Vintage Themed Wedding or Events

[Belladonna_dea]

I was just wondering if any of you have ever decided to have a vintage themed wedding. If so what did you do to really get the feel of the era you chose across? What did you wear? Are there any Big Band dances or parties where you live? I remember there was a resurgence of swing night at clubs in the 1990's and then it seemed to stop. I live near Houston and I don't ever see things like this any more. Have you ever put on a dance for the community or a big party? If so, did those who attend wear period clothes?
Post pictures please

 

[ginfizz]

I went to a speakeasy themed birthday party last night. It was really fun. They bought long cigarette holders for all the women, played old vinyl, had a makeshift bar with classic drinks. There was one person there who gave a little dance lesson to everyone so everyone was dancing to the music. Everyone who attended at least made their best attempt at period clothing.
It wasn't a very big budget event or anything, but it worked out really well and was a lot of fun.

 

[resortes805]

We had a 1940s themed wedding.

We took our engagement photos at Los Angeles' art deco Union Station.

While the church we got married in was built in 1960, the old church (built in 1910) is just across the street and now serves as the parish hall. This is where we took bridal party pictures.

I wore a vintage tux, and the bride wore a vintage inspired gown. We hired a make-up and hair person to do era-specific looks for the bridesmaids. The groomsmen wore guayaberas, the traditional Mexican wedding shirt.

The reception was held at out local Veterans Memorial Building, built by the WPA in the '30s. As we are swing dancers, we had a gypsy swing band provide music.

 

[Edward]

Looks great. I like the idea of a subtly done vintage take like that where it reflects the interests and personalities of the couple involved. I did once see pictures in the newspaper of a wedding that was a "1940s Theme wedding" where the groom wore a WW2 uniform (as did many of the guests), and the bride entered to a recording of an air raid siren..... seemed more fancy dress than theme to me (the equivalent of having a "fifties themed" wedding and everyone dressing as the cast of Grease or Happy Days) , but I suppose as long as the couple concerned enjoyed it, that's what mattered on the day. I don't really foresee getting married at this point, but I should imagine if I did there would be an element of vintage in there.

 

[Belladonna_dea]

ginfizz, that's awesome, I wish I could go to one! I like the dance instructor allowing people to get more involved.
I love love love that idea resortes805! You made me want to post my engagement/ wedding pics! But for some reason it won't let me...

 

[Mr Badger]

We were the first-ever peeps to get married inside Sun Studio, Memphis, a friend of ours who worked there fixed it up...

 

[Edward]

LOVE the blue suede shoes. Nice touch!

 

[Belladonna_dea]

Excellent! I like the western twist you put on it.

 

[Belladonna_dea]

Pics

We had various historic places for our wedding pics but this was just at the park.

The groomsmen wore zoot suits with chain and the gals wore fingerless gloves and side feather 'hats' with dresses that were almost shorter and black versions of my wedding dress. The ceremony was outside where the reception took place which was an old bank built in 1909 or 1910 in the historic part of town. The peacock is my favorite bird and also period correct so I incorporated that into the decor.

For the reception, I changed my mantilla veil for a birdcage veil and shrug. I researched period flowers and bouquets and made all of the wedding parties bouquet's, corsages and boutonnieres myself.

My husband is a firefighter. There is a Fire Dept. right across the street from where the venue took place and they brought out their old ladder truck for us.

I designed the wedding cake to have art deco embellishment's.

 

[Mr Badger]

Thanks for the kind words, folks – Mizz Belladonna, your nuptials look spectacular! Ours were a mite more prosaic in nature! Some 22 friends and family came over for it, from as far away as Switzerland and Australia! And our friends in Memphis came out in force to make sure everyone had a wonderful time!

Been trying to post our wedding video but the Facebook embed code simply doesn't work...

 

[Belladonna_dea]

Thank ya! It's all how much fun ya had! I didn't have anyone coming from over seas but I had bridesmaids from as far as LA fly out. Kinda makes you wish your closest friends and family would get together more often all at once. Then again for some, maybe not

 

[Isis]

We had a very low key wedding in June, a civil ceremony at Skansen, an out of doors museum in Stockholm and we didn't go out of the way to have a vintage wedding. But being true to our style, it turned into one anyway.

A few more pictures here:

http://fortieswardrobe.blogspot.se/2012/06/reader-i-married-him.html

 

[jonniangel]

Congratulations! It looked like a lovely event...love the shoes!

 

[Isis]

Congratulations! It looked like a lovely event...love the shoes!

Thank you! Yes, I love them too!