Vintage Nirvana… Kate Halfpenny’s studio

Vintage Heaven does exist – you’ll find it behind a hand-painted screen that hides rails of delicate dresses in Kate Halfpenny’s London studio. The moment you step inside, you can’t help but fall for the idea of becoming a Halfpenny bride – and fall I most certainly did - for a beautiful 50s number that she is currently recreating for me.

But back to her studio… the huge space, hidden down a cobbled mews in Camden, is a feast for the eyes: vintage gowns, fur stoles and lace caplets are hung haphazard among strings of antique necklaces, or draped over old-fashioned tailor’s mannequins; silk ribbons and trims spill out from the drawers of wooden cabinets, while old-fashioned glass bell jars display her new jewellery collection.

Don’t expect the usual bridal experience – Kate’s no-nonsense approach is refreshing and she has an expert eye in picking out the right vintage dress from her collection, or will make a vintage-style dress to order. I went a bit snap-happy at my last appointment there (no pics of the dress I’m afraid though!):

Readers’ Vintage Weddings: Amy and John

Amy and John's day is a true inspiration for all those planning a homemade wedding. Accomplished in a matter of months with the minimum of fuss and without a Bridezilla moment in sight, she planned the perfect vintage-themed wedding. Here’s the low-down:

Where: The ceremony took place in awe-inspiring Southwark Cathedral (with a crowd of Borough Market onlookers outside), followed by a sunny walk (following hand-drawn "walk of love" maps by Amy’s sister Sally) along the Thames to the faded grandeur, paint peeling walls and fairy lights of Wiltons Music Hall – London’s oldest surviving music hall.

The look: 50s-style dresses for the bride (http://www.dollycouture.com/) and floral ones for the bridesmaids, her favourite pink shoes, an ice-cream van and jam jars filled with peonies and pink roses, bought during a dawn visit to New Covent Garden flower market a couple of days before.

A bridesmaid in Vivien of Holloway

Homemade things: Amy says: “I sewed the table runners and bunting using cheap fabric from Abakhans in Manchester; I made the flower girl dress from an extra metre of fabric I bought from Vivien of Holloway; The favours were handmade by us and my sister Sally - little brown envelopes stamped with vintage stamps from etsy, filled with homemade badges made by my sis, special poems written by John and my favourite baking recipes”. Amy, we salute you!

Amy’s tips: “When I was looking for a new 50s style dress, I would have loved one from somewhere like Candy Anthony but they were too pricey. America has lots of companies that create more affordable vintage-style dresses... It was a bit of a risk as I was worried that it wouldn't fit, but the dress was perfect. And a fraction of the cost of anything similar in the UK.”

A "Walk of Love" map by Sally Leach

Wiltons Music Hall

Inside Wiltons