Ahead of the Vogue Vintage Sale on 29 March, co-hosted by Jorja Smith and Iris Law and presented by eBay, Vogue is celebrating all things pre-loved. Not all vintage treasures are rare designer pieces loaded with fashion lore: from a perfectly worn leather jacket uncovered in a thrift store to a slogan tee sourced online, pre-loved items can (and should) be a key player in every modern wardrobe.
It’s never easy finding the ultimate wedding look. I know this because, before I got married last year, I kept buying new shirts until my entire closet was crammed with various shirts, none of them quite right (in the end, I opted for a white Praying bikini; fitting for Ibiza). Add financial limits, time constraints and the general discomfort of bridal shopping into the mix, and you’ve got a one-way ticket to stressville.
But shopping for a wedding dress – or outfit – doesn’t have to be headache-inducing. In fact, if you’re going vintage or second-hand, it can actually be quite fun. I spoke to a lot of people for this piece – all of whom thrifted their wedding looks – and very quickly a theme began to emerge. They found their outfit when they least expected it, or when they were open-minded about what it might be. There was a lot of joy and serendipity behind their choices – they discovered the perfect dress “crumpled in a ball on the floor” at a vintage store, or on eBay weeks before they got engaged.
There are plenty of reasons to go second-hand – sustainability, a smaller budget, the style and history of a garment. And if you want an insider’s map – the wheres, hows and whos – then read our detailed guide to vintage bridal shopping. But for the backstory and some first-hand advice, here are five couples on how they thrifted the ultimate wedding look.
Lauren & Daniel
Lauren: This past November, we celebrated at The Montauk Club, a Brooklyn landmark we’ve always admired in our neighbourhood, Park Slope. It’s a 15-minute walk from our apartment and just a stone’s throw from Daniel’s old apartment, where we first fell in love. The Venetian Gothic architecture is full of old-world charm, especially the stunning stained glass windows that framed our ceremony.
I was mindlessly scrolling through Instagram when Lauren Lepire, the founder of Timeless Vixen, a vintage boutique in Beverly Hills, posted a video of the dreamiest 1950s strapless ballgown in lustrous ivory silk taffeta. I was instantly drawn to the scalloped bodice, bow at the back, and graceful, swan-like shape as it floated through the room. I was even more thrilled when I learned that Lepire had acquired the dress from The Museum at FIT. It was designed by New York couturier Rosalie Macrini and heavily influenced by Dior’s New Look, which is such an iconic moment in fashion history. So, I took a chance and bought it right away!
When I finally tried it on a month later, it fit nearly perfectly. I loved every detail even more in person. It felt like pure serendipity! I also paired my dress with other thrifted accessories sourced from Etsy, including a pearl choker and glass beaded bag, with a gold charm holding a picture of my grandparents on their wedding day.
Stay committed to the thrill of the hunt! I know I was very fortunate to find my dress right away, but I know if I hadn’t, the search would have been half the fun (as with all things vintage!). Not to mention, there are so many iconic eras of bridal fashion to trawl through, from the bias-cut liquid satin dresses of the ’20s and ’30s to the soft, flowing bohemian styles of the ’70s. I almost wish I could have explored more for the fun of it!
And then, once you’ve found the one, there’s so much to relish – from tracing the history of your dress to appreciating the craftsmanship and imagining the life it’s lived before you. It’s all so special.
Rachel & Fiona
Rachel: Someone described it to me as “dreamlike”. A midsummer mirage that rose from the earth for one fleeting night of love, chaos and revelry. And I liked that, so I’ll take it.
We married at my PIL’s house, walking a white vinyl aisle straight out of Graceland and gorging on fruit from the orchard. We hired the biggest Dodgems we could find and winced through freezing Mr Whippys and slushies. There were “chill out areas” full of thrifted lip sofas, silver wings and other… unmentionables. My wife flew in Europop band LOTTO, and FLWR GRL turned the day into a fever-dream of flowers. One sister sang our first dance song; the other designed our “gay bar”. Our niece crafted an explosion of a cake and my cousin tailored our dog his own Fursace suit. It was perfect – and six months on, we’re still tidying up.
It was a simple, beautifully made white satin dress by Watters. It had a corseted top, a gorgeous open back and a draped skirt. I paired it with a lace veil embroidered with a sacred heart, which was crafted by nuns, and some giant pink velvet heels.
One morning, I woke up to be told we were headed to Kingston’s Oxfam Bridal shop (sadly, now closed). We trekked there but couldn’t see any dresses. We tried to make the most of the trip, but found nothing. Wanting to end it on a high, we headed to a pub. On the way, we passed Oxfam again, happened to look up – and there it was, the bridal shop, upstairs. We rushed in, tried everything on and found the one. The amazing part? It was their last day open and I think we were their final bridal sale.
So many reasons. There’s the guilt about waste and the reality of finances. But for me, it was also about dodging the traditional wedding dress shopping experience. I’m self-conscious, easily tangled in elaborate clothing, and the only person I really want wrestling me out of a dress is my wife. Take away the pressure, add a few serendipitous pints, and suddenly, trying on dresses feels easy – fun, even. Plus, the selection is incredible, and you can rule out what isn’t you in record time.
Take Fi! But seriously – keep going. The dress I ended up buying was crumpled in a ball on the floor; the last one I tried on as the shop was shutting. No price tag, no grand reveal – just the one. So don’t get discouraged, the right dress will be there. And whatever you do, don’t judge a dress by how it looks on (or off) the hanger.
Karen & Hobbes
Karen: We’re both scrappy working class artists so having a traditional wedding wasn’t an option – or something that either of us ever wanted. We got married in the courthouse in New York on 19 April 2023, and then we had a picnic with some of our friends in Central Park two days later.
We asked a friend if she could be our witness at the courthouse a couple days before. She agreed and followed us around with a disposable camera for the entire afternoon, and then we all got Mexican food in the evening. After that, Hobbes and I went to another friend’s house and we watched episodes of The Newlywed Game from the ’60s and ’70s. Such a simple and perfect day.
My wife and I bought my wedding dress before we were even technically engaged. Come to think of it, maybe most of what we wore were things I’d sourced before we were engaged. The design of my dress is late ’50s or early ’60s. I believe it’s inspired by Greek fashion because of the draping in the back. It’s very Elizabeth Taylor in my mind! My wife’s outfit was designed by another best friend of mine, Ala Sowiar, who has a label called Halo Labels. My wife wore second-hand Suzanne Rae Mary-Janes and I wore vintage silk satin Prada flats. I found a vintage crown and then sourced French silk tulle that I sewed onto it for a veil.
I’ve been collecting vintage since I was a teenager. I swear I have an outfit for any occasion. We bought my wedding dress one day when we walked into 10 Foot Single by Stella Dallas. Like I said, we weren’t even engaged at this point. I got the urge to try on three wedding dresses and then picked mine. I’m assuming it’s not bad luck if your wife sees your wedding dress before the wedding because I can’t imagine buying something so special without my wife.
We got our dresses tailored at Laura & Melinda in New York – Mustafa is a brilliant tailor, I’d recommend him to anyone. We knew that we would get my wife’s outfit from [Halo Labels] because her work is both punk and simultaneously so delicate.
The crown came with a synthetic tulle – I think I bought it for $10. I replaced the tulle with some that I’d found at Butterfly Fabrics in New York’s Garment district. We dyed the tulle in black tea the morning before the wedding so that it wouldn’t be such a bright white. Oh, and I bought my classic silk stockings from American Duchess.
First of all, I want to tell anyone who’s getting married on a small budget that you can still have the dreamiest day. We were able to be super creative because we were working with limited resources and it made everything so much more intimate and fun. Secondly, I’d say buy your dress the moment you see it and know it’s the one for you. I think this is important especially if you're committed to a second-hand dress. I’m proof that you don’t have to wait to be engaged to buy a wedding dress.
Rosie & Josh
Me and my husband Josh had planned a London wedding with our close family for the winter of 2023. Sadly, my dad passed away a month before this could happen, and we cancelled our plans. We just couldn’t imagine how we’d have the same wedding day we had planned without him.
We had a California trip booked six months later, and when my mum suggested that we might take our wedding outfits, it felt so right. The idea of pivoting from our original plans and eloping made our wedding day feel special and romantic again, rather than laced with sadness. Joshua Tree felt perfect – there is a magical, otherworldly feel to the place. The ceremony was just me and Josh in the morning desert sun, it was quiet and still and totally beautiful. We honeymooned at the Chateau Marmont in LA.
We both wore matching 1970s off-white leather suits by San Fransisco-based label North Beach Leathers, handmade in Mexico. Artist Kenn Fung was commissioned to hand draw on several of their pieces back in the ’70s. Each is a one of a kind – mine had been adorned with roses in biro (perfect, as my name is Rosie). It was actually sourced by my mum online – as a collector of these suits, she knew what to search for, and found it before I was even engaged – it made it even more special to have had her input. Josh’s suit was one I had sourced for my vintage store 70s Stacks, and when my mum presented me with the roses suit, we knew it would make a perfect match.
My advice would be to grab something you love when you see it! I also really love the idea of buying an adaptation of an outfit that feels naturally and intrinsically “you”. (We both own and frequently wear several of these suits by North Beach Leathers in different colours). That way you will feel confident, your wedding will never feel outdated and you’ll get more use and love from it (I am planning on rewearing my outfit for special occasions!). It was so important for us to wear something we would treasure for life rather than for just one day.
Alexa & Clyde
Alexa: It was a literal fairytale of New York (I also walked down the aisle to the song because it also happens to be the best song ever written). We got married in a room at the Hotel Chelsea in New York. It was a super intimate wedding – just our parents, siblings and absolute best friends.
Our wedding day was an evening ceremony. It was filled with Seamus Heaney poetry and lines from Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem. We kissed in the midst of the rock ‘n’ roll ghosts of the Chelsea hotel (said ghosts previously locked me out of my bathroom just before the ceremony, meaning I had to knock on the hotel room next door to ask if I could borrow their bathroom. I was very fortunate that a compassionate and beautiful couple – Mr Colman Domingo, and his husband Raul – answered. I will never forget their kindness, humour or ever be grateful enough. Later on into the night we played card games and ended the evening with speeches filled with laughter, tears of joy and dancing.
Alexa: I was wearing a white full-length, all-lace beautiful dress that I had found in a charity shop a couple of months before. My sister Rachel was driving me between festivals and we stopped off in a little town called Chippenham on the way and visited the charity shop Oxfam. The whole top floor of the shop was full of the most glorious second-hand wedding dresses. We turned up as they were closing, so I only had time to pick out one dress and veil… and that was the dress I ended up wearing on my wedding day!
I never usually wear full-length because I feel claustrophobic, but this one was made of the most delicate white lace. My Nanny Helen sewed me into it so it was skin-tight. I wore sparkly white underwear and high-waisted net tights covered in tiny rhinestones. My heels were a pair of pony hair zebra print Irregular Choice heels which I found on Depop and arrived two days before I got on the plane. My wedding ring was a delicate gold vintage ring with a blue stone that my husband found in a stall at Dumbo market in New York.
Clyde: I wore a black, shawl-collar tux that I bought at a vintage store on Martha’s Vineyard, a white linen shirt that I found at a Goodwill in Connecticut maybe ten years ago. Black suede cowboy boots, found for a steal on eBay, completed the look. The best part about my outfit is that when Alexa and I first met I was wearing the same tuxedo jacket and white shirt. That night she was wearing a white dress and a stranger asked us if we had just gotten married!
Alexa: I implore everyone to visit these amazing Oxfams that specialise in bridal wear – there are five in the UK (Chippenham is the best one). It was packed with hundreds of the most gorgeous wedding dresses – all different styles, materials, lengths and shades. I highly doubt anyone could leave without finding something they loved.
Also… try dresses on the wrong way round! My wedding dress was actually meant to be worn the other way around, but the high neck didn’t suit me, so I turned it around and wore the buttons done up halfway, and layered the dress with a corset-type bra to give it some shape. With thrifted, the price tag is usually much lower, and second-hand makes the whole thing feel so much less stuffy.
Clyde: My advice is to start early. Thrifting is fantastic but it usually takes time and effort to find exactly what you’re looking for – not all of us are as lucky as my wife. Also, even if you’re not about to get married, if you find yourself in a vintage shop and staring at the perfect dress or perfect tux, buy it, because the chances of finding it again later are small.
