Walk into any bridal boutique today and you’ll see them. Those high necklines. The short, cheeky veils. Maybe a pair of white go-go boots if the bride is feeling particularly retro. It’s funny because weddings in the 1960s weren't just about the fashion, even though the fashion was, frankly, incredible. They were a bridge. On one side, you had the stiff, formal 1950s "Father of the Bride" vibes, and on the other, the total "flower power" explosion of the early 70s.
It was a weird, transitional decade.
People think of the 60s as one big hippie fest, but that’s not really how it started. In 1961, you were basically still in the 50s. Brides were wearing heavy silk peau de soie and massive cathedral trains. By 1969? Some couples were getting hitched in meadows with daisy chains in their hair. Everything changed. The music, the laws, and definitely the hemlines.
The Jackie Kennedy Effect and Early 60s Traditionalism
If you want to understand the first half of the decade, you have to look at Jacqueline Kennedy. When she became First Lady in 1961, she basically became the blueprint for every American bride. Even though she actually married JFK in 1953, her 1960s style—that "Camelot" elegance—was what every woman wanted.
We’re talking about pillbox hats.
Gloves were non-negotiable back then. You wouldn't dream of walking down the aisle without them. Most weddings in the early 60s were held in churches or synagogues. Very formal. Very structured. The reception was often just a "cake and punch" affair in the church basement or a local hotel ballroom. It wasn't the three-day extravaganza we see now. You had some sandwiches, you toasted with some basic champagne, and you left in a car covered in shaving cream. Simple.
But then things got... experimental.
When the Hemlines Went Up
By the mid-60s, Mary Quant and the "Youthquake" movement in London hit the US like a freight train. Suddenly, the "Big White Dress" felt a little bit stuffy for the younger generation.
Enter the minidress.
💡 You might also like: Bootcut Pants for Men: Why the 70s Silhouette is Making a Massive Comeback
Imagine the scandal. A bride showing her knees! It seems like nothing now, but in 1965, it was a revolution. This was the era of the "Space Age" look. André Courrèges and Pierre Cardin were influencing everything. Brides started wearing A-line shifts with no waistline. They swapped the long lace veils for bouffant hair—the "beehive"—topped with a simple bow or a tiny birdcage veil.
Mia Farrow is the perfect example of this shift. When she married Frank Sinatra in 1966, she wore a pale, short-skirted suit and had a pixie cut. She looked like a gamine teenager, not a traditional matron. It was cool. It was effortless. It was a massive middle finger to the layers of crinoline their mothers had worn just ten years earlier.
The Rise of the Celebrity Wedding Spectacle
We can't talk about weddings in the 1960s without mentioning the star power. This was the decade where the "paparazzi" wedding really took hold.
Take Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Their first wedding in 1964 (the one in Montreal) was iconic for all the wrong—and right—reasons. Liz didn't wear white. She wore a canary yellow chiffon dress. She had lilies of the valley and hyacinths woven into a massive braid that reached her waist. It was theatrical. It told the world that a wedding didn't have to follow the "white dress, virgin bride" rulebook anymore. Since it was Taylor's fifth marriage, the yellow dress was a bold, stylistic choice that legitimized "alternative" bridal fashion for everyone else.
Then you have Priscilla and Elvis Presley in 1967.
That wedding was peak 60s kitsch. Priscilla’s hair was piled high in a black beehive, and her dress was actually something she'd partially designed herself, featuring rhinestone-encrusted sleeves. It was held at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. It only lasted eight minutes. Honestly, it set the stage for the Las Vegas wedding culture that persists today. It was fast, glamorous, and totally media-driven.
Changing Laws and the "Summer of Love" Influence
Toward the end of the decade, the "Establishment" was under fire. The Vietnam War was raging, the Civil Rights Movement was in full swing, and the youth were rebelling. This trickled down to the altar.
In 1967, the Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia finally struck down laws banning interracial marriage. This was a seismic shift for weddings in the 1960s. It wasn't just about fashion anymore; it was about who had the right to love. While it took time for social attitudes to catch up, the legal barriers were crumbling.
📖 Related: Bondage and Being Tied Up: A Realistic Look at Safety, Psychology, and Why People Do It
The "Flower Child" wedding emerged around 1968 and 1969.
This is where we see the transition into the 70s boho look. Couples started ditching the church for public parks or backyard ceremonies. The music moved away from "The Wedding March" and toward The Beatles or Simon & Garfunkel. Men grew their hair out. They traded the stiff morning suit for velvet blazers or even just embroidered tunics.
- Fabric: Lace moved from delicate Chantilly to heavier, floral "daisy" crochet.
- Vibe: Less "social obligation," more "personal expression."
- Flowers: Wildflowers replaced the tightly wired rose bouquets of the early decade.
What Most People Get Wrong About 60s Nuptials
A lot of folks think everyone in the 60s was a hippie. Honestly? Most people were still pretty conservative. Even in 1968, the majority of couples were still doing the traditional church wedding. The "counter-culture" was loud, but it wasn't the majority.
Another misconception: the "Shotgun Wedding." While the 60s saw the birth of the sexual revolution and the introduction of the pill in 1960, the stigma of pregnancy before marriage was still incredibly high. Many 1960s weddings were rushed affairs specifically because of societal pressure. The "mini-wedding" or the "hasty elopement" wasn't always a fashion choice—it was often a necessity to avoid a scandal.
The Logistics: Jello Molds and Cigarettes
If you attended a wedding in 1964, the experience was wildly different from today’s $40,000 productions.
First off, people smoked. Everywhere. At the tables, on the dance floor, during the speeches. The air in a 1960s reception hall was a thick cloud of Winston and Lucky Strike smoke.
The food? Different world. You’d likely see:
- Aspic (savory Jello) dishes filled with vegetables or seafood.
- Swedish meatballs on toothpicks.
- Fruit cocktail with a maraschino cherry on top.
- Chicken à la King.
The cake was almost always a tiered white sponge with buttercream frosting, topped with those tiny plastic bride-and-groom figurines. No "naked cakes," no "salted caramel filling." Just sugar and tradition.
👉 See also: Blue Tabby Maine Coon: What Most People Get Wrong About This Striking Coat
Why We Are Still Obsessed With 60s Weddings
There is a reason why Pinterest is still flooded with 60s wedding inspiration. It’s because that decade perfected the "cool" bride.
Modern brides are tired of the "princess" look. They want the sharp lines of a 60s shift dress. They want the fun, flirty vibe of a shoulder-length veil. Designers like Danielle Frankel or Houghton have built entire brands on the "rebellious" aesthetic that started in the mid-60s.
It was the first time weddings became truly personal. Before the 60s, you did what your mother did. After the 60s, you did what you wanted. That shift is the foundation of the modern multi-billion dollar wedding industry. We owe the "boho" look, the "short dress" look, and the "unconventional venue" look to the risk-takers of this era.
How to Apply 1960s Style to Your Modern Wedding
If you’re looking to channel this era without looking like you’re wearing a costume, focus on the silhouettes.
- Go for the Mini: If a full-length gown feels too heavy, a 1960s-inspired mini dress for the rehearsal dinner or the reception is a total power move. Look for "mod" shapes—stiff fabrics like mikado or heavy crepe work best.
- The Bow Factor: 1960s hair was all about the accessories. A simple silk bow at the back of a ponytail or atop a half-up-half-down style is a direct nod to the era.
- Graphic Liner: Skip the "natural" bridal makeup. Go for a winged eyeliner or "twiggy" lashes. It’s a bold look that photographs incredibly well.
- Color Palette: Use "harvest gold," "avocado green," or "burnt orange" in your floral arrangements or table linens. These colors are making a massive comeback and feel grounded and earthy rather than dated.
Weddings in the 1960s were the last time marriage felt like a true cultural frontier. Whether it was breaking racial barriers or just breaking the rules of what a dress should look like, the decade redefined the "I Do."
To truly capture the 1960s spirit today, don't just copy the clothes. Copy the attitude. Be a little bit daring. Wear the short veil. Hire a band that plays garage rock. The 1960s taught us that the ceremony is important, but the personality of the couple is what people actually remember fifty years later.
Start by looking at old family albums—not the professional ones, but the candid Polaroids. That’s where the real magic of the 60s lives. Look at the way people sat, the way they laughed, and the sheer lack of "perfect" staging. That authenticity is the best thing you can steal from a 1960s wedding. Focus on high-quality, mid-century modern stationery with bold typography to set the tone early. Pick one "mod" element—like a statement headpiece or a vintage getaway car—and let it be the focal point of your day.