Vintage-Inspired Wedding Dress Ideas from BHLDN

The latest collection from Anthropologie's wedding brand BHLDN is an ode to a bygone era. While so many wedding dress designers are going for more modern silhouettes and sexy mermaid wedding-dress styles, the BHLDN Fall 2021 bridal collection features an array of feminine bridal styles inspired by vintage wedding dresses.

From timeless silhouettes to elegant vintage-inspired details designed to capture the opulence of eras and ages past, brides will love the 25 new vintage-inspired wedding dresses that offer something for everyone. Whether you're getting married in a church or temple, in the great outdoors, or in a formal ballroom, these vintage-inspired wedding dresses are sure to inspire your own wedding look for celebrations with a range of styles from bohemian-chic to formal to modern.

Take a look at some of the elegant vintage-inspired dresses from the BHLDN fall 2021 collection below, and shop your favorites by clicking on each image!

Vintage-Inspired Wedding Dresses

If you're looking for elegant wedding dresses with Art-Deco beading or embellishments reminiscent of a bygone era, you'll love "Laurel" – a V-neck gown featuring crystals and pearly beadwork, as well as "Remington" with its panels of Art Deco beading and lace appliqués. Do you love the beautiful buttons along the back that grace vintage wedding dresses? If so, "Bennett" features buttons all along the back and sweeping train, and "Abigail" showcases a button back below an embellished keyhole detail. 

Ideal for the modern bride who appreciates a vintage wedding dress but wants a wedding gown more suited to her style, "Marnie" will be perfect for a wedding that honors Old Hollywood with its satin material and slip silhouette that's having a major moment in fashion right now. For a similar look that's a bit more structured, "Pearce" offers a one-shoulder neckline with a minimalist feel for brides wanting to strike the perfect balance between a vintage look and the feeling most modern-made dresses give today's brides.

While tea-length dresses are on seemingly every list of vintage-inspired wedding dresses, you won't find any tea-length gowns in this bridal collection. For a 1950s feel without a tea-length wedding dress, look to fun styles in pastel blush tones like "Written in the Stars" featuring shimmering sequins and "Viv" with a gorgeous full skirt and subtle side cutouts. We also love the ruffles on "Greer" for an effortless vintage wedding dress feel. 

With so many vintage-inspired wedding dresses to choose from, some brides may go with gowns featuring details reminiscent of traditional lace with a modern twist, as well as classic materials like mikado, silk, and satin. For brides who want to pair the two, "Bradley" features a floral-embroidered bodice with an illusion off-the-shoulder neckline and a mikado skirt and "Zola" showcases botanical embroidery on the bodice and a bias-cut satin skirt. "Lita" offers a modern gown that truly looks like vintage wedding dresses with its gauzy layered coverlet with embroidery and beading over a silk charmeuse gown.

Though actual vintage wedding gown options may not have on-trend floral wedding details that today's brides want, many of the styles in the fall 2021 collection showcase floral wedding dress styles designed with vintage inspiration for exactly the look modern brides desire. "Elena" features an airy tulle skirt and floral appliqués on the bodice, "Lucia" showcases a high neck with large-scale floral embroidery throughout the column gown, "Sylvie" has off-the-shoulder sleeves and a bold floral print, and "Rowan" features colorful floral embroidery ideal for boho-chic weddings. 

A common misconception is that all vintage-inspired wedding dresses are from the 1920s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and so on; however, many brides desiring a vintage wedding look will search for a wedding dress that's reminiscent of the 1990s – as 90s fashion is surging in popularity for weddings and beyond. For these brides, we love "Robyn" with its strappy open back, "Braylin" for its double straps and open back, and "Celeste" for a silk slip look with subtle beadwork and embroidery that has a vintage sheath silhouette.

We also love when a wedding dress offers two looks in one, so brides can easily transition from the ceremony to the reception or after-party. While vintage wedding dresses can typically only offer this when they've been customized, the fall 2021 collection features a number of vintage-inspired wedding dresses that allow for a "second dress" look – without the second dress. 

For brides desiring this two-in-one wedding look, "Cosette" features a long-sleeve overlay in gossamer lace with pearly beadwork for the ceremony, which can be removed to reveal an open-back champagne slip dress for dancing, and "Poppy" for a modern bridal jumpsuit that's perfect for the reception and an overskirt ideal for the ceremony.

For more fashion tips, discover the answers to some frequently asked bridal questions, see vintage-inspired wedding dresses from designer Claire Pettibone, find out how Claire Pettibone customizes wedding dresses for two looks in one, and shop popular wedding shoes. Also, be sure to check out our extensive photo galleries, which feature images of the wedding dresses chosen by real brides.