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You may be lucky and find just the right dress at a store specializing in secondhand clothes.

But don't settle for anything less than perfect. It's a special day, and you will be the center of attention.

Many vintage boutiques offer not only turn-of-the-century lawn dresses suitable for weddings, but one-of-a-kind dresses or suits from more recent decades. Unless you just happen to stumble upon a design that fits you perfectly, it's more likely you will need some extra work done to make the dress fits your figure. Be sure to find an experienced seamstress, as old lace and fabric can deteriorate quickly if not handled properly.

If you don't find anything after scouring the local vintage stores, make an appointment with the personal shopper at a specialty or department store — these services are offered at no charge — and tell them what you are looking for. Do you want to wear a white miniskirt? A silver beaded strapless dress? A black satin pantsuit? A big floppy hat? White boots or metallic platforms?

There are lots of young designers out there whipping up retro-inspired designs that will make your wedding a fantastic flashback for years to come.

Look for designs by Cynthia Rowley, Betsey Johnson, Mossimo, Nicole Miller or Anna Sui. You'll end up with a dress or suit that will probably cost you a lot less than a traditional wedding dress — and you can wear it after the big day if you want to.

Your own wedding accessories will depend on the creation you decide to wear to your ceremony. If you forgo pearls and embroidered gloves, choose other special pieces instead: vintage rhinestone earrings, a jaunty straw hat swathed in gauze or patent-leather high-heeled boots.

The trick is to keep the whole bridal ensemble consistent with the retro theme — no matter what era you choose to give your own personal touch.

While this theme calls for a more casual approach to a wedding ceremony, it also provides you a way to personalize the event. Picking out the attendants' attire may be the most fun of all. Get them in on the shopping; chances are they'll want something as individual as your dress. Neon-colored A-line cocktail sheaths, perhaps? Why not match them to the groom's attendants' shirts?

If your wedding day is filled with surprises, chances are your engagement and wedding rings will be, too. Some of the newest looks in his and her jewelry are colored gemstones. Look for tsavorite, a deep-green stone; tanzanite, a rich purple; pink tourmaline and chrome tourmaline in bright green. Or check out the vintage jewelry at estate sales and jewelers. You can find rings just as unusual as your wedding ceremony.

The possibilities are endless with a theme that relies not on tradition but your own sense of style. Consider a disco dance after the rehearsal dinner at your favorite nightclub. Or a great pianist and soloist who belts out blasts from the past. There are always plenty of local disc jockeys available to spin your favorite retro tunes.

And if you have any artist friends who would like to help, encourage them to come up with creative ideas. Use hand-painted ceramic flowers on your tables and in the wedding bouquet; stencil linens to sway from the ceiling at your reception; cover the tables with tablecloths that can be signed with your guests' signatures and saved for years to come; let tall, colorful candles cast a rosy glow on the entire scene.

Give your attendants gifts of tree seedlings, bowls of flower bulbs or custom-designed glassware wrapped in shining Mylar to toast your new life and a great party they'll always remember.