An Appreciation of Vintage-Sourced Weddings

In the lead-up to my own best friend's wedding, I sincerely applaud her decision to purchase a vintage 1950s wedding gown. Purchasing vintage gowns is wonderful because:

• It's a chance to own something of superior quality and construction. Vintage clothing was made with great attention to detail, not churned out in factories. That loving attention shows, and is especially apparent in a setting where all eyes will be on you.
• It's an opportunity to stretch your dollar by purchasing clothing from high quality materials that would cost much more to purchase new.
• They make a statement that's a little bit different than the dresses of the other marrieds around you.
• They reuse some of the gorgeous fabrics that already exist in the world. The production of clothing, especially in our throw-away society, comes at a terrible cost to the environment. Buying vintage offsets that waste, and encourages appreciation for the care and conservation of what is already here. 
• You can check off "something old" from that requisite new/borrowed/blue list.

I won't post my best friend's dress here, for fear of ruining the surprise before the big day, but I did dig out this great photo of my parents' wedding day. My father has some serious lapels going on there. My mum is wearing a a stunning 1930s dress that was vintage even in 1973; it was paired with some then-contemporary platforms. The garment is still being kept tucked away in a trunk. The photo, the memories, bring much happiness.