Vintage Weddings: "Something Old..."

"Something Old, Something New,
Something Borrowed, Something Blue
And a Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe."

                     - Old English rhyme - Anonymous 

I don't think I'll ever outgrow my love for weddings.  It doesn't matter that my own marriage didn't last quite as long as I had hoped.  Whenever I go to a wedding, my eyes always glisten with tears of of joy for the bride and groom.  I still believe that love can last a lifetime - and my own parents, happily married for 54 years, are living proof.

Romantic fool that I am, it's no surprise that when I go to antique stores, auctions and estate sales - anything to do with a wedding catches my eye.

Here are some of the vintage wedding items I've collected over the years.  I hope you'll enjoy...

Engaged!  Showing off the ring at the office.  1958 Saturday Evening Post cover.

"Priscilla" Wedding Ring ad - from 1929 Photoplay Magazine

Beautiful Diamond Rings - 1930's Jason Weiler & Sons catalog

What a sweet little ceramic basket for holding rings - ca. 1920's?

An early 1920's Wedding Record Book

The book opens up to this quaint verse - "Hail! Wedded Love..."

One of the oldest wedding traditions....tossing the garter.  These days it's often a blue garter - to cover the "something blue" tradition.  The garters pictured above are from "The Ribbon Art Book", 1923 - back when garters weren't just worn for show, but to hold up stockings!

A variety of tiny wedding flowers from the 1950's and 60's - for bouquets, wedding cake toppers, hats and veils.  They were purchased from the estate of a 91-yr-old woman who catered weddings for 35 years.

Here's a closeup of the flowers with a rhinestone center.  Aren't they fabulous!

Life Magazine - June 9, 1952.  Isn't this dress gorgeous?

Crinoline Petticoats and a "Belle o" the Ball" hoop (above).  Bridesmaid nine times, flower girl three times (below).  Both photos are from Life magazine - 1952

Early 1960's bridesmaid dress.  The coat, with a bow clasp, is in a heavy gold satin. And the lovely dress underneath is in a beautiful gold and cream floral brocade.

Here's another early 1960's bridesmaid dress in a pretty lemon yellow.  I was thrilled to find a matching pair, both size 8.

I love the daisies - and the pretty bow in back.

And best of all....there's a train with a huge bow that attaches to the back, for that walk down the aisle!

And to top it off - a pretty yellow veil.  I love this color!

Here's a pretty Fostoria American cake stand with a rum well in the center.

Vintage plastic bridesmaids in green, yellow and blue, on heart stands - to decorate a wedding cake.  How fun! 

Here's a 1950 "military" wedding cake topper with a 48-stars flag.  I love the simple floral frame surrounding the bisque bride and groom.

Pictured above - famous bride Frances Folsom Cleveland (wife of President Grover Cleveland). The gown was fashioned of ivory silk, a bustled skirt, fifteen foot train & trimmed with orange blossoms - the most popular bridal flower of the nineteenth century. 

Pictured below are three more famous brides: Jackie Kennedy (married 1953); Wallis Simpson - King Edward VIII abidcated his throne to marry her in 1937; and Grace Kelly, who became Princess Grace of Monaco when she married Prince Rainier in 1956.

1920's satin "flapper" wedding dress

Such a simple wedding dress - with the only embellishments, the beautiful lace (above) attached to the slip underneath, and the gorgeous beaded belt (below) across the front.

 

A collection of early 50's bridal shower, wedding and anniversary cards.

This last one is my favorite.  Squeeze the top of the card, and the couple pops out from underneath!

 

And finally - a vintage 50's, 60's bride doll with a zippered storage compartment hidden under her skirt, for holding all your wedding treasures!

p.s. If you're interested in learning a bit more about the history behind "Something Old, Something New..." take a peek at this Foot Talk blog, written by a shoe historian!