Vintage Wedding Dresses: The Maggie Gown To Match Your Favorite Eras

There’s the T. Swift Eras Tour, and then there’s the ultimate Eras Tour: a journey through all your favorite decades to find the chicest, most beautiful style inspo for your happily ever after. So cue the montage theme music — we’ve got the perfect gallery of vintage wedding dresses to match your favorite era vision and wonderful celebration. There’s nothing like truly timeless silhouette to bring a vintage theme to life… Keep reading and follow us on TikTok for all the decades and all the magic! 

Vintage Wedding Dresses: 1920s

First up: The Roaring 20s. This stylish and energetic era of vintage wedding dresses is often associated with “Gatsby glamor” i.e. a fusion of jazz, the rise of silent films, and the liberation of corsets and convention. Women in this era often chose not to wear a traditional wedding style, but instead a beautiful dress that they liked that wasn’t necessarily bridal. This meant sleek, simple gowns, often straight-cut and loose with a sheath or shift-like silhouette. Strappy sleeves and drop-waist gowns were favored align with long gloves, shorter hemlines, and cathedral-length veils paired elaborate headpieces like hats, diamond tiaras, and floral crowns.

These are a few 1920s-inspired wedding dresses we love from our latest collections:

• Kashlynn by Maggie Sottero has a simple silhouette with dramatic sleeves in luxe, graceful fabric. It’s timeless yet modern, a perfect twist on vintage elegance. 

• Pearls make an exceptional statement in Danica by Sottero and Midgley, a fabulous party dress made for champagne towers and dancing all night.

• Yesenia by Sottero and Midgley is sleek, sparkly, and slinky… The ideal fusion of old-school romance and new-school sex appeal.

1930s Bridal Gowns

1930s vintage wedding dresses were influenced by Old-Hollywood glamor, stately elegance, and romantic escapism. These silk and satin dresses, long sleeves, short trains, and minimalist embellishments created softer silhouettes (but more intricate gowns did start to get more ornamental as the decade went on). Veils were paired with headpieces or a small white hat, and getaway outfits made a big statement, as couples started going straight from their reception to their honeymoon. Bouquets also gained popularity in this decade, giving brides new ways to personalize their bridal look. 

If you love this decade’s stylle, we’ve gathered a few gorgeous gowns to consider:

• Tyra by Maggie Sottero features a minimalist crepe fabric and a long, Hollywood-inspired silhouette. 

• Judith by Rebecca Ingram is ethereal and ultra-feminine. It’s perfect for a classic vintage theme. 

• Addison Leigh by Rebecca Ingram proves that simple and modest makes an irresistibly classy statement. 

Vintage Wedding Dresses: 1940s & 1950s

Next up, the 1940s. With World War II and strict war-time rationing in place during this era, brides chose to wear formal pieces they already owned — often tailored, high-waisted tops and A-line skirts that came only to the knee. Celebrities like Ava Gardner got married in a suit, but perhaps the most glamorous highlight was when Queen Elizabeth married Prince Philip in 1947… The vintage wedding dress was an ivory silk and pearl embroidered scoop neck, a standout for the era.

With the post-war boom of the 1950s, fashion swung in a more opulent direction: full skirts, fitted bodices, sweetheart necklines, and frilly, whimsical embellishments took over, with many brides taking inspiration from modern icons and celebrities like Jacqueline Kennedy and Grace Kelly, (The Princess of Monaco’s wedding dress had a lace bodice and sleeves, which popularized the use of lace for 1950s brides.) Full tea-length skirts, sweetheart necklines, long sleeves, buttons, and frills made for perfect style statements for the new era. 

Some gowns we’re loving for this decade’s trends:

• Ramira by Maggie Sottero is a little bit 40s and a little 50s, with a full lush skirt reminiscent of the era’s royal brides. (We love the sleeved jacket for extra coverage, very Grace Kelly.)

• Magdalena by Sottero and Midgley is all about the clean, ultra-tailored minimalism paired with soft, shimmery lace. 

• Derrick Marie by Maggie Sottero is an opulent, over-the-top ballgown that’s perfect for a vintage black-tie celebration. 

• Fortune by Maggie Sottero gives you the perfect fusion of simple glamor and exceptional tailoring. The bodice is immaculate! 

1960s and ’70s-Inspired Bridal Gowns

The 1960s was a decade of creative couterculture and experimentation in fashion. These vintage wedding dresses popularized shorter skirt lengths, three-quarter-length sleeves, shift silhouettes, and more structured fabrics. Celebrities inspired with unique, unexpected bridal styles. (Think Elizabeth Taylor’s yellow wedding dress and Sharon Tate’s short babydoll dress in 1968.) The full skirts of the 1950s were replaced by A-line and shift silhouettes, formal coat dresses and fur-trimmed jackets became a staple for cold-weather brides, and high necks and capped sleeves came back into style. 

Renaissance-inspired vintage wedding dress trends like high collars and big bell sleeves continued to trend into the 1970s, with silhouettes becoming more billowy, bohemian, and organic. Ethereal sleeves, wrist cuffs, and high necks became a staple of 1970s wedding style. Ribbons and hats took the place of veils, floral motifs embellished flowing cotton dresses… Think “flower child” of the 1960s with a fresh upgrade for the 70s. 

• Saige by Maggie Sottero features long bell sleeves that drape at the elbow.

• Ethelinda by Rebecca Ingram is a timeless silhouette that complements a variety of throwback 1970s vibes.

• Alexandria by Rebecca Ingram is dreamy and Renaissance-inspired. The bishop sleeves are truly divine.

• Laura by Rebecca Ingram is a soft floral silhouette with a chic nature-inspired aesthetic. 

• Tatum by Rebecca Ingram offers a delicate, ethereal upgrade to the boho puff-sleeve trend.

Vintage Bridal Gowns: 1980s

The 80s summed up in a phrase? More is more. Princess Diana’s iconic bridal look set a new standard for puffy sleeves and big trains. (Check out similar styles from Our Favorite Celebrity Wedding Dresses for Women’s History Month!) Lace trim and over-the-top headdresses also had a major moment. Voluminous gowns were a must, as well as opulent bows and bridal accessories. Here are vintage wedding dresses that caught our eye for 80s trends:

• Juniper by Sottero and Midgley is an exceptionally romantic upgrade to the 1980s “more is more” trend.

• Viola by Sottero and Midgley is a showstopping sleeved style with gorgeous accessories.

• Kiki by Rebecca Ingram is dreamy and decadent.

• Pezy by Rebecca Ingram is irresistibly whimsical. 

• Talitha by Sottero and Midgley is unique and totally trendy for the 1980s!

1990s & Early 2000s Vintage Wedding Gowns

After the opulence of the 80s, 1990s bridal fashion began to diversify and modernize. Lace, bows, and full skirts were still on treend, but soom came a new wave of softer, more organic silhouettes and relaxed “grunge” vibe. There’s plenty to choose from in the trends: Romantic off-the-shoulder and unique halter-style gowns, some fuller lace gowns, sheath silhouettes, beachy vibes, and retro 1950s throwbacks were all having their 90s moment.

The early 2000s vintage wedding dresses were marked by the rise of “Vera Wang bridal” — strapless bodices, spaghetti strap gowns, and simple, non-embellished bodices with straight necklines were everywhere. Asymmetrical details, one-shoulder gowns, cut-out backs, and low-back cowl dresses were also huge in the early 2000s. Here are a few styles to emulate the moment: 

• Dionne by Rebecca Ingram features a gorgeous minimalist silhouette, perfect for outdoor celebrations and chic, simple aesthetics.

• Clover by Rebecca Ingram is a lovely silhouette with asymmetrical ruching and effortless accessories.

• Jessica by Maggie Sottero is a dreamy Grecian-inspired A-line that’s both nostalgic and modern. 

• Vonae by Maggie Sottero is a sexy, curve-hugging silhouette that’s everything we love about 90s and 2000s while still feeling fresh and edgy for the 2020s. 

We’re head over heels for all the bridal eras! We can’t wait for you to find your perfect vintage wedding dress for your perfect celebration. Schedule your bridal appointment at one of our Authorized Retailers today! Best wishes!  

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10 Vintage Inspired Wedding Dresses and Accessories for Timeless Brides

Our Favorite Celebrity Wedding Dresses for Women’s History Month

Retro Wedding Dresses for the Throwback Bride