An Original 1970s Vintage Wedding Dress for a Manchester Town Hall Wedding

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Good morning all, I have the loveliest set of images to share with you this morning.  Matthew and Pollyanna, both designers, tied the knot on New Years Eve last year at Manchester Town Hall.  The couple only had photographic coverage of the ceremony and just beyond, so there are no getting ready, reception or evening shots here, but nonetheless, these portrait images taken by photographer Jonny Draper are so beautiful I just had to share. Now, there may be a lesson in this wedding about considering the length of time you can afford to hire a photographer, but that said, Matthew and Pollyanna purposefully set out to create a day without spectacle that focussed on the act of marrying itself, and in my view, they did this beautifully.

"When it came to planning our wedding, we were really just thinking about the way our grandparents did it. Not being overly concerned about the styling – but the enjoyment of the day."

Photography Copyright (c) 2013, Jonny Draper

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

"Matthew and I met in the first term of University, Leeds Art School in 2008. We lived and travelled together for 4 years before moving home to Manchester (Pollyanna’s Home, Matthew is from Nottingham).  In July 2013 Matthew proposed at the top of Kinder Scout in the Peak District on a Sunday morning, with a 1920’s pearl and diamond ring.

I wanted to get married straight away and just run off, but Matt was going to do it properly – so he was left to organise the big day! On November the 10th Matt booked the Manchester Town Hall for New Years Eve, giving everyone seven weeks notice and preparation time! 

Our venue was a beautiful place and accessible by all, with hotels around for every need and budget. We live in Manchester, so for us it was home."

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

"The dress I wore was made in 1971 for my auntie, and made by her mother in law. The material was white satin embossed with Lily of the Valley flowers – a 70's take on a 30’s style dress. The off cuts of the dress where made into the family christening gown that I wore at my christening.

I loved that I didn’t have to choose a dress. The perfect one was already in the family and needed no alteration."

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

"Our florist Dragonfly Blooms sourced the best quality artificial flowers as fresh flowers where not an option for the time of year. We had ivy and Christmas roses to suit the season and the bouquet was trailing delicate and relaxed like the dress."

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

Pollyanna wore her Grandmother's earrings and pearl necklace, with ivy leaves, as a hair accessory.  She also chose to have her Grandmother's wedding ring as it symbolised the strong marriage that she came from.

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

Pollyanna's bridesmaids wore dresses with faux furs from Topshop.

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

 


1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

Words of Wedded Wisdom…

“Let the groom do it!”

1970s vintage wedding dress // Jonny Draper Photography

Some prefer to keep their wedding as simple a celebration as possible. This just goes to show how beautiful it still is if you do.  At the end of the day a wedding is about the union of two people, not favours, decor or losing your marbles over styling the venue to perfection.

I'd love your thoughts on these beautiful images.

A big thank you to photographer Jonny Draper for sharing his work today, and many congratulations to you both, Matthew and Pollyanna.

Love Annabel

Heart

Photographer – Jonny Draper
Venue – Manchester Town Hall
Wedding Dress – Family heirloom, 1970s vintage
Veil/Headpiece – Grandmothers necklace with ivy leaves
Brides' shoes – Vivienne Westwood via EBay
Bride's accessories – Grandmothers earrings
Grooms Suit – Reiss + bow tie from EBay + Paul Smith shoes
Bridesmaids – Dresses + faux fur shrug via Topshop + New Look shoes
Flowers – Dragonfly Blooms

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Annabel

Annabel View all Annabel's articles

Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.

4 thoughts on “An Original 1970s Vintage Wedding Dress for a Manchester Town Hall Wedding

  1. Awww! The bride is so pretty and gorgeous and so is her bridal gown! Even I am tying the knot next year and really perplexed about the whole wedding layout until I came across this article and awesome pictures. Thank you guys for helping me out.

  2. Thanks for sharing Annabel – this really was the most beautiful, relaxed and fun wedding! I love that these guys just wanted to ‘get married’ and not worry about all the ins and outs.
    Gorgeous!
    x

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