Old Money Wedding: What To Choose For An Old Money Wedding

Find all the answers you need as you plan your old money wedding. From choosing the right style of wedding dress to the types of cakes, decor and venues that work with an old money wedding theme, let’s explore all the elements you need for a stylish old money wedding to remember.

What exactly is the old money wedding aesthetic?

Old money weddings are about historic luxury. Think Downton, Selena Gomez’s wedding and Grace Kelly’s and you have the aesthetic right.

The old money aesthetic is glamorous yet refined, luxurious yet classic. Nothing is overdone yet everything has a distinct air of luxury. It’s about attention to detail, fine-quality choices and extra touches that elevate each of your wedding details, turning them into something extra special.

With our endless zest for classic shows, like Bridgerton and Downton Abbey, which transport us back to a time when opulence truly was impressive, an old money wedding is your chance to indulge and pamper you both and the people you love most on the biggest day of your life.

This is THE contemporary way to do elegance so if you want to create an elegant wedding with glamour and style that sets you apart, an old money wedding is the perfect way to do it. Whilst delivering the wow factor, old money styling is timeless so in years to come this is a look that will still be impressive.

How to create an old money wedding

From wedding dresses to cakes and decor, let’s take a look at how to give each element of your wedding details an old money upgrade so you can pull off this stylish aesthetic in legendary fashion.

Let’s explore how to choose old money:

• colours

• venues

• wedding dresses and groom attire

• decor

• florals

• guest dress codes

• hairstyles

• rings

• wedding invitations

1. Colours: Colour is always a good place to start with wedding themes. For your old money wedding you’ll want to keep the colour scheme neutral. Think monochrome black and white colour schemes with metallic accents so lots of white, cream, ivory and black.

For colour accents choose: navy blue, rich browns, deep greens and subtle touches of pastels or rose gold. For something a bit lighter in summer, a touch of sailor red, pastels or summer sea blue with cream will also work well.

2. Venues: For the perfect backdrop to an old money wedding choose a historic venue with beautiful symmetrical architecture and sumptuous grounds.

Whether it’s a castle, stately home, elegant country house or an old money hotel, manicured lawns, archways, fountains, plasterwork, pillars, chandeliers and huge drives will set the scene for your glamorous wedding. Finish with a classic car and you’ve mastered the look. Find plenty of grand wedding venues in Coco Wedding’s curated list or for the US, Architectural Digest’s multi-state suggestions.

3. Wedding Dresses & Guest Attire:

Old money styling is luxurious and refined. Sumptuous fabrics like silks, velvets, lace and satins are central to the look. Add pops of metallics, pearls, black bows and the odd diamond, ruby, emerald or sapphire and you have the aesthetic right.

For your old money wedding dress that means keeping things classic. Beautiful, sleek, fitted wedding dresses, with nipped in waists, clean silhouettes and superb tailoring that finishes in a flowing train are the perfect way to pull off the look. Think Grace Kelly, Selena Gomez and Princess Kate’s beautiful, romantic wedding dresses and you have the look.

These are the types of romantic wedding dresses, iconic wedding dress designers like Vera Wang, Emilia Wickstead and Ralph Lauren have become known for. With your grand stately home, castle or manor house as the backdrop and your guests in black tie, this type of stunning wedding dress will look perfect.

For your bridal accessories, beautiful classic stiletto heels in luxe materials, an elegant long veil and pearl or diamond drop earrings will complete the look. Get swoon-worthy inspo from Vera Wang Bridal.

4. Wedding Guests, Groom and Groomsmen’s attire: For your old money wedding, the dress code for everyone is black tie. For your wedding guests that means the chance to get glammed up in beautiful dresses for women and suits for men.

For your groom and his groomsmen a tux is non-negotiable. Traditionally this should be a black tuxedo finished with a bow tie and optional black waistcoat or black satin or silk cummerband. But there is room for personal expression.

Dark blue or coloured velvet dinner jackets are other options or a black tuxedo jacket can be finished with black silk, satin or velvet details to make it extra special. With everyone looking glamorous, you’re guaranteed to pull off a day to remember. Discover plenty of dinner jacket ideas at Moss.

5. Florals: Your old money wedding florals should be beautiful, timeless and refined. To achieve the look you want a monochrome colour scheme with elegant, classic white florals like roses, peonies and calla lillies, accompanied by plenty of foliage in rich green hues.

Your floral arrangements should be abundant without going over the top with pops of pastel or gentle blue flowers used to break up the monotone white. Statement trees with white blooms can also be used to add interest (again think Princess Kate’s trees that lined the aisles). Check out monochrome floral styling for ideas at Fall Into Flowers.

6. Wedding Cakes: Old money wedding cakes are beautiful and quite different to the statement, colourful, elaborate wedding cakes we’ve become used to. Old money wedding cakes are totally pared back using only traditional piping and white fondant as decoration.

This style of totally pared back wedding cake design was recently embraced by Selena Gomez at her wedding. Like Selena you can go for one layer or multiple layers for a more dramatic look.

7. Decor: For your old money wedding decor, alongside luxe fabrics, monochrome colours and greenery add little touches of old-school glamour to complete the look.

From heritage wedding menu fonts to coupe champagne glasses, rugs, string quartets or jazz bands, stylish sofas dotted here and there, classic candelabras and monogrammed napkins, you can have lots of fun adding unique touches that evoke a feeling of old school glam.

8. Rings: Old money rings are classic designs, often with a central, coloured stone surrounded by diamonds or a simple diamond ring. Halo rings with an outer circle of diamonds, trilogy rings with diamonds on either side or a simple diamond ring in a unique cut, such as an emerald or asscher cut are beautiful old money ring styles that are understated yet luxurious.

9. Hair: For old money wedding hair think Princess Kate’s go-tos for glam events of a slick chignon for an updo or left loose with beautiful curls if you want to wear it down.

10. Wedding Invitations: Old money wedding invitations are equally refined. Sticking with monochrome, black typography on a cream background, classic decorative borders and simple designs are the way to go. Browse our collection of beautiful old money wedding invitations to kickstart your look.

Charlotte is a luxury wedding stationer who has worked in the wedding industry for over 10 years, starting out as a wedding copywriter. See her elegant designs at DesignByLyft