Author and weddings expert Cara Davis shares a few of her favorite tips for throwing an upstairs-style wedding on a downstairs-size budget.
The wedding of the season appears to be that of Downton Abbey‘s Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley. The popularity of the series has brought about a renewed interest in 20s-era fashion, as evidenced by the spring 2013 bridal collection from Jenny Packham and the fall 2013 styles of Sarah Seven.
If the grandeur of the Granthams has you dreaming of vintage touches and ornate headpieces, consider these seven must-haves for a Downton-themed garden wedding.
1. The Venue
Shop around for an all-inclusive wedding package at a bed-and-breakfast, historic mansion, or botanical garden. Package deals can be very affordable, and the more options included, the fewer planning headaches for you. A church ceremony is perfectly suited for a Downton theme, and you can even get away with a quiet reception of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres afterward.
2. The Décor
Piece together vintage settings from your town’s local flea markets and antiques stores. Don’t worry about getting all matchy-matchy at the reception; shop thrift stores for teacups and saucers, and load up on faux pearls to complete the look.
3. The Invites
To save on the cost of invites, create your own, or print them from free templates. The monogram theme from WeddingChicks.com offers the perfect look for a Downton-inspired ceremony. Since printing your own invites also includes proofs, RSVP cards and reception information, head to InkjetWilly.com for discounts on ink cartridges.
4. The Attire
Shop vintage stores for your dress, or research ’20s-style patterns. Having a dress made may be less expensive if you know someone willing to lend his or her sewing skills. In the ’20s and ’30s, lean silhouettes dominated, hemlines rose to the knee, and dropped waists were in fashion. Lady Mary donned long sleeves, but the look can still be achieved with cap sleeves, especially when you add over-the-elbow gloves.
5. The Accessories
Lady Mary’s gown was simple and conservative, but her accessories added a glamorous touch. Her jeweled headpiece represents a must-have piece and can be picked up for less than $50 to over $400. Additionally, her cathedral veil offered an ethereal elegance, the likes of which can be purchased on Etsy for as little as $30.
6. The Flowers
Lady Mary carried a simple bouquet of calla lilies, a decidedly frugal choice for such a fancy lady. A small bouquet of larger blooms is the cheaper way to go, and remember to think outside the rose or orchid; even a bouquet composed primarily of baby’s breath is elegant in its simplicity.
7. The Music
Complete the theme of your ’20s-era nuptials by adding the following artists to your playlist: Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Bing Crosby, Helen Kane, and Ella Fitzgerald, or simply download a free 20s-era jazz collection. For a more subdued, Lord Grantham-approved soundtrack, stick with strings and orchestra.
Weddings expert Cara Davis is the author of Cheap Ways to Tie the Knot, a best-selling book on Amazon offering tips and tricks for planning a dream wedding on a budget. Cara also blogs from her home in Nashville, Tennessee., about cheap ways to spend and save at CheapWaysTo.com. She planned her wedding in under six months for $5,000 and has been offering tips and tricks to budget-savvy brides every since. Her expertise has been featured in USA Today, The New York Times, Colorado Brides, Chicago Bride Magazine, Destination I Do Magazine, St. Louis Bride & Groom Magazine and many more.
News flash! 1920s fashion is having a major moment! With the anticipation of Downton Abbey ‘s return on January 6 and the 2013 release of The Great Gatsby , starring Carey Mulligan and Leonardo DiCaprio , how could it not? When hit PBS series Downton Abbey kicks off its third season stateside, the Crawley clan will be ushering in a new decade and a new marriage—Lady Mary ( Michelle Dockery ) and Cousin Matthew (Dan Stevens) are set to wed. And while flapper fringe and knotted pearls (à la The Great Gatsby) may immediately come to mind when you think ’20s fashion, Downton Abbey appears to be taking a more subtle approach, and if you’re planning to say “I do” in a wedding dress in the style of the Jazz Age, we suggest doing the same to avoid looking costumey. You may not be able to snag Lady Mary’s custom-made gown , but a number of designers including Reem Acra and Alice Temperley took a cue from the era for their most recent (Fall 2013) bridal collections. Click through the gallery below to see our favorite ’20s-inspired wedding dresses.
Winter Sundays in my house are for sitting by the crackling fire, sipping peppermint tea, cozied up under a warm blanket. It was under these comfy circumstances that I glued myself to the TV screen and welcomed back my favorite PBS family. That’s right, those incorrigible Crawleys are wandering about Downton Abbey again…the fact that this week featured an over the top wedding was just the cherry on top.
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What began with Boardwalk Empire lives on with the upcoming Baz Luhrmann production of The Great Gatsby. So when translated into a wedding, that means we’re going to see everything from classic garden party receptions to over-the-top black and gold affairs.
Great article.
‘When you think of the fashions of the 1920s, you immediately think of the Jazz Age and flapper girls. I think we will see a lot of that in The Great Gatsby remake, but the 1920s of Downton Abbey has a very different mood’, McCall explains, ‘it’s much more ethereal and romantic; a soft, draped silhouette that actually lends itself very well to weddings’.