How To Plan a Vintage 1920’s Wedding

1920 wedding

Thanks to the hit television series “Downton Abbey” and the ever-growing popularity of all things vintage, one of the most popular wedding trends today remains the 1920’s vintage wedding theme.

The vintage glitz and glamour of the decade is unsurpassed. From sequin embellished flapper dancers to crystal champagne glasses, vintage 1920’s accessories are undeniably fabulous. If you are planning a 1920’s themed wedding, your guests can join in the fun too.

Here we will give wedding planning ideas for a 1920’s vintage wedding that you and your guests will enjoy.

Before the wedding

When planning a 1920’s vintage wedding, start the theme at the very earliest opportunity. When you send out your invitations to your guests to save-the-date, invitations, your hen and stag nights and rehearsal dinner, choose a design that is inspired by the Art Deco era. There are several examples online, but the general design is black and gold with intricate borders and motifs.

At your hen party, play big band music, have sparklers and serve champagne or sparkling wine. The bridal party can wear flapper dresses and feather boas whilst nibbling on finger foods. If you are having a day-time hen party, plan a tea party with white dresses, sun hats, gloves and high-tea goodies.

A Swanky 1920’s Wedding Dress

If you are planning to wear a vintage wedding dress from the 1920’s, find a professional wedding tailor who can alter it to a perfect fit. You can have a custom reproduction gown made, or buy a vintage wedding dress replica from designers or wedding stores. There are many to choose from. If you want a cover for cooler evenings, try a fake fur stole.

The groom can wear a tuxedo to recreate the debonair look of the era.

From a simple, shimmering head dress to an all-out sequin gown, the glamour of the 1920’s is fun as your celebration dress code. Male guests can also don their best three piece suits or tweed accessories to ensure they look the part.

1920’s Wedding Décor

Anything vintage from the 1920’s or surrounding decades is perfect. When planning, if you can, choose an elegant venue with chandeliers so you only need to add little extras. Continue with the black, white/ivory and gold décor used on your wedding stationary, have food displayed on gold platters, use beads and feathers for your centrepieces, have sequins on your table cloths. Pearls are very 1920’s, so drape white beads around the edges of the tables and your cake for an additional lift.

Place liquor flasks on the tables, with decks of cards and poker chips. These can become your wedding favours.

Get your guests involved with your theme, have a selection of feather boas, cloche hats and cigarette holders for the ladies. Fedoras and bow ties for the men so that everyone can dress up. Set up a photo-booth and create vintage sepia photographs.

1920’s Art Deco table settings

All vintage art deco and 1920’s tables can incorporate your colour palette. You can have white linen tablecloths with gold rimmed white plates, gold rimmed wine glassed and black rimmed water glasses. Perhaps a black tablecloth with a gold table runner. Or have a mix of styles on each table.

1920’s moonshine drinks

Whilst you will want to have some non-alcoholic drinks, and champagne or sparkling wine, it is fun to include one or more of these genuine prohibition, or ‘moonshine’ staples. Ask your caterer to help with the planning for these drinks:

Gin Rickey: a gently fizzing, summery concoction of gin, lime and soda. Also try
Mint Julep: mint and sugar cut sweetly through the robustness of bourbon.
Mary Pickford: a mix of rum, pineapple, maraschino liqueur and grenadine, named after the silent movie star in 1920’s USA.
South Side: is a mix of gin, vodka (or white rum) with lemon juice, sugar and mint, reputed to be Al Capone’s favourite tipple.
Between the sheets: a triple shot of white rum, brandy and grand marnier, sharpened with lemon.

1920’s wedding menu

Planning a 1920’s vintage wedding dinner is simple. A starter of shrimp cocktail, devilled eggs and delicate sandwiches fits with the times. The main meal would be meat and potatoes with any vegetables and for dessert the wedding cake and perhaps ‘Eton Mess’, a sickly-sweet mixture of strawberries, meringue and cream.

1920’s wedding entertainment

The most popular 1920’s entertainment you could provide at your vintage-themed wedding reception would be a big brass band. While those are a bit more difficult to find these days, there are brass quartets who will easily provide enough sound or ask your DJ or wedding band to play your choice of big band songs.

And finally, at the end of the night, ride away in style in a yellow Rolls-Royce.