Unbridled luxury, carefree glamour, gold and feathers - if these words make you smile dreamily, then a Gatsby themed wedding will certainly suit your taste. The shining chic of Art Deco knows no halftones and allows you to turn your celebration into something truly magical, as if straight from the pages of a novel. What's especially important at a themed wedding is attention to detail, so nothing can ruin your trip to the roaring 20s.
The spirit of Fitzgerald's great novel
The style owes its incredible popularity to Francis Scott Fitzgerald’s book “The Great Gatsby” and the film of the same name.
The period described - America in the 20s of the last century - amazes with every element - the abundance of shine, which does not seem excessive, delicate feathers, flowing fabrics, short textured curls and bright lipstick for women, the suits of real dandies for men, expensive cigars and whiskey. Feel on top of the world, plunge into luxury and a carefree atmosphere - what could be better for a wedding celebration?
Features of Gatsby's style lie in the following axioms:
- The main shade is bright shiny or matte gold. Additional colors will be light beige, pearl, peach, noble black;
- Fountains of champagne and whiskey. Plumes of smoke from aromatic cigars;
- Dresses made of flowing fabric with a low waistline and lots of glitter - rhinestones, sequins, shiny satin;
- Feathers, lace, fur or pearls in decoration;
- Dark lipstick, smokey eye, textured cold curls;
- Canes, hats and expensive suits for men;
- Chic, chic and more chic! And don't be afraid to overdo it!
Atmosphere: whiskey, cigars, feathers, piano
Can you already hear women's laughter, casual conversations and the sound of the piano? Do you feel the thick smoke of cigars and the aroma of strong whiskey? Do you see feathers, shiny brooches, cigarette holders, elegant dresses through the twilight? Well then, welcome to the Gatsby-era wedding. There is an intriguing atmosphere at these celebrations. Everything breathes luxury and carefree. And, of course, easy money, prospects and romance.
Place
A luxurious country mansion with a room or open area will be perfect for the chosen theme. An outdoor celebration will be wonderful on a summer night. The decoration should be supplemented with sparklers, fire fountains, and fireworks.
Idea! A real doorman can greet guests.
This will instantly immerse everyone present in the necessary aristocratic atmosphere. A more budget option is a restaurant banquet hall with interiors in the Art Deco spirit. It would be great if the room is spacious, with a large marble staircase, columns, high ceiling and crystal chandelier.
An ordinary large hall will do, if you can decorate it to your liking. In this case, discuss all controversial issues with the administration in advance, so that on the eve of the celebration it does not suddenly turn out that it is strictly forbidden to change some element of the interior that does not fit in.
An unusual option would be a rented yacht or speedboat, but be aware of the risk of seasickness for any of your guests.
Where to hold a luxurious celebration
Chic style and a lot of decorations require newlyweds to choose a beautiful and large venue for their wedding. Then the following options appear:
- A banquet hall or restaurant is the best option. Order a full banquet menu and elegant room decoration.
- An art deco mansion, just like in the movie itself. Gold decor, burgundy carpets, marble columns and wide staircases. Can you imagine how spectacular the photos will be?
- Buffet in a well-kept park or in the backyard of a house. Just don’t simplify the decorations, but use the same bright and chic details. Set up round tables with tablecloths and order catering.
- A pool party will also be in theme. You don’t have to change into swimsuits and jump into the water, but you can just wet your feet.
- If you have a decent budget, then rent a yacht. This is the most luxurious and expensive option that will amaze all guests.
Bride's image
Dress and shoes
A characteristic feature of dresses of the 20s is a low waistline, lying almost on the hips. The outfit itself should not be too lush, bright or tight. This is not where Gatsby's style gains its chic charm.
It’s good if the silhouette is only slightly tight-fitting, and the fabric is flowing and shiny. A wonderful choice would be silk or satin, or more airy materials - tulle and chiffon.
For the color of the dress, choose shades of white, but not snow-white, but as if aged. An excellent option is beige, ivory, champagne, silver, powdery. Use fringe, glass beads, and rhinestones as decoration.
The length of the dress can be either quite short, just above the knee, or to the floor, including with a long train embroidered with feathers. Not too high slits that reveal slender legs are also good.
The ideal shoes would be shoes with a round toe and a medium thick heel , preferably not perfectly straight, but comfortable, because you will be dancing a lot. The color is either light, matching the dress, or gold or black.
Hairstyle
Art Deco hairstyle is mirror-smooth, perfectly textured curls lying on one side in cold waves. The luckiest ones are those with short or medium haircuts - bobs, standard or long bobs seem to be created for retro styling. However, it is also easy to style longer hair shorter, for example in a sleek low bun.
In general, smoothness and shine are the main rule, so do not skimp on fixing and smoothing agents. The styling must be complemented by decoration - preferably a ribbon decorated with glass beads or fringe. Add a large decoration to the side - a brooch, a feather, a flower.
Not the worst option is an elegant hair chain running across the forehead or a daring, but no less feminine pirate veil , tightly clasping the head and flowing down in loose folds.
Accessories and makeup
A wonderful addition to a Gatsby-style bride's outfit will be a boa, a fur cape, and feathers. Don't forget also about a miniature clutch bag, certainly embroidered with shiny details and feathers.
Decorations should be luxurious and fancy. Best made of gold or pearls. Large earrings, bracelets, and multi-layered pearl necklaces with fringe will fit perfectly into the look.
In your makeup, be sure to focus on your lips. They should be clearly outlined and painted in a dark, bright color - cherry, burgundy, fuchsia. If such saturated colors don’t suit you too much, then smokey eyes or clear arrows, applied with liquid eyeliner and not with a pencil, will come to the rescue.
Idea! Gatsby even allows for a combination of smokey eye and dark lipstick that is too heavy for other cases, but in this case, be very careful with the shades. The lips themselves can be made softer in color by lightly powdering the top.
Add blush for the perfect tone, just a drop of gold on your eyelids, highlight your eyebrows - and you get the luxurious look of a diva of the 20s.
Bouquet
A bouquet made not of flowers, but of feathers, decorations, and sparkles looks extremely unusual and interesting.
If you decide to choose flowers, then roses, calla lilies, lilies or orchids in pastel, delicate tones - powdery, cream, milky - are perfect. Single bright or dark accents, from burgundy to black, are acceptable, but they must resonate with the overall image of the bride.
The buds can be either real or fabric, but in any case it is necessary to decorate them with decor made of fabric, strands of pearls, and feathers. Don't forget to decorate the stem of the bouquet beautifully. Delicate lace is perfect for this purpose.
Reviews
Marina, Yaroslavl
“I really wanted an unusual wedding! And I received it. When else can you dress up like this? Long gloves, a necklace made of real pearls! I was just melting. And I remember with longing. I looked like a lady in a long silk dress!”
Yulia, Moscow
“I wanted a fashionable, brilliant wedding. I watched the movie twice with my friends! And completely dissolved in that time! We sewed the dresses ourselves and came up with funny bow ties for the boys. We drew the invitations by hand and gilded them a little. And we also had a real jazz band!”
Do you like to decorate everything yourself? Learn about decorating your own car for a wedding! How to sew a wedding pillow for rings with your own hands? Check out the technique for making a beautiful pillow here.
How to have a great wedding photo shoot in winter: https://nevestabest.com/sv-tematicheskaya/sezon/zima/fotosessiya-zimnyaya.html
Groom's outfit
The groom at a Gatsby-style wedding should look like a real dandy with a slight gangster touch. You can be inspired by the character from the film of the same name, Jay Gatsby.
A suit with a vest and suspenders is perfect - both classic black and light models with small stripes. The exact selection of details is very important - bow tie, cane, hat.
If you are going to use cufflinks, it is better to choose ones that will echo the bride's jewelry. Shoes are no less important for the image - expensive, leather, worthy of an aristocrat.
Hairstyle
If you have a short haircut, then you are in luck, since Gatsby is exactly the style where it is fashionable and relevant. The main thing is that the hair is styled in smooth waves.
Although a very short haircut a la Twiggy without any styling will fit perfectly. The main thing here is to decorate your head with some kind of headband or headband with sequins in order to create a truly solemn look.
For girls with long hair, there is a video on how to do a great hairstyle yourself.
Dress code for witnesses and guests
For the celebration to be perfect, it is necessary that all those present support the style being created in their demeanor and appearance. Therefore, be sure to warn guests about the dress code.
Women should wear shiny flowing dresses, preferably with a low waist, add fur and feather details, large jewelry, and sparkles. Makeup with dark lips, asymmetrical cool curls, large jewelry with feathers or fur perfectly creates the look of the 20s.
Men should dress in the groom's style - three-piece suits, bow ties, hats.
Important! It is better that the witnesses follow these rules, because then you will have a huge number of wonderful angles for wedding photographs.
Invitation text
Let “real art deco” begin with an invitation! Order business cards and postcards with reproductions of artists from the early 20th century . Or decorate white invitations with gold lace pieces. And invitations can be placed in a black envelope.
Original and stylish wedding invitations with a retro font can be printed to order or made with your own hands using a real pen.
Printing
Invitation cards are the face of a wedding, which means that in addition to the place, time and heroes of the occasion, they must emphasize the theme of the event, not only describe the dress code, but also inspire the creation of outfits.
A wonderful idea is gold sublimation printing on a dark background, and the font should be vintage, in the style of old posters or newspapers. All kinds of curls, small patterns, and emblems are perfect. Additionally, you can decorate the cards with lace ribbon, feather or rhinestones. If you prefer a light background, then beige rectangles with a lace pattern look no less elegant. Be sure to add seating signs to your table. It would be good if they were made in the same color scheme and style as the invitations. This will add elegance to the celebration, and in addition, place cards will further decorate the tables.
If you seat guests by family, then the table itself can be called by the desired surname. Such a card must certainly be included in the decor in the most interesting way possible, for example, in a cloud of delicate feathers.
Origin
The film adaptation of the famous novel by Francis Scott Fitzgerald came in 2013. The main character was very popular with audiences all over the world.
The novel is based on a twisted love story that ended tragically. The action takes place in the period after the First World War. It was a time of recovery and revival of the affected countries, as well as the development of the US economy.
The love story unfolds against the backdrop of such a specific way of society. But a terrible ending awaits her, the result of human immorality.
The novel gained worldwide fame only after the death of its creator. With the onset of World War II, the book was simply forgotten.
In the 1950s, Hollywood film studios suddenly paid attention to the interesting story of Mr. Gatsby. Currently, this wonderful novel is included in the compulsory literature in most English-language educational institutions.
Few people know, but in fact there were five film adaptations of this tragic story. The largest and most popular of them is the work of the talented director Baz Luhrmann.
The author of the famous book did not even dare to think that one day the main character of his novel would give way to a separate fashion trend.
Cortege
A car is an important part of a wedding, especially if you are going to celebrate in a country mansion.
Vintage luxury models, such as Rolls-Royce in silver, white, black, will best fit into the style. However, another American vintage car from the 1920s will do.
It is better not to get carried away with additional decoration of the motorcade , because the cars themselves will amaze those present with their luxurious design, and hiding it under flowers and tinsel is almost a crime.
Advice! A certain amount of decoration, however, is acceptable. For example, an elegant wreath or garland stretching along the door or hood.
Transport
The best transport for young people will be a vintage car . It can be rented from a film studio or from a company that organizes holidays.
If you can’t find one, you can purchase bicycle bells with a sharp sound. At the beginning of the century, the first cars drove with similar signals (horns).
This sound design will surprise passersby. All you have to do is call the drivers of the wedding procession!
Banquet hall decoration and floristry
Don't be afraid to go overboard with the chic, because luxury at a Gatsby-themed wedding should be in abundance.
Fabric decor, lush garlands of fresh flowers in pastel shades, pearls and, most importantly, the shine of surfaces. Bugles, sequins, and rhinestones can be safely added to almost every detail.
Tall thin vases will be a good decoration for tables or the entire space. They can be filled not only with flowers, but also with feathers. For tableware, choose crystal, porcelain, gold plated, silverware.
Don’t forget about the lighting - a luxurious crystal chandelier, candelabra, and candles will turn the celebration into a real living dream. Since there will be a lot of fabric, flammable elements around, we recommend using artificial LED candles. They are practically no different from the real ones in appearance, but at the same time they are absolutely safe.
It is best not to seat all guests at one large table, but to place several small ones. This will make the celebration more comfortable. The tablecloth can be either light, beige, lace, with gold elements, or elegant black - in this case, white plates and desserts, as well as decor made from pearl threads and ostrich feathers, look especially luxurious on it.
Fireworks from balloons, streamers or confetti at the climax of the celebration will emphasize the atmosphere of lightness and carefreeness.
Creating a Gatsby-style look
Harmony in the image of Gatsby is, first of all, created through the smallest details. And this includes not only color, but also style, and expensive materials, for example, silk or velvet. The presentation of the image with jewelry and suitable shoes will also be important.
Accessories
We have already decided that feathers and fur are the basis of accessories of that time for creating Gatsby’s retro outfit. But there are still other trouble-free options.
When choosing the right handbag, give preference to minimalist clutches in neutral colors or small pouch bags. Such items are usually decorated with inclusions of stones for added shine. Previously, for convenience, they took clutches with a small chain, thanks to which the accessory could be hung on the shoulder and enjoy a cocktail without interference. A handbag with fringe is also appropriate.
The highlight of this look can be created by an ordinary scarf, neatly tied on the head. You should immediately hide protruding nodules under it. There are models with a flower, but they can add unnecessary negligence. A decorative element, such as a feather fan, will add effectiveness.
To add luxury, throw a real fur boa on top. If you don’t want to add bulk just to the top of this look, complement it with gloves longer than the elbow or the same feather boa.
Shoes
Looking back, you can see that the basis of the choice of shoes was closed shoes with a round toe. All kinds of membranes and complex lacing can serve as decoration. If you don't like laces, replace them with satin ribbons to create a lush bow on the leg.
You can take shoes decorated with a buckle or bow in advance. The heel is selected to be particularly stable. It’s good if it tapers slightly at the bottom. Height - up to 8 cm.
Table
Delicacies will ideally fit into the style, best of all - in the form of light snacks, tartlets with black caviar, canapés, oysters, and small desserts. The main alcohol at a Gatsby-themed wedding is, of course, champagne. And there should be a lot of it. So many! It would be great if it was presented in different versions - sweet, dry, white, red, pink. For stronger drinks, give preference to good whiskey.
By the way, since at that time both whiskey and cigars were incredibly popular, it would be a great idea to make a bar for both. The male half will appreciate the assortment of various exquisite flavors of tobacco, but for ladies you can offer thin cigarettes with a mouthpiece, which were also very popular at that time and look great in photographs.
Cake
The main delicacy of the holiday, of course, simply cannot but coincide with the overall theme, so the dessert must be luxurious.
Multi-tiered decoration, decor with edible pearls and gold, feathers, and lace are encouraged. It is advisable to adhere to the color scheme, and both light beige or golden tones and elegant black are acceptable.
The taste should match the design - sweet, melting in the mouth , without crunchy or too fatty components.
Cake may not be the only sweet ending to the evening. Add cupcakes or pastries in a similar style so that none of your guests are left without something sweet.
How to make it yourself
Gatsby-themed invitations should exude sophistication and chic. And what could be more chic than handmade? You can make such an invitation yourself; your guests will certainly appreciate your efforts.
Let's consider the first version of the invitation.
- Take very good quality thick paper and fold it in the center to make a postcard. The paper can be white or black.
- Glue lace along the outer edge of the resulting card. If the paper is white, the lace may be gold or black. For black paper, white or golden lace is suitable. It must be carefully fixed with glue.
- Take a thin satin ribbon (white, black, gold), make a small bow and carefully glue it to the upper right corner.
- The invitation is ready! All that remains is to enter the text. This can be done by hand (if you have calligraphic handwriting) or you can pre-print the text in a suitable vintage font on the desired part of the sheet.
The second version of the invitation is called “Handbag and Hat”. You will need gold paper, as well as black and white velvet paper.
- Take very good quality thick paper (black or white) and fold it in the center. You will get a postcard.
- Glue slightly smaller gold paper onto the front of the card so that the edges of the card are visible.
- Cut out a woman's handbag and a man's hat from velvet paper and glue it on top of the gold paper. The handbag can be decorated with rhinestones, beads, etc.
- The invitation is ready! Enter the text in beautiful handwriting (alternatively, the text can be printed in advance on the computer by choosing the appropriate font).
You can also use templates to make invitations. For example, use this:
Entertainment
The music at a Gatsby-themed wedding is supposed to be live. An orchestra playing tunes from the 1920s, especially if it includes a saxophone, will add the final highlight to your celebration.
Incendiary jazz dances will definitely please your guests, and the newlyweds or specially invited dancers can set an example by dancing to the appropriate tune.
Idea! Organize a master class on Charleston, but choose the teacher very carefully, because he must maintain the overall fun of the holiday and not turn the entertainment into a difficult lesson.
For photo shoots, you should either rent a separate photo studio in the Art Deco style, or arrange a photo zone in the room itself. Use recognizable elements of the era - luxurious leather sofas, poker tables, grand pianos, an antique gramophone, gilded mirrors. If the site allows, then why not use the existing suitable decor - for example, wide staircases? You can play up a gangster or aristocratic moment by organizing a photo shoot in a car, especially if you rent a Rolls-Royce. Don't forget about small but stylish details - cigars and cigarette holders, fur capes, lace umbrellas.
Music
The musical accompaniment should include dance “hits” of that time: foxtrot, Charleston, tango and, of course, jazz !
An invited band will greet guests with a famous Glenn Miller tune or jazz improvisation and will set the mood throughout the evening, playing live music.
You should show your guests the basic dance moves right in the hall. Then there will be much more people willing to “rock”!
Photo
If the atmosphere of glitz and luxury of the 20s has long inspired you, then why not use this idea to decorate your own wedding? A small selection of great Great Gatsby style images and designs for inspiration:
Outdoors
If the wedding is celebrated in the summer, it is enough to invite guests to the garden or outdoors , where laid tables will be waiting for them.
They need to be installed, as they did in the 20s, with real candles under glass covers or paper lampshades. You can also prepare flower arches ( how to make them yourself) by decorating the pergolas with fresh flowers and golden mesh.
In the summer, you can implement another idea - rent a ship and have a wedding party on board . After all, this is exactly how the “golden” American youth of those distant years had fun!
Makeup
Makeup is very unique and requires a certain approach. Especially if you want to accurately embody the jazz era.
Its original version consists of bright, “doll” lips, when the edges of the lips are tinted and the contour tapers towards the edges, as well as dark (combined with pearl) shadows and thick black arrows.
The shadows must be applied to the entire moving eyelid, creating something like an evening version of “Smoky Eyes”.
In other cases, you can smooth out a bright image, making it more delicate by moving the emphasis either only to the eyes or only to the lips.
