Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” The age-old tradition of bridal showers has evolved over the years, but one thing remains timeless – capturing the memories through photos.

These snapshots serve as a window into the past, showcasing not only fashion, decor and customs but also the bond between friends, family, and the bride-to-be.

So grab your cup of tea and get ready to travel back in time with us as we delve into this captivating world.

1950s vintage photo of a young woman in April 1951 at her bridal shower looking surprised while standing in the doorway in early 1950s fashion

“Casey at her shower, April 1951. Source: Etsy-LightSilverAndPaper

Vintage Inn Note: My Wedding anniversary is coming up on April 28th, so I hope you excuse my nostalgia as I share a “vintage wedding” themed post this week.

Scroll to the end to see a couple of bridal shower photos from my own party in 2012.

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Vintage Bridal Shower Photos 1940s-1960s

Brief History Of The Bridal Shower

A bridal shower is a party thrown in honor of a bride-to-be, and it’s generally held anywhere from a few months to a few weeks before the wedding. Family members and friends gather to celebrate the bride ahead of her nuptials, play games, give advice, and gift her the essentials she’ll need to start married life.

The origin of the bridal shower dates back to 16th-century Holland, when a young girl’s father refused to provide a dowry for a marriage he disapproved of. The town got together and offered small gifts to help her start her home without the dowry money (Source).

Source: eBay

May 12th, 1949 at DePasquale’s Restaurant, Hartford, CT for Alice Wood’s bridal shower (the one with the corsage in the middle). Attending…EVERY STYLISH WOMAN IN CONNETICUT! Oh my gosh, I love this photo. So many great 1940s hats, 1940s hairstyles, dresses.

1940s vintage photo: May 12th, 1949 at DePasquale's Restaurant, Hartford, CT for Alice Wood's bridal shower. The image features stylish 1940s hats, 1940s hairstyles and 1940s dresses and 1940s hair flowers. LOVE!

Source: eBay

September 1958-Cutting the Bridal Shower cake while wearing a giant corsage and a pretty string of pearls.

1950s vintage photo of a September 1958 vintage bridal shower. The young woman is wearing a large corsage and cutting her bridal shower cake.

Source: Etsy-therescuedphoto

Receiving an electric alarm clock in the 1940’s was a great gift to have, as our young soon to be bride will soon discover. 1940s vintage photo.

1940s vintage photo of a young woman at her bridal shower holding a gift of an electric alarm clock while wearing a large corsage.

Source: Etsy-LightSilverAndPaper

Eula and La Doris McClaney (philanthropist) posing with Charles Williams at a wedding shower, Los Angeles, 1960 in fantastic 1960s fashions.

Who was Charles Williams? He was a renowned Los Angeles-based African American photographer, who was at the forefront of photography in Los Angeles during the 1930s and 1940s (Read his full story here).

Highlights:

1947, Williams co-founded the California School of Photography in the heart of the African-American community
He photographed African Americans in entertainment, politics, sports, and civil rights, including Dr. Martin Luther Kings Jr.’s many visits to Southern California
Cavalcade of Jazz provide an excellent example of Williams’ photographs of entertainers.
- During the 1948, annual Cavalcade of Jazz at Wrigley Field in LA, Williams captured images of some of the biggest stars of the Swing and emerging Bebop eras of Jazz, including the first integrated all-female big dance band, The International Sweethearts of Rhythm; singer, songwriter, and actor Frankie Laine; and Bebop creator, Dizzy Gillespie.

1960s Vintage Photo of Fantastic Black Glamour: Eula and La Doris McClaney (philanthropist) posing with Charles Williams (famous photographer) at a wedding shower, Los Angeles, 1960 in fantastic 1960s fashions.

Source: CSUN

So many fun things to look at in this 1950s photo. First up, our matching twins in their adorable dresses taking up most of this photo. The streamers from the shelf behind our pretty bride to be, are super fun and our table is well stocked with gifts. Our bride is one lucky gal!

1950s vintage photo of a Bridal Shower featuring a pretty young woman opening her gifts with twin girls in matching dresses taking up the photo and streamers as decor from the shelf.

Source: eBay

November 1969. Our curly haired bride to be Janice poses with her cake and a cute bride doll in front of a family portrait and floral curtains. Congrats Janice!

1960s vintage photo from November 1969 of a curly haired bride (Janice) posing with her cake and a cute bride doll in front of a family portrait and floral curtains at her bridal shower.

Source: eBay

Another photo to enjoy that features wonderful 1950s fashions and hairstyles, this time from 1953 (and a special mention to the purse in the forefront of the image. Awesome!).

1950s vintage photo of a 1953 bridal shower featuring a group of women including the bride to be in 1950s fashions, 1950s dresses, cat eye glasses, 1950s hairstyles and 1950s hats

Source: eBay

The next images from October 1955, are a collection for sale on eBay and they showcase a rip roaring fun 1950s Bridal Shower. LOVE the barkcloth curtains in the dining room and all our guests AND bride look so stylish.

October 1955 Bridal Shower vintage photo. The 1950s vintage image features the bride to be taking off her coat to prepare for the party

October 1955 Bridal Shower vintage photo. The 1950s vintage image features the bride to be and her guests in fantastic 1950s dresses and a super barkcloth curtains in the diningroom

October 1955 Bridal Shower vintage photo. The 1950s vintage image features the bride to be opening her gifts in her mid-century living room

October 1955 Bridal Shower vintage photo. The 1950s vintage image features the bride to be opening her gift of slippers.

I love a couple things about this final image in the series. 1. Our laughing bride. She is so happy. 2. The AWESOME Mid-Century shadow box with mirror above the mantel. I have wanted one of those for years and it still alludes me (because they are so darn exepensive). The one in the image is fun!

October 1955 Bridal Shower vintage photo. The 1950s vintage image features a laughing bride to be opening up her gifts with a fantastic 1950s shadow box above the mantel.

Jello Mold & bride doll unite! 1960s vintage photo of the bridal shower food table.

1960s bridal shower food table featuring a jello mold and a bride doll and a woman in a 1960s dress putting out food.

Source: eBay

Nothing says, welcome to be being a future housewife like a rolling pin. A 1940s photo.

Side note: Looking for 1940s hairstyle inspiration? This photo is fantastic for that (I must learn how to do the style on the women on the left, one in. Love it.).

1940s vintage photo of a 1940s bridal shower featuring 1940s dresses, 1940s shoes, 1940s hairstyles and bridal shower decor

Source: eBay

July 1964. A 1960s vintage photo of our future bride opening up pretty underwear while a friend with a big 1960s hairstyle looks on. I am going to assume that the photo on the table is our future groom. Also what a fun lampshade!

1960s vintage photo of a bridal shower from 1964 featuring the bride to be opening up lacy underwear while a friend with a big 1960s hairstyle looks on. The photo of the groom is on the table.

Source: eBay

Our last photos is another collection for sale on eBay that features not only the bridal shower but ALSO the wedding (15 images in total). There are too many photos to share on here, but here is a sample of what is in the photo album from 1955.

September 1955. Here is our lovely bride to be opening gifts in a living room filled with family portraits and a bit of streamers to make it truly a party. Love the umbrella to represent that it’s a “shower”.

1950s vintage photo of a bridal shower from 1955 featuring the bride to be opening gifts with decorations all around her in a 1950s dress.

Source: eBay

Cheers! What a fun photo of our future bride with some of her friends posing with their drinks at the home bar. A fun look into how people would decorate this space.

Further Reading: A Look Back At Life In 1940s-1960s Drinking Establishments & Home Bars

1950s vintage photo of a 1950s bridal shower from 1955 featuring the bride to be and her guests posing with drinks at a home bar.

Posing with the guests and cutting the cake. Cute look for our bride to be (great belt that is paired with that gingham skirt).

1950s vintage photo of a 1955 bridal shower featuring a group shot of the guests with the bride to be in 1950s dresses

1950s vintage photo of a 1955 Bridal Shower featuring the bride to be posing while cutting the cake in a 1950s top and 1950s skirt.

October 1955-THE WEDDING! Our beautiful bride opted for a pencil dress style for her 1950s wedding dress. I think it suites her for what appears to be more casual wedding day. What a handsome groom.

1950s vintage photo of a 1950s wedding featuring the bride in a pencil dress as her 1950s wedding dress posing with family

Source: eBay

I hope all our brides had a wonderful life and I hope all of you enjoyed this fun post. I just LOVED putting this one together, because it took me down memory lane for my own bridal shower (details below). Also, if you enjoyed this post as much as I did there will be a part 2 in the future because there was so many photos, I just could not share them all.

Here is my 2012 bridal shower with the theme being “The naughty & nice housewife”. It was a great day!

This was also at the early days of my journey into the world of vintage fashion and vintage hair. I had no clue what I really wanted for my wedding look (this was my trial style. Click the link below to see how I actually ended up looking), but I do love my vintage 1940s dress I’m wearing.

Further Reading: Overview of my 1940s / 1950s Swing Dancing Wedding

Further Reading: Collection of Vintage Wedding Posts from the 1920s-1960s (Archived)

Vintage Wedding Dress Shopping: I have created a collection of Vintage Wedding Dresses on Etsy that is perfect for one’s upcoming wedding (updated monthly).

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

About:

Fred Perlberg (1901-1991) began working in the New York fashion industry when he was sixteen. Three years later, at the age of nineteen, he started his own company (around 1920). Fred Perlberg Originals were mid-priced party and dance dresses and were marketed across the United States and Canada. Fred Perlberg retired in 1968, but the company continued with Roger Milot as the designer (Source-Vintage Fashion Guild).

1940s vintage clothing label for Fred Perlberg Dresses — 1940s Clothing Label

Vintage Inn Blog Note: I was unable to find any of his designs before the 1950s (a little bit in the 1940s) anywhere on the web. If any of my readers can shed light on this designer for the missing time periods that would be fantastic! Comment below.