When planning a wedding, many couples choose to tie in family heirlooms to their special day. Whether they opt to wear their mother’s earrings, wrap their bridal bouquet in a father’s handkerchief, or display family photos at the reception, incorporating special family items can add sentimental value to the big day.
We spoke with wedding industry experts, Lovell Cox from Lovellfaye, Katy Roden from Branching Out Events, and Lottie Fowler from Grit & Gold Event Co to get their insight and tips on repurposing family heirlooms in your wedding. Each shared their own experiences with family heirlooms in weddings and their top ways to make your big day unique.
1. Start a conversation!
If you’re indecisive on which family heirloom you want to use, Lottie Fowler suggests you start by talking to your parents. “Make it a family conversation,” she says. “When you start talking to your mom or dad or grandparents about what is really important to them and the things that they treasure, they become part of the story. They get excited, and it makes them feel loved.” Begin digging through your family history and asking family members for items you can borrow. “I have had brides reach out to their grandmothers and find vintage hangers, and one bride found [out] her grandfather forged his own wedding ring,” says Lottie.
2. Say yes to the dress.
After a video of Lovell Cox’s wedding seamstress skills went viral on the internet, she began receiving inquiries from brides all over the country to repurpose their own heirloom dresses, now reconstructing wedding dresses full time. Lovell’s designs are proof that when it comes to redoing your mother’s or grandmother’s dress, almost anything is possible! Lovell says that most people come to her for the “second dress”—a dress worn to the rehearsal dinner, bridal luncheon, or bridal shower—and many of the brides just want the dress to fit them and their style. When one client came in with a stained dress, Lovell was able to turn it into something completely new and fresh, while keeping the integrity of the dress intact. “We made a whole new custom dress and accessories—a bag, handkerchief, and a headband,” she says. “It was honestly one of my favorite projects.” For brides still considering repurposing a family member’s dress, Lovell urges them to take the plunge. “I always say there is a creative solution,” she says. “If we have to rebuild the whole dress, we can. Even if brides think there’s no way they would be able to use their mom’s dress, there is a way. It just might be a different direction than what they were thinking.”
3. Let your family in on the plans.
Before you hit go on using a family heirloom in your wedding, Lottie advises that you make sure your family is aware of the plans before the big day. “It is extremely important to be transparent and ensure that everyone is okay with your choices,” she says. For example, Lovell shares that grandfathers and other family members may want to see the heirloom dress before it takes on a new design. It makes the process extra special to share it with the family members you’re choosing to honor.
And if you get stuck on day-of gifts, consider calling on family to help. “I had a recent bride who was really stumped on what to get her groom as a gift,” says Lottie. “I suggested talking to his grandfather, and he was able to rummage up some cufflinks.” The bride had the cufflinks repackaged in a pretty new box with a note from her husband-to-be’s grandpa, and they were a hit.
4. Personalize your bridal flowers.
If you’re looking for a way to carry a small memento, try adding them to your bridal bouquet. “At least 80 percent of the weddings we do, there is some type of note saying the mom is going to be supplying a piece of lace from her dress or even grandma’s dress,” says Katy Roden. “We have also seen cameos of grandparents, which is a little picture charm that we pin on to the bridal bouquet.” Katy’s team pays extra attention to the details, making sure the charms are facing the bride. Special lockets, bracelets, rosaries, or embroidered handkerchiefs are perfect for adding that special touch to your personal bouquet.
5. Incorporate family jewelry.
Family jewelry is one of the most popular heirloom items couples incorporate in their weddings. Jewelry pieces could be worn, attached to a bridal bouquet, or brought to include in flat-lay photos. When photographing jewelry, Lottie says her team “tries to be intentional about capturing those [jewelry pieces] and incorporating them in the flat-lays where it makes the most sense.” For instance, she might place a grandmother’s photo next to her ring.
6. Remember a family member in a meaningful way.
Katy Roden shares that flowers can evoke emotion for individuals who have lost family members—maybe it’s a grandmother who always grew gardenias or an aunt who wore a rose-infused fragrance. If a particular flower holds special significance, adding them into your bouquet can make for an extra-personal moment. “Flowers are one of the first things you see on wedding day,” says Katy. “[Bouquets are] one of the most important pieces to us, though some of the smallest things we make. We put a lot of detail in them.”
Family heirlooms are also a special way to remember loved ones who have passed away. Wearing an item that belonged to a family member may help you feel close to them, as if they were a part of your wedding. Lovell shares that one of the most surprising aspects of her job is that many brides come to her with a dress that belonged to their mother, who has passed away. “It’s the one thing they have of their mother’s to incorporate into the wedding, which is really special,” she says.
