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Step 1
Research various eras to find the style that best suits you and the type of wedding you desire to have. A Renaissance wedding gown will look out of place if your groom is wearing an ascot tie and suit. It is every bit as important to make sure the wedding theme meshes well with your dress as it is to actually find it.
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Step 2
Take your time. This can’t be stressed enough. There are certain nuances involved in shopping for a vintage wedding gown that don’t appear when browsing for modern dresses. For instance, check carefully for stains. Stains that have been on a dress for 30 years are not likely to come out even with the latest stain removal products on the market today. Don’t just assume that a small hole or rip will be an easy fix, either. As fabric ages, especially silk, it becomes increasingly difficult to mend.
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Step 3
Leave no stone unturned. Cliché, but true. Do yourself a favor and don’t limit yourself to one venue. Shopping the internet, like eBay and websites like Vintage Wedding are fabulous sites to research when looking for your vintage wedding gown. Local Goodwill and Salvation Army stores are also replete with wonderful wedding attire from yesteryear. Estate sales are another smart way to find vintage clothing. Many times you can find more than furniture at these sales and the deal you may find on your dream wedding dress will pay off as you are walking down the aisle. Don’t forget to check your local flea market, either.
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Step 4
Consider a reproduction vintage wedding gown. There can be many reasons an authentic dress won’t work for you. Perhaps your dream vintage gown is falling apart. It could be that a vintage wedding gown simply won’t fit. Vintage gowns often run smaller than today’s sizes and don’t have a wide range from which to choose. If this is the case you can visit the links in the Resources section to find a plethora of vintage patterns available for purchase.
