Heirloom Vintage Wedding Dresses

Vintage is in and vintage wedding dresses are popular with many brides who seek to capture the romance and beauty of an earlier age.   Although many brides-to-be find vintage wedding dresses in speciality shops that specialize in antique clothing or at used clothing outlets such as Goodwill and Salvation Army Stores, there is another place where some of the best vintage wedding dresses can be found - in Grandma's attic.

Since many women treasure their wedding dresses, many have the gowns packed away in attics, cedar chests, and closets.   Some families may have more than one vintage wedding dresses available from multiple generations.    In my own family, both my mother and great-grandmother's wedding dresses survived into the new century.  

Like me, you may have a mother, grandmother, aunt, or other relative who kept their beautiful wedding dress.    My mother's gown dated to the mid-1950's and fit me like a glove when I first tried it on.    My great-grandmother's dress was vintage 1912, a very romantic style trimmed in lovely handmade lace. With a professional dry cleaning and a little maintenance, both vintage wedding dresses were available for a brand new bride to wear down the aisle.

Here's how to find the vintage wedding dresses of your dreams without going far from home.

1.  Do a little detective work.   Check out vintage family wedding photographs and keep a close eye on the gowns that the brides are wearing.    Look for styles that suit your individual style.

2.  Ask around the family.    Find out who saved their heirloom wedding dress and ask if you can take a peek.   Make sure that the vintage wedding dresses has been taken care of and that it was packed away properly.    If you find a wedding dress that you want to consider, ask permission before you go any further with the gown.