Vintage, boho, recycled, rural. That is how the super talented Catherine Forge, who photographed this gown in all its glory, describes this enchanting vintage gown inspiration shoot that we have fallen in love with at Polka Dot Bride! Catherine was going for an ethereal aura for the shoot that would show off this stunning vintage gown in a relaxed country setting, at a private property in Gembrook, Victoria. The exquisite beading, the shimmer within the fabric and overall glamour of the gown in the afternoon sunlight makes for a breathtaking inspiration shoot indeed.
Catherine delves into the inspiration behind the shoot! “It was actually the dress that inspired the shoot! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I found this vintage dress in my local op shop, the Salvos store in Collingwood. It was in immaculate condition, and had original beading and hand stitching, as well as a stunning trail at the back. It also had a dry cleaning tag attached that looked like it came from sometime around the 1970s, so I think the dress could possibly date back to the 1960s, however I’m no dress expert so it’s anyone’s guess! I loved the idea of bringing the dress back to life, and giving it a modern bridal twist. I teamed up with a dream team duo, sisters Jennifer and Suzie Elphinstone. The stunning Jennifer to model the dress and talented makeup artist Suzie did hair and makeup. The flowers were from my favourite local florist, Fowlers Flowers. I asked for a bouquet that would pick up on the gold colours in the dress, and the team there put together a beautiful arrangement of stunning seasonal flowers and greenery.”
“With this styled shoot I wanted to give a bit of inspiration and “food-for-thought” to brides out there seeking something a bit different. As a wedding photographer I get the pleasure of seeing a lot of different kinds of beautiful wedding dresses, however it’s less often that a bride decides to buck the tradition and wear a non-white dress. When I got married myself in 2013 I tried on some white dresses, but they didn’t feel right on me and I ended up going with a tea-length 1950s style dress with a coloured floral pattern. I loved having the freedom to wear what I wanted and to not feel constricted by tradition.”
The lovely Catherine was inspired by the history of wedding gowns in her previous role as a historian. “I worked as a historian before becoming a wedding photographer, and find it fascinating to reflect on the evolution of the wedding dress over time. In Western culture wedding dresses weren’t always white – it wasn’t until the late 1800s that white became a popular option following the royal wedding of Queen Victoria and Albert of Saxe-Coburg in 1840. The Queen’s white dress featured stunning and expensive satin and lace, and in the following decades wearing a white wedding dress became synonymous with social standing and wealth, as white fabrics were more expensive and difficult to attain. White continues to be the most popular option today, but it’s great to know that there are options out there for brides who want to experiment with different colours, textures and designs, or even to recycle a beautiful vintage dress!”
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