Planning a 1920’s Theme Wedding

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Do you love the idea of having a 1920's theme wedding when flapper dresses, long pearl necklaces, and pinstriped zoot suits were the fashion statement of the day? If so, read on for some fabulous ideas to make your wedding celebration a day to remember.

1920's Bridal Attire Suggestions:

• Have your cards printed in the shape of an old phonograph, 33 1/3 RPM record or 1920's sports car.
  
  
• Use a real 45 RPM record and attach a label to it that has your invitation printed on it. (Although this size record wasn't available then, you obviously need something that is small enough to mail).
  
  
• Create a DVD label to look like an old record and copy your video invitation onto the disc to be watched on a computer or DVD player.
  
  
• To put more of a gangster spin on it, have your invitations printed as an "entry permit" to an illegal speakeasy. Make sure to put a "secret code password" on it.
  
  
• Find invitations with images of a flapper headband, champagne glasses and beaded necklace, cigarette holders, cocktail glasses, etc.
  
  

• Hang beaded curtains in doorways.
  
  
• Set up an old-fashioned, deep-claw bathtub near the bar. Fill with ice and add bottles of "hootch", "bathtub gin", "red ink" (homemade wine), "bootleg", "moonshine". (The bottles won't hold real liquor, just water and printed labels created on a computer. Find the appropriate types of bottles for "moonshine", etc.)
  
  
• Have a photographer set up an old-time-photo studio where guests can have 1920's snap-shots taken.
  
  
• Display black and white photos of famous actors, singers and musicians of that era. Some famous faces are: Jimmy Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Laurel & Hardy, WC Fields, Mae West, Louise Brooks, Rudolph Valentino, and Buster Keaton. A good place to start your search for low-cost posters and prints is at www.allposters.com
  
  

• Fill large brandy snifters with colored water and float petal blossoms and candles.
  
  
• Use cigarette holders as placecard holders.
  
  
• Make an arrangement with an empty champagne bottle, a couple of wine glasses and strings of beads in the center of each table.
  
  
• Keep is simple and elegant with a single large orchid in a crystal vase.
  
  

• Give the men miniature Model T cars (Hot Wheels^TM)
  
  
• The women could receive long bead necklaces, feather boas or ostrich fans.
  
  
• Put together a CD of your favorite 1920's music. Get a picture of the two of you dressed in 1920's outfits and print them out on the CD labels. Don't forget to come up with a catchy name for your CD!
  
  
• Get some interesting "1920-ish" note-size paper and print out a sheet with trivia facts about the twenties. Roll them up, tie with ribbon and place on the tables for each guest.
  
  
  Here is some trivia facts that you could use:
  
  
  • The first Miss America Contest was held in Atlantic City in 1921.
    
  • The most popular dances were the Charleston, the Shimmy, and the Black Bottom.
    
  • Life expectancy of males was 53.6 years of age.
    
  • Female life expectancy was 54.6 years of age.
    
  • Average annual earnings was approximately $1236
    
  • A teacher's salary was $970
    
  • Murder, swindles and racketeering were the main gangster crimes.
    
  • It took 13 days to reach California from New York.
    
  • October 24, 1929 was the day the stock market crashed and is forever called: Black Thursday
    
  • There were 387,000 miles of paved road.
    
  • Dance marathons began in 1923 and soon became extremely popular across the country.
    
  • The most famous escape artist during this time was Harry Houdini.
    
  • You could buy a ford for $290.
    

• Mah Jongg was very popular at this time. You could set up a couple of travel-size Mah Jongs sets for guests to play, if you're having a very small intimate wedding reception.
  
  
• Play jazz and ragtime music from Ella Fitzgerald, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Gene Austin, Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin.
  
  
• Play casino games such as blackjack, poker, craps.
  
  
• If all or part of your wedding is being held outside, play croquet.
  
  
• Hire a dance instructor to teach the Charleston, the Lindy Hop, and other popular dances of this era.
  
  

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