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Vintage Ballroom Wedding

Vintage Ballroom Wedding

If the words British and wedding together weren’t enough to make my little heart skip a beat, imagine then when Chloe of Caught the Light sent over this wedding from across the pond. It was a special request by the bride who happens to be a long time Ruffled reader. Right then I knew her wedding dress was going to be an one of kind gem. And it sure was. Her vintage-inspired lace gown is just beyond words gorgeous, and so were her bridesmaids fifties-inspired frocks. Alex, the bride, hand drew her wedding invitations and recently opened up shop, called Dear So and So.

vintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridge

vintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridgevintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridge

Says the bride, Alex: We wanted to go for something quite vintage, but with a traditional glamorous edge… and a lot of DIY input. The colours we wanted running through everything were mustards, oranges, cream, pinks, reds and light blue… we wanted the colours to be quite clashing and autumnal.. Both of us being designers it was evident that we would do a lot of DIY projects. We bought loads of vintage crockery for the main meal and for a cake buffet, along with vintage tablecloths. We framed lots of family wedding photos in old frames we found in charity shops. I came up with the idea of our table plan being our wedding favors, so Chris’ mum made lots of jars of homemade jam, I bought the jars off the internet, and then wrote the names of all the guests on the lids, a ribbon tied around the lid had a tag which then stated what table number they were on.

vintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridge

vintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridge

vintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridge vintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridge

vintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridge

vintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridgevintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridge

We bought a chalk board to write ‘Table Plan’ – I then wrote out all the place names on tags which were tied around the napkins which then had the cutlery tucked into and placed on a vintage plate, all miss-matched. I had little birds in the flower arrangement on the head table. I bought wooden table numbers and spray painted them yellow. I bought loads of crocheted doilies to put around the centre of the table where the number and the flower arrangement sat. We did all the flower arranging ourselves and I was there the night before doing all the flowers for the centre of the tables. I bought massive round balloons for the library room, all within the colour theme and made bunting to go across from one book shelf to the other. We had a little bucket with sparklers in by the back door so that people could go outside and use them, as it was near bonfire night. I also had lots of vintage bottles which I put little flowers in and had around the hall. We designed all our stationery, and I even designed the icing for our wedding cake!

vintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridge

vintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridgevintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridge

vintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridgevintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridge

vintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridge

See Also
Claire & Brian's Wedding

vintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridgevintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridge

Any advice for brides planning their weddings now? I think it’s mind blowing how much wedding inspiration there is out there, magazines and blogs like these make it so easy to pick up ideas…I would say though to try and keep it relatively simple and personal to you…It is sometimes easy to run away with yourself and before you know it you have a wedding full of loads of ideas that other people have done, and nothing really personal to yourself…

vintage wedding in Anstey Hall Cambridge

View all images from this wedding

Wedding Songs:
Processional: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, Handel
Recessional: Te Deum, Charpentier
First dance: Maps, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Wedding Vendors (Cambridge, England):

Reception venue: Anstey Hall / Wedding Photographer: Chloe of Caught the Light / Tea Length Wedding Dress: Fur Coat No Knickers / Wedding shoes: Rachel Simpson / Headpiece: Accessorize / Makeup: Natalie Castro / Bridesmaid Dresses: bespoke / Groom’s suit: bespoke / Groomsmen’s suits: Topman / Flowers: done by bridal party / DJ: Bee’s Knees / Wedding invitations: Designed by bride / Transportation: Citroen DS

View Comments (30)
  • she gives some great advice. There is SO much inspiration out there that it is easy to get out of control and want everything. I love how they did their escort cards and centerpieces! xo

  • There’s nothing like a good, happy cry over coffee! This video is beautiful and I think the wedding captures everything you could ever want in a wedding! So happy 🙂

  • Imagine my surprise as I’m reading your blog and I see pictures of this wedding and realize that the bride is wearing the SAME vintage dress that I’m wearing for MY wedding in July! How random! I’m sure there cannot be that many of them out there in the wedding world and to see one right here on a blog I visit everyday is just so CRAZY!

  • I love Dear So and So’s stationery, so its lovely to see her wedding here, so many beautiful details and I’m not surpised so many are DIY this is one talented bride. It look like they had a fabulous day.

  • The dress is gorgeous. It was able to flaunt the real beauty of the bride. From the wedding venue to the reception area, everything’s perfect.

  • I love the personality and aesthetic of this entire wedding. The couple themselves are absolutely precious and look as if they should be in a really incredible acoustic band. And the fact that it was in England only further enhances my wish that I could have been there. So amazing!

  • Amanda, thank you so much for featuring Chris & Alex’s wedding-it was one of my absolute favourites of 2010 and Alex is an absolute darling. She loves Ruffled and I know this will have been the icing on her DIY cake!

  • I don’t know if I can say much more than wow. I really love it.

  • ohhh my god… that was the best wedding video i have ever seen. i’m crying. what a perfect little couple, she is the cutest thing in the world! and i adore that they set their wedding the yeah yeah yeahs. everything was perfect!

  • Oh. Alex–I adore you. I think we’d get along quite well. Best wishes. xx

  • What a beautiful wedding. The day and the details were captured perfectly with the video topping it all off. I am a bit biased however because there is nothing better in the world of motoring than a classic Citroen DS2!

  • Oh thank you all so much for the lovely comments!! you are all very kind, its so lovely to hear that you enjoyed having a peek into our wedding day! and thank you so much Amanda for featuring it!xx

  • This is such an adorable wedding. Coming from across the pond myself, I love seeing original weddings such as this one and hope many more couples decide to do the same.

    Louise

  • Chloe always does an amazing job with her camera and eye for detail. And I’ve been dying to see Alex’s wedding featured ever since she mentioned it to me – so excited for you, Alex! You look super cute in all the photos – oh, and one of my best friends was married at Anstey Hall! – I loved the pink + blue room! x

  • Wow! I love this wedding and the bride looks so gorgeous! Definitely inspiring for my own wedding, thanks!!

  • I love her hair, and I LOVE her dress. Does anybody where I can look at it? As in, the website, and/or exact link. SO greatly appreciated. Thanks. (:

  • These are the same colors I’m doing for my wedding – where did you find that tie???! Please tell me!! I have been looking everywhere for a mustard tie!!! Beautiful pics btw

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