Lace has to be the fabric most synonymous with the softly romantic rustic and vintage wedding style that has proven to have real staying power as a wedding trend. The stunning lace used by Sarah Burton for the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding gown was arguably the real catalyst for the latest love affair with lace—even if she did borrow the idea from Grace Kelly—but lace as a bridal fabric has a long history.
The History Of Bridal Lace
The lace industry was at its peak in northern Europe in the seventeenth century. The fabric was so ubiquitous it was used on almost everything, including as decoration for door handles! That might be a touch too far for even the most lace-loving bride, but the fabric is endlessly versatile and still sings with the homespun ethic. In fact, Dolce and Gabbana have been known to project images of Italian lace makers onto the background of their catwalk shows to emphasise the craftsmanship involved. Legend has it that Queen Victoria’s lace wedding dress took 100 craftswomen six months to make.
Though wedding dresses made entirely from lace may have fallen out of favour in the intervening decades, delicate lace remains a familiar element in many weddings, thanks to its use to create bridal garters, veils and parasols.
DIY Wedding Decorations
While you might still choose handmade lace for a wedding gown, for reception decorations, more affordable machine-made versions are readily available in almost every format. To use lace as part of a simple, rustic wedding, combine its ethereal beauty with natural, rough-hewn fabrics such as jute, hessian or burlap. These fabrics are easy to obtain and are a great starting point for DIY wedding decorations. They can be used alongside wholesale wedding linen to create table runners, chair sashes and decorative bows.
It’s possible to buy burlap and lace combined as a ribbon or pre-made into cutlery pockets or lace-inspired paper doilies. Versatile wedding items like these can help you to make that romantic and delicate lace theme a reality without breaking the budget or over-taxing your craft skills.
Wedding Decorations Online
If you’re buying wedding decorations online rather than making them, look no further than WWS’s lace and burlap and lace bunting. Bunting is synonymous with high days and holidays and adds a fun feature to outdoor and indoor receptions.
Embellished lace, in a variety of colours, can also be bought in bulk online. This can be used to create ceremony backdrops, to overlay plain tablecloths, or to create simple chair covers or screens.
WWS has a range of ready-made bridal accessories crafted from jute and lace, including a guest book, flower basket and ring pillow. For a more formal wedding, look for lace with embellishments and combine it with cotton for a crisp and pure finish or with satin for a more glamorous and luxurious look.
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