, Beverly, and Amanda dresses all have classic retro shapes with neckline details that photograph beautifully. The Irene and Irma dresses have bold black trim - easy to accessorize for the bride who wants a daring look. Nautical Wedding Love: Our Sailor Dress has been a part of many adorable nautical themed weddings. Are you getting married on the coast, or are you (or your partner) in the Navy? This sexy and patriotic shape is one of our longest-running styles for many reasons. Mad About Wonderland Weddings: Are you are planning a steampunk or Wonderland themed wedding? Sip tea and sample cakes in the stripes and skeleton keys of our Riveting Gallantry dresses, capes, and corseted skirts. Don't forget the accessories when planning your retro wedding ideas. We have the perfect hair flowers & bows, and even the essential something blue! Visit us on pinterest for even more. -AllisonV P.S. - If you are looking for retro bridesmaid dresses, check out our Bridal Party policies - all designed to make your day gorgeous. Did you know that we can cut bridesmaid dresses in any size, or even in a maternity style to accommodate pregnant bridesmaids? We can even outfit your flower girls!