Shabby chic (translated as “shabby chic”) is a beautiful wedding style, which is characterized by a slight touch of vintage, making the wedding tender, sophisticated and romantic. This style was invented by designer Rachel Ashwell, who made beautiful things out of old things, shrouded in the spirit of antiquity combined with newfangled notes. If you want to organize a dreamy and sophisticated celebration, then you should definitely turn your attention to the shabby chic wedding style, the Svadebka.ws portal is sure.
Peculiarities
Shabby chic translates from English as “shabby luxury.” This style appeared recently, in the 80s of the last century, thanks to designer Rachel Ashwell, who collects antique furniture. His ideas quickly gained popularity around the world.
“Shabby Luxury” simultaneously refers to the elegance of the good old Victorian era and the comfort of grandma’s house.
The main feature of shabby chic is old objects: from cabinets or chests of drawers to jewelry passed down from generation to generation. You can borrow such things from elderly relatives, or buy new ones that have been deliberately aged.
Antique birdcages entwined with flowers, richly decorated boxes, diaries decorated with ribbons and bows, and lace will help you set the right accents. Peculiarity! Despite its sophisticated luxury, shabby chic can be quite affordable if you use the help of antique shops and memorabilia from your own family.
The color scheme of the wedding should remain in a pastel palette. It’s good if even your traditional white is not blindingly snowy, but milky, ivory, creamy. Other acceptable colors are pink, from candy-light to a dirty shade of withered rose, powdery, blue, from barely visible to almost heavenly, peach, mint. All colors should look bleached by time, sun, and washing. Bright accents are completely unnecessary; they will destroy the fragile charm.
Features of shabby style
A wedding in chic style is full of charm and all-consuming tenderness. The color scheme is only in sophisticated, pastel colors that do not irritate the eyes. No bright colors, sparkles or tinsel - only style and chic. The basis of the design should be ancient objects, jewelry, and antiques. If you don’t have the funds to buy “new old” things, then all is not lost! If you go through the attics of your grandparents, you can easily find a suitable setting and attach it to your business. Something could be passed down by inheritance, some details could be borrowed from friends.
The main color is not white, as usual, but cream, the color of baked milk or old lace, ivory. It can be diluted with soft pink, peach, powdery, with bright caramel splashes. Blue and green shades from light, almost whitish, to heavenly and emerald are acceptable. Furniture and accessories should look slightly worn from long life, bleached by the sun and time.
Place
It is best to choose a closed room for a celebration in the shabby chic style, next to which there is an open area , and it is preferable to plan a wedding for the spring-summer period.
In what places does luxurious vintage look especially good?
- Vacation home. The main thing in this option is space, the opportunity to add the necessary details and a blooming garden. It’s good if the room is equipped with a glassed-in terrace or veranda;
- A place in nature. Naturalness, airiness, spaciousness - what could be better? A field, forest, river bank will do. But in case of bad weather, do not forget to put up a light canopy or an openwork tent, designed in the main shades of the style - cream or pink;
- An ordinary restaurant hall. It is important that the room is large and bright, with high ceilings, a crystal chandelier, and large windows. When booking, agree with the administrator on the possibilities for arranging your furniture, and not just placing flower arrangements;
- Vintage restaurant. In this case, the decorations are already ready, but after agreement with the administration, it will be possible to add individual touches. Choose a place whose interior you like without any adjustments;
- Rented estate. Expensive, but aristocratic option that will make you feel like the characters of Dickens. The same space as in a country house, nature and blooming gardens, but seasoned with notes of refined luxury.
Venue selection
It is necessary to choose spacious areas that can be either indoor or outdoor (depending on the season). In the warm season, you can settle down right in the forest, on a green lawn. In this case, it is necessary to build a tent from any thin translucent and light fabrics - chiffon, guipure, gauze, haze, georgette. It will be beautiful to gather the fabric in the corners with a satin ribbon and tie it in the form of a bow.
Vintage table with the inscription "love" and flowers
If we are talking about an enclosed space, then it must have high ceilings (at least 3.5 m), columns, a fireplace, crystal chandeliers, and chintz curtains.
In the cooler months, it is appropriate to stay in an old country estate with a winter garden. This is a great option because there are always a lot of antiques there. Another solution is to rent a restaurant with an appropriate interior - brick walls, leather sofas, natural stone floors, paintings.
Bride's image
The bride's dress should not be too tight, shiny or short. Flashy sexuality will only destroy the overall fairy-tale atmosphere , so it is better to pay attention to airy styles with flounces, puffed sleeves or bells, a free-falling skirt and a high waist. Empire or A-line silhouette looks great.
It is better to choose a light fabric - chiffon, organza, silk, guipure, lace. But the color does not have to be white. Any pastel shade is suitable, for example, mint, powdery, cream, ivory, champagne, soft pink, blue, caramel.
Frilly complex hairstyles are not the best option for shabby chic. Give preference to loose or slightly messy hair.
They can be curled and slightly tousled for a slightly casual feel. A wonderful option is a loose low bun or a variety of braids. Flowers are used as hair decorations separately or in combination with a wreath , ribbons without glitter, and vintage hairpins.
Idea! Instead of a veil, an elegant mesh or veil will do.
Jewelry for shabby chic needs large, antique, worn-out gold and tarnished silver. A very good option is pearls.
Ultra-modern shoes with stilettos or wedges are prohibited at a shabby chic celebration. But low-heeled pumps are perfect. A charming solution that, however, requires careful execution are fabric shoes with small flower embroidery.
As for makeup, the bride's image should be innocent and natural, so bright shades and clear lines look completely out of place. It is worth giving preference to nude, only slightly emphasizing the natural beauty.
Bouquet
Lush flowers with rounded petals are ideal - these can be roses, for example, David Austin varieties, or peonies, hydrangeas, tulips, or any other delicate options. An excellent addition to the central composition will be miniature inflorescences of lilac, astilbe, and gypsophila.
The color of the bouquet should be combined with the overall decoration of the celebration and the bride’s dress. Cream, powdery, caramel, soft pink or light blue shades are suitable.
If we talk about shape, shabby chic implies pomp and delicacy, but does not allow sharp angles and straight lines. It’s great if the wedding bouquet covers your palms, remaining a weightless floral cloud on them. Be sure to decorate the leg of the accessory with lace, cameo or pearls.
Shabby chic wedding: how to choose colors
Choosing a holiday palette is a very important point that needs to be thought through in advance. Since the resulting atmosphere of the celebration should be light and romantic, you should focus on light pastel colors. As for dark and bright colors, it is better to avoid them immediately. We recommend that you pay attention to the following shades: snow-white, champagne, milky, ash, white-pink, cream, light lavender, mint, blue and caramel color.
Having looked at the photos of shabby chic weddings, you can see that they mostly use warm colors in the design, however, this is not at all necessary. If you wish, you can use a cold palette as a basis, the main thing is not to forget that the colors should look a little faded or worn out. This point is key for the shabby chic theme.
Groom suit
The groom is recommended to focus on the outfits of the heroes of Dickens's novels.
To create the desired look, it is better to abandon the standard tie in favor of a bow tie or even a neckerchief with a pin. If desired, the jacket can be easily replaced with a wool vest or tailcoat. You can add interesting details, such as an antique watch on a chain peeking out of the breast pocket. Trousers are short and tapering at the bottom. A bowler hat is suitable as a headdress.
Important! It’s good if the bride and groom’s outfits have a common color or texture. For example, the same rose or peony as in the bride’s bouquet is used as a boutonniere.
The color of the suit can be either classic black or brown, or light - gray, cream, beige.
Groom's clothes
The groom is dressed in a classic tuxedo, black or dark blue.
When there is a desire to change the image, choose a light suit, but wear a vest of the opposite shade. A traditional or beige bowtie or a wide tie of a calm color scheme is worn around the neck. For the breast pocket, select a matching scarf and fold it carefully.
The shoes are classic black, possibly Oxfords; they are carefully polished so that they shine throughout the entire celebration. For jewelry, large cufflinks with enamel or stones are required, and if the groom is inclined to wear rings, a signet for his left hand.
If they wear a classic suit, which can be from dark beige to light gray, then instead of a scarf they attach a boutonniere. To do this, use one large half-opened bud or several small closed inflorescences. They choose flowers that denote tenderness of feelings, preferring a pastel palette. Suspenders and, if necessary, a vest are worn under the jacket.
The image of a groom in a tuxedo is quite conservative, so I rarely use a boutonniere, especially if the suit is midnight black.
Dresses for guests and witnesses
To ensure that nothing deviates from the given style, it is worth warning guests in advance and asking them to dress up accordingly.
Men can dress in formal suits, tuxedos, or give preference to looser vests and neckerchiefs. It would be good if the colors were not black, but light or at least brown.
Women will look great in dresses below the knee in pastel shades, lace, gloves, and small hats with fascinators. But bright colors, ultra-mini, excessive shine and stilettos should be avoided.
The bridesmaids look very cute in dresses similar to the hero of the occasion’s outfit, but a couple of shades darker or lighter.
The groom's friends can do the same, choosing suits in paler or richer shades. Another option is for them all to wear the same bow tie or neckerchief with pretty pins. Outfits similar to the groom's suit look original, but, for example, without a vest or jacket.
Meeting with guests
The style for the male and female half of those present at the wedding is no different from the style in the outfits of the newlyweds. Pastel colors, pastoral prints, velvet and matte fabrics, discreet handmade elements for decoration - the outfits of the bridesmaids and groomsmen emphasize the shy elegance of the celebration and a touch of antiquity in accessories, shoes, and hats.
Every couple wants their wedding to be remembered by their guests for a long time. Notify guests in advance of the dress code for the event, giving them the opportunity to prepare for the wedding ceremony.
Strings of pearls and exquisite veils, bracelets with artificial vintage flowers, “butterflies” and neck jewelry - the images of guests may contain common details, as well as special differences that would distinguish this or that person from the crowd. It all depends on the celebration scenario and the preferences of the public.
Invitations
The invitation card can be made on craft paper or on aged cardboard. It is ideal to sign them yourself, with real ink. If this is not possible, vintage fonts will come to the rescue. Any pastoral pattern, notes, keys, birdcages or roses in the decor, lace, ribbons made of matte material are acceptable. Well suited for unique invitations, shabby chic scrapbooking style.
Be sure to indicate in the text that the wedding involves a dress code.
Idea! If you prefer minimalism, then hide the card itself in an envelope with a pattern.
Recommendations for design
- Avoid bright details. All colors should be pastel, muted, delicate. It is allowed to use any shade - mint, beige, pink, lilac, but it is important to ensure that the paint appears bleached by time;
- Avoid rhinestones and sparkles, including shiny fabrics. Replace them with lace, airy chiffon and guipure, flowers, charming old things;
- You should not give up massive objects like chests of drawers or large frames - they create the required ambiance;
- Ultra-modern details inexorably destroy the vintage atmosphere , so do not allow them into your celebration;
- Don't skimp on flowers . Choose lush and delicate buds with round petals.
The bride's bouquet
The bride's bouquet should be lush and at the same time very delicate. The best shape is considered to be neat round, the color scheme is pastel. Garden roses and peonies are considered the most suitable flowers for this style, and large inflorescences can be supplemented with light hyacinths, lilacs, ranunculus and lilies of the valley. Be sure to decorate the bouquet with decorative elements! These can be velvet ribbons, pearls, brooches, lace or guipure.
Cortege
An antique car or even a carriage drawn by white horses will fit well into the shabby chic theme. If this is not possible, regular transport will do. The main thing is to find cars in soft, pastel colors.
You can decorate the car with wreaths or garlands of flowers - it’s good if the compositions resonate with the overall design. Ribbons look no worse, but not made of shiny material.
Avoid lots of balloons, shiny gold and rhinestones.
Images of newlyweds
A bride's look for a shabby chic wedding should be both simple and luxurious. And achieving such an effect is not so difficult; just buy a dress of a simple style and decorate it with lace inserts or draperies. Just keep in mind that the outfit should not contain any sparkles or rhinestones. Any shiny elements will be inappropriate for this style. As for the color of the dress, it does not have to be white; cream, milky, light pink, peach and even light green colors are quite suitable.
Of course, to complete the look, you will need jewelry and accessories. Earrings and pendants made of pearls, a floral wreath, openwork gloves or a hat are suitable for this. If desired, the dress itself can be decorated with snow-white pearls or matte beads.
It wouldn’t hurt to pay attention to the bride’s hairstyle. Try to make your hair look as light and natural as possible. To do this, try braiding neat braids, spikelets, or just leaving the curls. By the way, it would be just right to decorate your hair with delicate flowers.
Most likely, you have already guessed that the makeup for a shabby chic wedding should match the entire look. Bright colors of lipstick and eye shadow are best saved for another holiday, but light pink and beige colors are ideal.
The image of the groom also has some differences from the traditional one. For example, instead of a classic suit, a tuxedo is more suitable. Or you can use as an idea a combination such as a soft pastel-colored shirt with a classic light-colored suit. Be sure to highlight your look with stylish accessories: suspenders, vest, hat or boutonniere. Sometimes for a shabby chic wedding, the groom wears narrow classic trousers, cropped or slightly rolled up.
Accessories
It is the small details that make up the overall picture, and it is likely that you will have to spend a lot of time finding or creating them.
Glasses can be decorated with engraving in faded gold or silver, or painted with cream acrylic paints. The design can be either abstract, lace, or in the form of small birds, flowers, angels. This design looks wonderful in a duet with porcelain dishes, teapots and cups with flowers floating in them.
Another option is lace skirts or ribbons wrapped around graceful crystal legs. Champagne bottles for newlyweds should be decorated in a similar style.
It is better to make place cards in the style of invitations - craft or aged paper, lots of curls, light ornaments. It is better to choose a tablecloth from a natural and non-shiny fabric, a light shade, plain or with a small pattern. Don't forget to decorate the table with bouquets, cute little things, and lace napkins.
The ring cushion should represent the solemnity and romance of the moment. Pastel, pink, blue tones, antique or artificially aged lace, fabric roses - there are many options. You can decorate the accessory with a bow, ribbons, embroidery, various applications, for example, in the form of old photos of young people. Vintage symbols such as notes, key and lock, and angels are also appropriate. A pillow in a birdcage looks very unusual.
Choose a floral design based on the rule of combining luxurious and delicate. The petals should be fluffy and rounded, the buds should in no case be cone-shaped. It is best to use David Austin roses in pastel shades. Peonies, tulips, and hydrangeas are also suitable. To add splendor to garlands or bouquets, complement them with astilbe or gypsophila. Plants in large, light-colored pots, which can be decorated with fabric, ribbons or lace, look very homely.
Idea! The flowers are beautiful, echoing the pattern of the porcelain service - such careful attention to detail will not leave anyone indifferent.
As for draperies and ribbons, choose matte material - airy chiffon, organza, silk, and to create heavy accents - cotton or matte velvet. Excess glitter will be completely useless, so you should immediately forget about rhinestones.
Basic principles of shabby chic style
- The colors used in this style of wedding decoration should look aged, faded, and faded with time. Give preference to light, muted, soft tones that set you in a romantic mood. A soft, discreet background can be created using white, soft pink, creamy, gray-blue, peach, and mint colors.
- In addition to delicate, pastel shades, the use of neat, discreet floral motifs and patterns (stripes, checks) is encouraged.
- When choosing textiles for decoration, give preference to natural materials such as cotton, chintz, linen. The textiles used can be plain or with designs of angels, birds, and small roses.
- It is desirable that the decorative elements and interior items of the hall in which the celebration will take place also have an antique effect: cracked paint, small cracks, faded fabric. Moreover, they can be aged either from time to time or artificially.
Cake
When designing a shabby chic cake, it is important to harmoniously combine elegance with pomp. The shade should not stand out from the general range. Let's say lace decor with chocolate, mastic, glaze.
A birdcage or the shape of an antique chest of drawers is ideal for decoration. However, these are options for brave couples. As practice shows, the standard shape is often chosen - round and multi-tiered.
Small figurines, fresh or edible flowers, and sprinkles resembling pearls are used as decorations.
Cake shouldn't be the only sweet treat at a wedding, so add cakes, cupcakes, and macarons.
Decor
Interesting table decor
To decorate your celebration you may need the following items:
- drapery fabrics - guipure, chintz, satin, cotton, linen, tapestry;
- furniture - rocking chairs, cabinets with peeling paint, large wall mirrors in metal frames, sofas with leather trim, benches and chairs with forged elements;
- tableware - porcelain sets, painted cups and teapots, silver spoons, forks and knives;
- vintage photographs;
- metal cages for parrots;
- electronic and pearl garlands;
- massive frames for paintings and photographs;
- metal candlesticks;
- wall lamps and lanterns;
- antiques - paintings, telephones, books, wooden and glass vases, watches, gramophones, typewriter, gramophone.
Vases with flowers
The design begins with choosing a background (arch) for registration. It can be a cabinet with worn doors, which can also be used as a table for the presenter. To do this, you just need to remove the back wall. An antique piano or large window frame would also work. Decorate them on top with a flower garland made in the shape of a semicircle. An equally interesting option is a wedding banner for a photo shoot. It can also be used at a banquet. Here its types, design and method of making it yourself are described as clearly as possible.
Here you can see how preparations for the celebration are going on:
Decoration of the banquet area
chairs for guests on two sides and attach a flower bouquet of small roses in a wooden bucket to each on the right. In the aisle, lay a white runner on the floor/ground and scatter rose petals on the sides. Right there, only on top, string garlands of old black and white photographs. These could be pictures from your favorite films.
In the banquet area, it is also necessary to create a background behind which the newlyweds will sit. For this, it is best to use a banner covered with beige fabric. On it you should attach several clocks, a dummy fireplace, two mirrors and a shelf with books.
The newlyweds' table should be covered with a linen tablecloth to match the background. To create contrast, place a large silk napkin on top in brighter shades - pink or yellow. It will be beautiful to hang an LED garland in front and put the word “Love”. Glass bottles for kefir, cola, liqueur and other drinks are required on the tables.
One of the tables in the hall
It is advisable to place a table for gifts with treats for guests not far from the entrance On the wall in front of it you can hang a golden parrot cage, a birdhouse, a shelf with books and a clock. One long garland of pearls or any other white beads should be attached to the sides of the table itself. They will look especially impressive against the background of pink tablecloths. You can also place candlesticks here.
Choosing and decorating a tuple
If possible, it is worth renting one of the following cars:
- Rolls-Royce Phantom II Sedanca
- Chrysler Imperial Coupe
- Bentley Derby 3 1/2 liter
- Jaguar Mark V 3.5l
- Mercedes-Benz W 111 Cabrio
- Aston Martin DB6 Mark 2 Vantage.
If the cars proposed above are not available, you can limit yourself to a white convertible. It will be great if you can decorate it with painted roses. Pearl beads with large golden rings that need to be secured to the roof will also serve as an excellent decoration. You can attach lace ribbons to the door handles, and place a basket with fresh flowers (roses, peonies, dahlias) on the right side of the hood.
This is also a good option
Important little things
These include:
- Invitations. Since the “shabby chic” style involves multi-dimensional ornaments, voluminous lace patterns and ornate designs, a good solution would be to order invitations on gradient or kraft paper. It is better to choose a rectangular shape. A beautiful addition would be white lace and a piece of twine that will be used to tie the envelope. It is more logical to write the text itself with a pen.
- Place cards. They can be made from metal photo frames; inside you will need to insert cardboard with the names and surnames of the guests. They must have a leg at the back so that they can put the cards on the table. The last detail is a satin bow on the side.
- Book for recommendations. An interesting option is to decorate it in the form of a large photo frame. Inside you need to place two large hearts with the name of the newlyweds. Guests will have to surround them with their hearts, which should be smaller with warm words. You can also buy an artificial money tree and ask friends and relatives to hang leaves with wishes on it
- Ring pads. It would be original to buy a light pink heart-shaped box, cover it with pearls on the sides, and decorate it with lace artificial flowers in the center.
Photoshoot
Since the wedding decoration itself is already an excellent backdrop, a professional photographer should have no difficulty composing the frame.
The only danger is the abundance of details, which, if viewed from the wrong angle, will look too chaotic. Therefore, before choosing a specialist, be sure to look through his portfolio and give preference to one who already has experience photographing weddings of a similar topic.
Think in advance which symbols you want to use during the photo shoot. These could be birdcages, porcelain cups, antique keys, mirrors, antique furniture, empty decorated frames.
Photo
Shabby chic will be an excellent choice for romantic, creative couples who have a liking for antiques and sophisticated airy design. This idea will help make the holiday gentle, original and unforgettable, as in the photo below:
