Vintage French Wedding

A vintage French wedding is fun from start to finish! The planning is part of the magic of this theme, and the delicate details make way for a very romantic affair. French lace is special for any occasion and even more so when an antique sewing machine graces the centre of the bridal table.

The cake is absolutely divine, with Amour, which is French for love, written in scroll on the top tier. The decor and more shown here suits a wedding venue in Birmingham with its canals, castles, and spectacular Victorian mansions. Plan your Birmingham wedding and know vintage French will be the perfect theme!

Details for a Vintage French Wedding

The Kristen Weaver Photography spread proves one thing; the French always get it right. From the braids, Macarons, manicures, and lace gowns; this editorial is littered with effortlessly chic French-inspired details. It isn't hard to see why anyone would steal some inspiration from the French nation for their big day.

The thing I like about such editorials is how they allow my mind to run wild with wedding ideas. I can picture a ceremony hosted at an immaculately manicured garden and a reception at a dreamy château. Come along the journey as I paint a portrait of how opulent and sweet elements intermingle to create an idyllic vintage French wedding.

Colour Palettes for a Vintage French Wedding

Lifting the hues straight from the vintage French wedding shoot, shades of blue, white, lavender and a splash of pink are the wedding colours that suit a vintage French affair. Add in the rich green pigment of the foliage and gold accents, you get the perfect colour palette that will convert your chosen ceremony or reception space into a modern vintage French venue.

Settling for dusty, or rather pastels, shades of the colour palette would best exude the retro charm. Combinations of blue and white reflect the regal aspect while details like the dark-coloured sprigs perfectly capture the vintage French aesthetic.

What to Look for in Venue for a Vintage French Wedding

A wedding venue that provides the room to sprinkle it with chic and stylish elements that create a romantic atmosphere is the perfect choice for your vintage French nuptials. Drawing from the nation's rich European history, natural beauty, and royal roots; selections of wedding locations can spring the vintage French magic to life.

Who wouldn't want to say "I Do" at a French château or medieval castle? The manicured lawns of a stately estate would equally serve as a perfect location. A wedding space with a courtyard, pergola, or gazebo as well as wrought iron accents and pillars of sorts further conjure up the French charm.

Reception Decor for a Vintage French Wedding

The vintage sewing machine used as a centerpiece is the "It Factor" for us. Not only is it uniquely unusual but it's a very French element. The spools of thread equally elevate the whole aesthetic and help to teleport guests to a romantic French locale conjured up for the occasion. Go for tapered candles intertwined with other table decors for the added touch of romance.

The dusty blue lace fabric and blue/white patterned pashminas used to drape the chairs are other lovely details. Floating parasols are not only tres chic but they provide the perfect cover for an outdoor reception. Bring a piece of the love lock bridge to your big day by creating a similar backdrop against a wrought iron gate.

Food for a Vintage French Wedding

There's no sweeter treat than Macarons served at a vintage French wedding. A crepe-style cake is yet another French flair that you can include in your menu. If only for the scent, the classic baguette is yet another delightfully French food that you should weave into your table setting. It also doesn't hurt to have a food stand set up on each table loaded up with croissants.

Give the wedding food experience a chic touch by serving a scrumptious cheese spread for the first course. For the tablescape, vintage china in combinations of blue, white, and gold is perfect for a retro fete because it evokes French opulence.

Wedding Dresses & Accessories for a Vintage French Wedding

Claire Pettibone's uber elegant number provides inspiration for the perfect wedding dress for a vintage French-themed affair. Pulling from the spools of thread as well as toile detail, a gown that is sewn using highly detailed fabrics suits such an occasion. We’re swept away by the lace, long sleeves, and button-down detail at the back of the gown.

The floral headband, vintage-esque hairpin, and matching drop earrings are the only accessories needed to complete the look. Other smaller details like the ring with a turquoise rock and the model's neutral-coloured manicure add to the overall French-chic aesthetic. It was also lovely styling her luscious locks in the form of a French braid bun.

Groom Style for a Vintage French Wedding

Soft retro splashes of blue, white, and pink would suit the groom's wedding attire. Typically, a deep blue jacket and similar-coloured waistcoat paired with white pants or a darker shade work for the groom's ensemble. A white or light pink shirt and a light-coloured bow tie complete the look.

The same mismatched style works for the groomsmen, and the perfect French retro look would be striped jackets paired with blue slacks. An alternative is to keep the groom and groomsmen style modern. In this case, a dove gray suit paired with a blue tie and pink pocket squares would work for a vintage French wedding.

Bouquets & Boutonnieres for a Vintage French Wedding

Sprigs of lavender, baby's breath, selections of wildflowers, and green foliage wrapped in twine create the perfect vintage French wedding bouquets. For a deeper dive into the floral arrangements, go for eucalyptus, dahlias, peonies, roses, Isoplexis foxglove, zinnias, hydrangea, and ranunculuses.

The floral combination strikes the perfect balance between refined and organic which is the precise aesthetic that works for a French vintage theme. Use blush-coloured lace or twine to wrap the floral arrangements. For the boutonnieres, add some acorns, succulents, and feathers to the floral combination. Set up plants in antique urns around the wedding venue and have teacup floral arrangements decking the tables.

Wedding Invitations for a Vintage French Wedding

It wouldn't be a French affair all through without incorporating the language into the wedding invitations. Send retro postcard-themed invites to communicate the theme in a uniquely lovely way. Go for plain white stationery and blue envelopes, as with the Kristen Weaver editorial. We also love the combinations of handwritten-style fonts as well as the vintage stamps.

If you want to include an imprint on the card, it doesn't have to be anything extravagant but a simple floral motif on the edge should do the trick. To take the invites back to the good old days, wrap a piece of twine around the envelopes or include a wax stamp.

Wedding Cake Ideas for a Vintage French Wedding

The hand-painted light pink cake with gold-coloured details is the literal icing on the cake. We are taken back to the good old days, thanks to the distressed wedding cake stand. The pink ribbons bring in an element of elegance. An alternative would be to go for lavender or dusty blue-coloured honeycomb cake with ombre frills.

Sugar vines, pastel-coloured edible flowers, and some sprigs of lavender are the best toppers for a vintage French wedding cake. To steal from yet another locale, the China pattern wedding cake makes use of the precise colour palette that also works for a French vintage wedding.

‘Sew’ in Love: Vintage French Wedding Inspiration

From the  sewing machine centrepiece to the hand painted cake and toile details – this vintage French themed wedding inspiration shoot from Kristen Weaver Photography is styled and designed to perfection.

Be on the lookout for the antique scissors tucked into the place settings, spools of thread scattered about the table, and the beautiful lace detailing on both Claire Pettibone dresses!

From Kristen Weaver – “When I scheduled a photographers’ workshop in Columbus, Ohio, I knew I wanted to make a gorgeous styled shoot inspired by dusty blues and a lacy, vintage French style. I called on Claire Pettibone to provide two amazing gowns and designed the rest of the shoot around them.

With a ‘Sew In Love’ theme we used an antique sewing machine, spools of thread, and lots of toile detailed fabrics to embrace the French theme. A hand-painted cake and macarons added the perfect sweet ending to our day. I couldn’t have been happier with my first designed wedding inspiration shoot and I can’t wait to see how it inspires others!”

Credits: Photography: Kristen Weaver Photography // Floral Design: Ashby Floral Boutique // Event Planning: The Bendora Wedding Gallery // Event Design: An Affair To Remember // Venue: Northpointe Hotel and Conference Center, Columbus, Ohio // Paper Goods: 9th Letter Press // Wedding Dresses: Claire Pettibone // Rentals: Dishie Rentals // Cake: Queen Anne’s Lace Cakes // Macaons: Pistacia // Makeup: Make You LLC // Hair: Alycia Johnson // Antique Sewing Machine: River House Designs // Model: Cierra Kerringan // Submitted using Two Bright Lights.