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Just as classic dress shapes are poised to dominate the aisle this year, old-fashioned trends of every sort – from 1930s veils to smartphone-free ceremonies – are feeling new again.

Jonathan Short/AP

Cap veils

There’s (still) no escaping Gatsby-inspired feathered fascinators – you’ll see them on the wedding party and on the guests this year. Another equally vintage – and perhaps more original – headpiece is a 1930s-era cap veil. Half hat, half veil, this lacy style can be worn, as it was by Kate Moss for her 2011 nuptials, slightly further back on the crown or pulled down over the forehead to hit just above the brows.

Big hair

Wider than it is high, this hairstyle will not result in a Bumpit comeback. Spotted on Jenny Packham’s spring bridal runway (above), these tresses are decidedly more playful than a Texas bouffant. The look is best achieved with oversized curls hitting just above the shoulder and parted slightly to the side (an encrusted barrette is optional). D.I.Y. brides, beware: This is a do that demands the careful, hairspray-wielding hand of a professional.

Cascading bouquets

Densely packed spherical bouquets have been standard issue for many years now. But with the resurgence of early 20th-century wedding fashion, brides are asking florists to replicate the loose, cascading arrangements of the time. No mere posies tied up with string, these bouquets are statement-makers – often trailing several feet towards the floor with blooms, ivy and ribbon – and are best suited to formal affairs, held in the hand of a confident sophisticate.

Textured cakes

Without question, 2013 was the year of the ombre cake. Much like the dip-dyed hairstyle, these confections were iced in dark-to-light shades of the bridal-party colour. And like the hairstyle, it’s a look that continues into 2014. Couples who are ahead of the curve, however, will opt for a more refined buttercream application: all-white icing that gets interest from textured waves, ruffles, swirls and weaves, like the ones that cover this layer cake from Toronto bakery Bobbette & Belle.

No smartphones

One of the things that makes the big day so special is sharing it with family and friends. You just don’t necessarily want them to share it with the world. The solution: a formal request for guests to pocket their smartphones. No texting, no tweeting and no Instagram. That way the attention remains on the happy couple, who’ll be the first one to post a (professionally rendered) ceremony shot to Facebook, thank you very much.

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