Chicago style wedding - how to decorate a gangster wedding in the style of the 30s?

The “registry office-restaurant-banquet” scenario is too boring for adventure seekers. This couple needs a fun themed celebration. For example, a wedding in the style of Chicago gangsters of the 20-30s. Crime clans, underground casinos, excitement, risk... True romance!

When preparing for a mafia-style wedding, watch cult films: “The Godfather”, “Gangster”, “Miller’s Crossing”. Don't copy movie characters, just recreate the atmosphere. And don’t confuse gangster aesthetics with street fighting! Clan mafia is confidence, elegance and style. We'll tell you how to celebrate with brilliance.

Photos from a wedding in the style of gangsters and mafia

What is the beauty of such a production?

The mafia has always been shrouded in romance and danger. It is these two components that create an unusual ambience and will transport wedding participants to the 20-30s. XX century - the peak of prosperity for various mafia groups, especially in gangster Chicago in the USA.

Mafiosi in those days spent a huge amount of money on booze, women and luxury. Why not romance? At the same time, there was always a risk of skirmishes and clashes with other clans, including over women.

Interesting! The whole wedding can be done in a gangster style. Or a bachelorette party for “bad” girls.

Preparation and props

At the very beginning, you should carefully think through the plot and distribute the roles of the characters. Everyone should know what and how to do. This will create the right atmosphere. For the competition you will need the following things:

paper banknotes (possibly fake);
toy revolvers;
suitcase (preferably with a combination lock);
chairs and table;
casino chips;
green tablecloth;
deck of playing cards;
Balloons;
gangster hats and tuxedos for men;
key (door);
darts;
office supplies (glue, paper, scissors, etc.);
a box specifically for redemption (possibly with a $ sign).

The bride's shoe is placed in the suitcase, and the groom will later select a code. The green tablecloth and chips imitate a casino. The groom can draw cards and complete the tasks indicated on them. With the help of darts you can evaluate the groom's accuracy, and a children's pistol with plastic bullets can be used against the “villain” made of balloons. You can come up with funny competitions yourself and select the appropriate props yourself.

After winning the competition, the groom is given various casino chips. Having collected a certain amount, he gets the opportunity to buy tips.

Attention! Today it is easy to order special money with a portrait of the bride or groom. It is advisable to make them large - it will be more fun.

Characters

two opposing clans that will unite in this way. For greater plausibility, familiar mafia names and terms are used:

Don (the name of the bride's father) is the head of the clan on the bride's side and her father;
Don (groom's name) is the head of the groom's clan and the groom himself;
Consigliere - assistants and advisers to the head of the clan;
Capo – represents the interests of the head of the clan and acts on his behalf in negotiations (usually the groom’s best friend).

The interests of the bride are represented by her father, the interests of the groom are represented by the groom himself and his Capo. Consigliere are the remaining participants in the ransom.

Attention! You can change the names of the participants in the Italian style (Oleg - Alessio, Alexander - Alessandro, Andrey - Adriano, etc.).

How is the ritual carried out nowadays?

There are quite a lot of options for ransom scenarios today. You can find them on the Internet or even create an individual script to order. However, certain points are repeated in each of them.

Let's look at how this usually happens:

Meeting of the groom and his friends by the witness or bridesmaids.
Explanation of the conditions of the “game”.
Carrying out tasks by the groom.
Payback in case of incorrect completion of a task.
Upon completion of all tasks, permission to meet the bride.
Small buffet.

Usually the ransom is organized by the girlfriends or close relatives of the young woman. They prepare competitions, riddles, and all the paraphernalia necessary for them in advance. Everyone can participate in the action itself: the groom and his retinue are the most active participants, the rest are assistants or spectators.

Participant Roles

The groom completes tasks, treats his girlfriends with sweets or champagne, and pays off if he cannot answer a question correctly.
Friends (brothers) from the groom’s side help in competitions, provide refreshments, and help the groom with money if a payoff is needed.
Girlfriends, witnesses, sisters draw up a script and conduct all the competitions; they do not allow the groom to see his beloved until he completes all the tasks.
The bride helps her bridesmaids when drawing up questions, for example, about some dates, sizes, etc. On the wedding day, the groom is expected in a secret place.
The bride's parents can hold the latest competitions on the way to the bride, and then hand over their daughter into the hands of the future husband. They also organize a buffet and welcome guests.
Matchmakers (parents of the groom) can also offer their help either to their son in completing tasks or in preparing food for everyone.

Decor

The performance is usually held on the landing in front of the bride's door. At the entrance you can hang a sign “Bride’s House”. You can also use mafia-style bride price indicators: “Bar”, “Casino” and others, if required by the scenario. You need to decorate the room in such a way as to create a gangster style for the bride ransom in the mafia style:

old newspapers on the walls;
posters with newlyweds with the inscription “Wanted!”;
old vinyl records;
pistols;
family photos in mafia style (can be done using Photoshop);
wooden boxes with rum and whiskey;
on the floor there is a silhouette of a murdered man, outlined in chalk;
bags of money;
cigar butts.

What else can you think of?

Of course, you can diversify the mafia-style bride price to your taste. The competitions described above are subject to change or addition. Let's look at a few competitions and interesting things that will make the wedding even more interesting.

A retro car can be an old Cadillac or Ford, which you can rent instead of a Limousine.
“Prohibition” competition – 20 bottles of alcohol are hidden in different places in the car of the bride’s father or someone else. The groom must fill the empty vodka box.
“Gambling” competition – the groom must beat the bride’s father at cards (any game).
Competition “Roll it into concrete!” – the groom is given a basin with pre-nailed boards so that his legs can be fixed inside. In this state, the groom must go through an obstacle course.
“Read Lips” competition – the groom must be shown a video of the bride without sound, where she says the password. The groom must guess it by reading only lips.
“Italian Language” competition – you must sing a karaoke song in Italian. The worse the groom can sing, the more fun it will be.
“Faithful Husband” competition – girls try to caress and seduce the groom. His task is not to smile for some time (20-30 seconds).

Mafia style ransom is very fun and unusual. Everyone has long been tired of the standard rituals from one wedding to another. It will be much more interesting for guests and newlyweds to take part in quests and thematic competitions.

Moreover, here you can fantasize as much as you like, if you have the desire. There is no need to be shy about drinking before the feast begins - drunken ransom participants will be more relaxed and artistic. The mafia theme will appeal to everyone without exception, even the older generation.

Scenario: competitions in order

How does bride ransom work in mafia style? A scenario may consist of several competitions . Let's look at a sample list of such competitions.

The groom and guests approach the entrance of the house, where 2 gangsters dressed appropriately are waiting for him (let them be Antonio and Pascucci).

Antonio. Bongiorno, sir. We are Antonio and Pascucci. What do you need here?

Groom. I (groom's name) came to ask for (let's say Monica's) hand in marriage.

Pascucci. Yes, we have heard a lot about you.
However, Monica is the most beautiful girl in the city and the daughter of the head of the clan (the bride's surname). Only the most worthy will dare to ask for her hand. Antonio. Don (father's name) wrote a list of demands for his future son-in-law.
How much money are you willing to pay for this information? Then there is bidding until both parties agree on a price for the list of requirements.

Antonio. OK. Agree. Listen.

Antonio reads out the following requirements: accuracy, courage, dexterity, cunning and resourcefulness.

Pascucci. You see how complicated everything is. If I were you, I would refuse and leave. But if you want to try, we can start checking. How much will you pay for our help?

There is more bidding until the gangsters agree, and the inspection begins.

"Bravery"

Antonio. The first test is courage. We have a hostage - the main enemy of Don (father's name). Are you brave enough to deal with him?

The groom agrees, and they bring him a figure made of balloons.

Pascucci. Are you ready to show what you can do? Then I can sell you the best gun in the city, which we seized during the robbery of the police armory.

There is a trade for a pistol with plastic bullets.

Antonio. This is the villain. We chased him for a long time and finally caught him. If you kill him, Don (father's name) will be grateful to you.

Pascucci. You need to torture him first. Therefore, shoot at different parts of the body, and only then finish it off in the head.

The groom must complete the task and drink whiskey with the gangsters.

"Accuracy"

Antonio. Now let's check how accurate you are. Pascucci, bring the target.

The darts are brought out and the bidding begins to begin the competition. After it ends, the groom must knock out as many points as possible.

"Wits"

Pascucci. Now we will check how quickly you think. Intelligence is an important thing for the mafia.

A list of questions:

Name 5 films about the mafia and gangsters (Answer: “Scarface”, “The Godfather”, “The Drunkest County in the World”, “Goodfellas”, “The Untouchables”, “Reservoir Dogs”, “Pulp Fiction”, etc. ).
Italian name for the mafia (Answer: Cosa Nostra).
What does “Cosa Nostra” mean? (Answer: Our business or our business).
Where did the mafia first appear (Answer: Sicily).
Name the most famous mafioso in the USA (Answer: Al Capone).

For every hint or wrong answer, the groom must pay money. Then you need to drink whiskey with the gangsters again.

"Cunning"

Antonio. The time has come to test how cunning you are. More than a month ago we stole a suitcase from the mayor of our city, but it contained a code. That's why we can't open it. If you can do this, then I will inform Don (father’s name), and he, in turn, will not remain in debt.

The groom is given a suitcase with a code. Moreover, the code consists of memorable numbers regarding the bride (date of birth, age, house or apartment number, etc.). Gangsters must give tips for a certain amount.

"Dexterity"

Pascucci. Last task for you. You need to find the key to the bride's apartment.

The groom is given a large number of balls, one of which contains the key. You need to pop the balls using a gun or a pin. The competition is held for a time and if the groom did not make it in time, he will have to pay the ransom again.

When the groom passes all the Mafia style bride ransom competitions, Antonio says: “I think you are worthy of the hand of the beautiful Monica. I’ll go report to Don (father’s name).

Everyone goes to the apartment, where the groom is met by the bride's father and the bride herself. Here you can improvise for all the heroes and make the meeting truly solemn.

Interesting!

Wedding quests for guests - bride ransom

To ensure that all guests have fun at a wedding, competitions are usually held. But you can also diversify the celebration with quests. A wedding quest to ransom the bride can become a real theatrical production, in which guests and heroes of the occasion will take part, and will get a lot of pleasure from this action.

Tasks for the wedding quest

Wedding quest - scenario

The groom assembles a team and begins the search for his bride. But the kidnappers are ready to return his beloved only after he fulfills certain conditions. Well, of course, his friends will help him.
The kidnappers' conditions are simple. The groom and wedding guests will have to find the keys to the bride’s house or apartment and get into the room and free her.
The assignments are handed over by the kidnappers in envelopes; you can also send them via Viber or Telegram.
Guests and the groom will look for clue after clue along the way to the bride's house. To do this, you will have to look for pre-prepared witnesses to the abduction, who will give tips on where they last crossed paths with the bride.
They will have to go to the nearest supermarket, where the security guard will tell you the last time he met the groom's beloved and what she bought. The product she chose, for example, will be the key to the puzzle. The security guard in this case said that the bride bought a bun.
The next task is to go to the store and buy a bun from a familiar seller; for example, there will be a key to the bride’s house.
Hints will occasionally be sent to the groom's team on their smartphones. Where he will see her photo near her place of residence. And when the guests go there, they will find another clue on how to find a bride.
The presenter will also give hints, and at the same time ask puzzles, for example, the groom will have to remember when he met his beloved, what her favorite color is and what flowers she likes, what films they watched together on a date last time.

Quest competition for the groom Quest competition for the groom

The presenter can also invite the groom to show what he can do. To do this you will need a tool, a gas mower or a chainsaw. It will be enough to show how he knows how to operate these devices.
If there is an opportunity for romance, you can use the aerial platform, especially if the bride lives on the eighth floor. Then the loved one will be able to climb into her apartment through the window.

Hints for the wedding quest

Costumes for ransom

A bride's ransom in this style is in itself something very elegant and stylish. Therefore, all participants in the action must be beautifully dressed. For the groom's friends, striped trousers and jackets, vests and scarves around the neck, and hats are well suited. Bridesmaids should also dress in 1920-1930 style. These are beautiful elegant dresses and stilettos. You can put hats on your head and take a cigarette holder in your hands. Makeup should also be bright. It is also worth taking care of the car in which the groom arrives. The newlyweds will go to the registry office on it. It can be rented. Good for this: Cadillac 341B, Cadillac Roadster, Chevrolet.

Meeting the groom

The theatrical action begins with the groom and his friends arriving at the bride's house.
The bridesmaids are waiting for them near the entrance or gate of a private house. They sit at a table covered with green cloth and play cards or dice. They may have glasses of wine and mouthpieces in their hands. To create an even more believable effect, you can put several bills on the table, with different nominal values. You can put a suitcase near the table, as if with money. Basically, the bride ransom scenario in the mafia style is the same, only with different competitions and entertainment. The groom is a young gangster, the son of the head of an influential mafia, and the bride is the daughter of the head of the second clan. The groom must prove that he is worthy to marry the daughter of a famous mafioso. The bridesmaids reluctantly greet the groom with the words:

- Greetings Don (name of the groom), we have heard rumors that you intend to become related to our family (or clan). Which we don't entirely agree with. We know that your family is very noble and respected by everyone. But our seed is very strong and it is not possible to destroy it. We love and value our bride (girl's name) very much. Therefore, we will not give it away just like that. You must prove that you are worthy to become related to us. If you Don (name) are able to pass all the tests in order for us to accept you into our clan, then it’s worth carrying on the conversation further.

The groom agrees.

The bridesmaids begin to hold the first competition for the groom.

Test 1 - Prohibition.

While the bridesmaids are talking with the groom and his friends, the bride's assistants are hiding several bottles of alcohol in the car that will go to the registry office.
The groom and his friends must find everything and put them on the table in front of the bride's witnesses. This competition also has a bit of the history of Prohibition, when only rich people and members of mafia groups could afford alcoholic drinks. - Yes, you have the right nose for alcohol. - They say the bridesmaids (smile). - But now let's see how fortune loves you. A real gangster must hold the bird of happiness tightly in his hands and be lucky.

Test 2 - Gambling.

The card game begins. It doesn't have to be poker. You can play Fool or some other card game, the main thing is that it is interesting and fun. If the groom does not win, he is deprived of the alcohol he found, and if he wins, he receives a dowry (this can be jewelry, festive clothes or money).

Test 3 - Shooting.

The bridesmaids turn to the groom with the words: “Also, a real mafioso must be able to shoot well, so that if something happens, he can protect his family.” Are you ready to pick up a gun?

The groom takes a pistol with suction cups or bags. The pistol can be replaced with darts. He must hit the center of the dartboard in three tries. But this dart is not ordinary. There is an apple in the center of the dartboard. If the groom misses and misses the apple, he pays a fine.

Test 4.

The next stage could be a music competition or a competition for knowledge of the Italian language. The groom must sing some kind of love song in Italian or talk about his love using Italian words. If the competition is a surprise for the groom, then the witness can give him a hint, but for a fee.

— You, dear Don, pass all the tests very deftly. We can say that you are almost there. But, can you find the key to the bride’s door? - Ask the witnesses. - Since you must be a master of your craft, can you open this door with this? (the girl gives the groom a hairpin).

Naturally, the groom cannot open the door. After this, he is given darts, and from a certain distance, he must touch the balls located above the bride's door. Each ball contains notes with a certain amount, and only one of them contains a note with the word “key”. If the groom bursts the balloons with a certain amount, he pays it to the bridesmaids. The groom can be assisted by his witnesses. And so on until he finds notes with the inscription “key”. After this, he is solemnly presented with the key to the bride's door.

Did you like the article? Like it!

Source: HolidayDays.ru

How to dress for a Chicago style wedding?

Focus on the 20s. The bride wears a midi or maxi with a low waist; for curvy ladies, an empire style is acceptable. Trim: lace, fringe along the hem (for knee-length dresses). The main requirement is a straight silhouette, no hoops or crinolines. The look is completed with gloves, fishnet stockings, pumps or ballet shoes.

Makeup should be spectacular: scarlet lipstick, winged eyes, darkened cheekbones. Hairstyle – bob with waves, shoulder-length curls. The veil will be replaced by a veil, tiara, headband with a brooch or feathers.

The groom will suit a dark three-piece suit, plain or striped. Timeless classics - vest, shirt, pants with suspenders. Shoes - narrow-toed boots, polished to a shine. And, of course, a wide-brimmed hat. It is better to lay your hair back and fix the effect with hairspray.

What about accessories ? The groom needs an expensive watch or cufflinks, a pistol in a holster. For the bride - strings of pearls, an elegant ladies' pistol, a cigarette in the holder.

Gold cufflinks with enamel, EFREMOV (price on the link)

Gangster wedding dress

Guests' clothing should correspond to the theme of the holiday. Men wear trousers with suspenders, jackets, and hats. Girls - short dresses in the fashion of the 20s, headbands, velvet jackets. By the way, if the bride wears white, the bridesmaids wear black.

Gangster style ransom

In order for the entire gangster-style bride price to correspond to the spirit of the mafia and the mood of past years, it is important to think through external effects that will clearly recall those times. The main items for the ransom are:

Pistols

In principle, you can use any toy guns, but many even dress up in overalls and use real weapons to enhance the effect. examples of such gangster bride price scenarios . True, if we do not sin against the truth, then it is better to use an imitation of Colts or Tommy Gun.

Minor details

These could be suitcases with money, preferably old, shabby ones, reticules, canes, cigars, women's cigarettes, feathers, sparkles, rhinestones, expensive alcoholic drinks.

Retro style exterior

It will be just perfect if you manage to use a Lincoln or Cadillac car the ransom in the style of the Italian mafia Today, renting such a car is not difficult. It’s good if the action takes place at a hippodrome, in a cabaret or in a casino. Or you can decorate the room in a similar spirit.

Room furnishings

Use any items that can recreate the atmosphere of past years. Let it be lush interior details, carved furniture, saxophones, gramophones, antique-looking telephones. There are quite a lot of examples of stylizing a wedding in the Chicago style on the Internet; it is not particularly difficult to choose the appropriate interior for the wedding.

Clothing for women and men

Pay special attention to the silhouette of your clothes. Short dresses with a straight silhouette, elegant luxurious head decorations with lots of rhinestones and feathers. A simple shiny headband decorated with a feather, curls, bob, or other simple hairstyles will look great. A boa and a thin long cigarette in your hands will look good and appropriate. A bowler hat will highlight your look beautifully and elegantly.

The fabrics are light and natural. Delicate, provocative dresses with an airy cut would also be appropriate here. Stockings, elbow-length gloves, and eccentric vamp-style makeup are desirable. Pantsuits and hats go well with the look.

For men, an elegant suit with pinstripes (not mattress colors!) or plaid, a white shirt and a bowler hat or cap will suit you. Trouser braces and a massive watch will add an accent to the look. And of course - a cigar. It will be very good if men have a mustache. You can use a false mustache. It will be great if you find white gaiters or shoes.

Music

Any saxophone performance, gangster rap, if the script allows. In general, jazz in all its manifestations. For stylization in the spirit of Chicago, the music of the Soprano group, classical jazz (for example, Jakub Safr Quartet), Fred Ebb songs, John Kander music, and the well-known Can-Can music to diversify the scenario are suitable.

Bride's image for a wedding in mafia style

outfit. Choose vintage dresses - it can be a long dress, with a nipped waist, a straight-fitting silhouette or in the Empire style. Short retro dresses with a skirt below the knee are also suitable. The outfit can be decorated with lace, embroidery and, if the girl wishes, have a deep neckline or a high slit - this will help to further emphasize the wedding style you have chosen. Dresses can be either snow-white or any other pastel shades. It is appropriate to complement light-colored clothes with red or black;
shoes. There are several options here, the main thing is that the shoes are pointed, they can be low heels, low heels, pumps, stilettos, or you can choose ballet flats;
bride's wedding hairstyle. The so-called “cold wave” styling was very popular in those years, which means it would be ideal for a Chicago-style wedding. You will have to abandon the veil, giving preference to a hat, veil or headband, which can be with feathers or pearls;
makeup. The bride's skin should be pale, but her eyes and lips, on the contrary, should be bright. Be sure to use rich red lipstick and line your eyes with black. An original detail in your makeup can be a drawn eye spot above the lip or near the corner of the eye;
handbag A stylish clutch will be a good idea to complement your wedding look for a gangster wedding;
decorations. The bride can wear a diamond necklace or a pearl necklace around her neck;
additional accessories for the Mafia theme: fishnet stockings, long or short gloves, a stylish fur cape, a long narrow scarf, which can be made of feathers or fur (boa);
bouquet. Choose flowers in red and white shades, decorate the floral arrangement with feathers and ribbon in the color of your celebration.

Gangster style ransom options

Gangster bride ransoms can be represented in the most standard, almost classical scheme.

A groom from an opposing clan comes to the bride and is greeted by his girlfriends dressed in the spirit of retro films. They give tasks to the groom, and during the ransom of the bride, the mafia of the girl’s family accepts the groom into their clan.

You can think about bride kidnapping. For example, a groom from another clan kidnaps a girl the day before, and the mafia - the bride's family - will have to save her. The idea is bold, because in this case all the standard ceremonies for welcoming the groom to the bride’s family disappear, and everything is turned upside down. But the option promises to be very interesting.

You can hide family jewels and the groom’s family clan will try to steal them, and at the same time take the bride to the registry office.

And there can be an incredible variety of such ideas! And if you need help, we are always at your service. Call +7-983-168-0598.

Source: divnaya-svadba.ru

Preparation

During the preparation of a ransom organized like in the mafia, special attention must be paid to the scenario of the event, on which the success of the entire wedding celebration often depends. Think over the main plot, assign roles, create gangster costumes for the participants, write and rehearse dialogues, select props, then the bride price will be easy, fun and will leave an unforgettable impression on the wedding guests.

Props for ransom

To conduct a mafia bride ransom you will need:

suitcase with combination lock;
large banknotes;
darts, toy revolvers;
table, chairs;
green tablecloth;
deck of cards, game tokens;
Balloons;
different keys;
money collection box;
threads, paper, newspapers, scissors, glue.

The suitcase is used in many bride price competitions, so choose a convenient model with a combination lock. To give it an antique style, we recommend covering the outside with yellowed newspapers. You can easily age newspapers yourself by soaking them in instant coffee and then drying them.

During the competition, hide the bride's shoe in the suitcase and let the groom match it with a code, or use it as a storage place for mafia money and jewelry. To make it funnier, take large banknotes. This could be money from a mafia clan with a portrait of a bride, counterfeit dollars or another type of fake money.

You will need darts or toy revolvers with bullets, as well as balloons to test the groom’s accuracy by holding competitions accompanied by music:

"Kill the villain." Use balloons to make a gangster figure, like the one in the photo below, who threatened the bride. Invite the newlywed to kill the villain.
"Knock out 10 out of 10." To win, the future spouse needs to score the maximum number of points on the target.
"Get the key." Place small pieces of paper in each ball, writing the word “key” on one. The groom must find this note by bursting the balloons.

Use a table covered with a beautiful green tablecloth to simulate a casino gaming table. You will need a deck of cards, poker chips, as in the photo. Invite the newlywed to draw one card at a time, naming the merits of his future wife, or write a memorable date on each card and let the groom guess its meaning. The prize is a poker chip, which is then exchanged for a tip for the next mafia ransom competition.

Make a collection box in the style of the bride's clan's family bank. Use it to collect fines for the newlywed's losses.

Characters

Two clans participate - the families of the bride and groom, who are subsequently united together. To make the event look like a gangster movie, use special mafia terminology.

Family members of a mafia clan are called:

Don is the head of the clan.
Consigliere is an adviser, the right hand of the head of the clan.
Caporegime (Capo) or captain is the head of a group that is subordinate to the head, the adviser, conducting criminal activities, breaking the law in every possible way.
The soldier is a member of a group that obeys the Capo.

The role of the head of the clan of the bride's family is played by the father of the newlywed; from the side of the newlywed's family, this role is taken by the groom. The consigliere is played by witnesses of the newlyweds on both sides, the remaining roles are distributed among the bridesmaids and friends of the groom. To give credibility to the mafia ransom, make the names of the participants “Italian.” For example, Alexander - Alessandro, Anton - Antonio.

Gangster costumes for bride ransom in the mafia style should be comfortable so that participants can actively move during the event.

The outfit for women is a straight short shiny dress, a tiara, feathers, a fan, and elbow-length gloves.
Clothes for men: suit, tie, suspenders, hat, holster with pistol.

The outfit options are shown in the photo below.

Room decoration

The ransom takes place in front of the entrance, on the staircase or directly in front of the door of the apartment where the bride lives. It is necessary to give the venue the style of a gangster movie room.

Suitable for decoration:

Balloons. Buy balls shaped like playing card suits and make pistols out of long balls.
Comic “they are wanted” posters with photos of newlyweds and their parents.
Large posters with the name of the bride's clan, its motto, a list of crimes committed, and the name of mafia-controlled areas.
Paper garlands of playing cards, casino tokens, dollars, pistols, hats, cigars.
Old yellowed newspapers.
Vinyl records.
Chalk to draw a silhouette of a murdered man on the floor.
Wooden boxes with bottles of whiskey, filled bags, as in the photo below.

When decorating a room in the style of the mafia years, let your imagination go and dream to your heart's content. For example, use the boxes as an impromptu mini-bar so that the groom and his guests can drink a glass of whiskey or another alcoholic drink after successfully completing the competition.

Tips for decorating a gangster-themed wedding

Let's briefly go through the key points:

Design your invitations in black and red or monochrome . This could be an invitation “to a business” indicating the date and place of the wedding. On the cover you can place a “Wanted...” poster with a photo of the young people. Decorate your invitations with images of Colts, cards, and bullet holes. Let them be delivered by a courier dressed like a mafioso.
The wedding cortege is a white or black retro car. It is better to do without decorations: the mafia style does not go well with ribbons, dolls and an abundance of flowers.
Hall decoration . For a Godfather-themed wedding, you need a club or basement restaurant. It is easier to create the atmosphere of an illegal casino there. But both a cottage and a rented hotel will do. The main thing is to decorate them in the style of the celebration. Heavy curtains, dim lighting, natural wood furniture, portraits of gangsters - movie heroes. The walls will be decorated with garlands of playing cards and artificial banknotes, and replicas of pistols. Casino chips can be scattered randomly on the tables. The colors of the celebration are black, red, white . But tablecloths can be green, like gambling tables.
Menu. Required dishes: barbecue, steaks, chicken wings, fish snacks. The cake can be made in the form of a roulette. A multi-tiered cake decorated with edible cards and cartridges is also good. The bar should have wine, cognac, rum, whiskey. By the way, in the 20s, alcohol for conspiracy was served in teapots and drunk from mugs. You can follow this example.

Gangster wedding cake

Mafia style ransom scenario

We offer you a ready-made mafia ransom scenario.

Near the entrance to the groom's entrance, guests are greeted by two presenters dressed in the style of a gangster movie. The presenters greet the groom and his mafia family:

- Bongiorno! We, Petrucho and Fernando, why are you here?

The groom replies that he has come for the bride.

Petrucho:

- We heard, we heard. Sylvia (the bride's name) is the most beautiful bride in the city, the only daughter of the head of the mafia clan Miltado (the bride's surname), whose hand only a brave, courageous, courageous, rich groom is worthy of!

Fernando:

– Don Soni Visconti gave us a long list of virtues that the future husband of the incomparable Silvia should have. I won't show you for free! How much are you willing to pay for secret information?

Trade is underway. Fernando continues the mafia ransom of the bride:

- I persuaded you, look!

He takes out a piece of paper and reads:

- Bravery, accuracy, intelligence, cunning, dexterity.

Fernando sadly laments:

– You see what complex, almost impossible demands the mafioso Don Sony Visconti makes. I personally can't pass the test. I continue to train, not losing hope that one day I will win her hand.

Petruchio:

– Dear Don Sivali (name of the groom), we cannot let you through until you prove that you are worthy of the hand of the daughter of the richest mafia clan in our city! If you pay, we will help you pass the verification. How much would you rate our services? Ready to pay?

The hosts and the groom are bargaining.

Competition No. 1 for courage.

Petrucho continues the mafia ransom of the bride:

– The first word on the list is “bravery,” which means you need to kill the mafia villain. You're lucky, Don Civali, yesterday we took hostage a close associate of the mafioso Don Marino, Don Sonia Visconti's main competitor. Ready to get rid of your competitor?

The groom agrees.

Fernando:

“Petrucho, give Don Sivali the weapon, and I’ll go get the hostage.”

The presenter leaves.

Petruchio to the groom:

– Do you know how to handle weapons? Won't you embarrass yourself? Killing a mafioso is a dangerous test, only a brave, courageous warrior will survive!

The groom assures the host of his abilities.

– In words, you are an experienced gangster, but your skills are not enough. We recently captured a mafia warehouse with weapons of the latest developments; if you pay well, I will sell you a revolver that shoots accurately, without missing a beat. Agree? How much money are you willing to give?

There is a trade for toy weapons with plastic bullets. Fernando returns, bringing with him a gangster hostage made of balloons, as in the photo.

Approaching the groom, Fernando says:

- Here is our villain! They caught him for a long time, everyone managed to escape from the raids, angering the head of the mafia clan. If you kill him with your own hands, then Don Sony Visconti will recognize you as a brave gangster and give you favor.

Petruchio:

- Fernando, tie the villain to a tree, and Don Civali and I will move 10 steps away,

He further explains to the groom:

– You need to hit the body several times and make a control shot in the head. If you succeed, you will prove that you are worthy of the hand of the bride - the beautiful Sylvia.

The groom successfully completes the task of ransoming the bride; at the end of the competition, the presenters offer to drink a glass of whiskey for the health of the newlywed.

Competition No. 2 for accuracy.

Fernando:

– The next test is for accuracy, you need to hit 10 out of 10 on the target. Petruchio, bring and hang the target. And you, Don Civali, tell me, are you any good at shooting? How much do you knock out?

The groom talks about his accuracy.

The presenter continues the mafia ransom of the bride:

– You impressed me with your story! You'll definitely pass the test, but cartridges are expensive these days, I can't give them to you for free. Our consigliere will rip my head off if I squander the wealth of the mafia clan. You'll have to buy ammunition. How much will you pay?

There is a trade for cartridges for toy weapons, another presenter prepares a competition - hangs a target, counts 10 steps, draws a line on the asphalt. When the preparation of the test and the bargaining are completed, the groom begins to shoot until he has completely completed the task of ransoming the bride. The groom buys additional cartridges. After the competition, those present drink to the beauty of the newlywed.

Competition No. 3 for quick wits.

Petruchio:

– Don Civali, you have proven to us that you are a brave, well-aimed gangster, but how are you doing with your intelligence? A quick, tenacious mind is an important quality for the head of the mafia, the third item on the list of mafia Don Sonia Visconti.

The host asks the groom questions:

Name 5 films about the mafia (Answer: “The Godfather”, “Johnny D”, “The Untouchables”, “Cocaine”, “The Departed”).
Where did the mafia originate? (Answer: the island of Sicily).
What is another name for the mafia? (Answer: Cosa Nostra).
What does Cosa Nostra mean? (Answer: Our business).

If the groom finds it difficult to answer, then the host pays for each hint or leading question. After the test, everyone drinks a glass of whiskey to celebrate the beauty of the bride.

Contest No. 4 for cunning.

The bride price continues with the words of Fernando:

– Don Civali, let’s see how cunning you are. A month ago, our blood enemies stole the jewels of the bride, the incomparable Sylvia, locked them in a safe, and changed the combination lock. We returned the safe with the clue, but we can’t figure out the code. If you open the safe, then we'll put in a good word for you with Don Sony Visconti. Ready? How much will you pay for a tip?

There is a bargain, the second presenter brings a safe. The code is made up of numbers associated with the bride: her birthday, number of years, height, foot size, waist size, etc. Successful completion of the bride price competition is celebrated with a glass of whiskey.

Agility competition No. 5.

Petruchio continues the bride price:

– The last point of the demands of the mafioso Don Sonia Visconti is to obtain the key to the chambers of his bride, the incomparable Silvia. Fernando, bring the balloons!

One presenter goes to get the props, the other explains the conditions of the competition to the groom:

– A note with the word “key” is in one balloon, in the other balloons is the amount that you must pay to the treasury of the mafia clan. You have to pop the balls until you find the key or the money runs out. Ready? Did you take a lot of money with you?

The host brings the balls, the groom pops them with a pin until he finds a note. At the end of the competition, he is solemnly presented with the key to the bride’s chambers, and everyone drinks a glass of whiskey.

Fernando:

– Don Civali, you have proven that you are worthy of the hand of the most beautiful bride Silvia, we will inform the mafioso Don Sony Visconti about your visit. Let's go to!

The presenters, the groom, and the guests enter the entrance of the house and go up to the bride. At the house they are met by the newlywed's father in a gangster suit, sitting in a chair surrounded by bodyguards.

Petruchio:

– Dear Don Sony Visconti, Don Sivali, the head of the mafia clan Mifito (groom’s last name), has come to see you. He says he wants to marry the beautiful Sylvia. By your order, we tested his skills according to the list: courage, accuracy, intelligence, cunning, dexterity - he passed all tests successfully, he was generous with us, and did not spare a penny.

Father of the bride:

“If Don Sivali is so good and worthy of becoming a full-fledged member of the mafia family, then let him come and explain why he wants to marry my only daughter?” Then I will finally decide whether he is a suitable candidate or whether I will need to get rid of the newlywed quietly.

The groom approaches the bride's father, talks about how he loves, appreciates, respects his future wife, how he will take care of her, etc.

Father of the bride:

- I bless your union! Truly you are worthy of my daughter's hand! Let's go make the bride happy!

To the solemn sounds of music, everyone present goes to the bride. The groom presents the newlywed with a wedding bouquet, champagne is poured, the newlyweds accept congratulations from the guests, everyone celebrates the successful completion of the bride's ransom.

Details for redemption

To ransom the bride, you will need unusual props, which must be purchased in advance. The list of details may vary depending on the scenario, but it is better to prepare the following items:

Suits in the style of the 30s (various hats, black jackets, satin ties with prints).
Expensive quality cigars.
Toy guns of different sizes.
Several decks of cards and poker chips.
Case and suitcase for money.
Table covered with green cloth.
A target for throwing darts (can be darts).
Keys to the bride's apartment.

As additional props, you can use old canes, bird feathers, elite alcoholic drinks and rare reticules.

All of the above will allow you to make the traditional wedding stage of the bride's ransom stylized with a mafia theme. Decide in advance on the roles of the ransom participants and distribute the props. Absolutely anyone can participate in the bride price, but it is worth considering in detail the composition of the groom’s “clan”.

An important attribute of a wedding is wedding glasses; find out how you can decorate them in an original and beautiful way.

Decoration of the premises and street area for purchase

The favorite places of true mafiosi are casinos and cabarets. The decor of the room and street area where the ransom will take place depends solely on your imagination and preferences. The main colors are black, white, red, green. You can drape the walls with fabric, cover tables, make covers for chairs. Massive carved furniture, antique candelabra, old newspapers, black and white photographs - all this will allow you to stylize your space in a gangster style.

Appropriate music will fill the room with a special atmosphere of the 30s. The best option would be live music performed on a saxophone or records on a gramophone. Musical style – jazz in any form. The most successful will be the songs of Fred Ebb, melodies of John Kander and the Sopranos.

You may be interested in which wedding gift to choose, read about it here.

Design of a banquet area for a wedding in a gangster style

Use red, black and, if necessary, white colors to decorate the hall. A great idea would be a hall decorated with large black and white photographs - these could be photos of the newlyweds and their guests, or photographs of New York or some celebrities of the last century. Place playing cards, artificial dollars or casino chips on the tables. You can also use floral arrangements of red roses. Dim the lights in the room and place candles throughout the room.

Meeting the groom

Meeting the groom correctly at the ransom is a particularly important matter, since it is the beginning that sets the tone of the holiday. When the groom arrives at the ransom venue in a Cadillac, the bridesmaids and bridesmaid are already determined. The groom's goal is to become related to the bride's clan and he is ready to do anything for this.

At this stage of the ransom, props such as a dart, hairpin or master key may be needed. For example, invite the groom to open the entrance door using a hairpin or hang a dartboard and test the groom's accuracy. You can ask them to name the most famous films about the mafia, confess their love, or sing in Italian. Do not forget that all male participants in the ransom are respected Dons. It all depends on your imagination.

Gangster wedding ideas for celebration

A large room, the inside will be decorated with wood, with small windows and large curtains. You may be able to find a retro restaurant with large chandeliers, a stage, upholstered furniture and all kinds of antiques. A room located in the basement would also be a great idea - it will perfectly remind you of the theme of the celebration. Well, in order to completely plunge into the 20-30s, you will need to decorate the banquet area in the appropriate style.
Outdoors. This option is suitable in the warm season; it will be possible to arrange both a wedding registration and the entire wedding banquet. The only thing worth taking care of is awnings or tents in case of rain.
Rent a hotel. Do not forget that the gangsters did not save on anything and lived in grand style, so by choosing this option you and your guests will be able to feel like real kings of the last century.

Prohibition test

This test of the groom is a theatrical skit, the name of which has a historical background. During the times of active development of mafia clans, it was almost impossible to get alcohol, and it was available only to very influential people. Therefore, the groom must do everything to find alcohol for his future father-in-law.

According to the script, the roles are distributed as follows: the groom is an aspiring mafioso, the bride’s father is his boss, to whom he came to woo his daughter. Don Papa must look menacing and imposing surrounded by numerous bodyguards. The groom is asked to get alcohol for Don Papa's gang and bring it in a short time.

Alcohol is hidden in advance in Don Papa's car in hard-to-reach places to make it more difficult for the groom to find it. He takes with him a box that must be completely filled with bottles. If the task is failed, then Don Papa threatens to roll the young man into concrete and plant daisies in this place.

What vows do newlyweds say?

The presence or absence of an oath at the wedding should be taken care of in advance. This is a step that newlyweds should be prepared for. Not everyone can come up with beautiful and touching words on the fly. Therefore, prepare your speech a few days before the celebration.

The bride and groom must show their loved one the written text, in which case they will be able to correct it, correct errors, inconsistencies and shortcomings. Your text will be more aesthetically pleasing and beautiful.

The newlyweds must agree in advance on the nature of the vows to be taken. They can be touching, comic, written in poetry or prose. This will determine which direction we will have to move next.

The young people pronounce the words of the oath in front of a large number of people. At this time, unnecessary excitement and worry are possible, so there should always be a text nearby. Besides the fact that you can always peek into it, it will also become a great memory. The oath can be kept and then reread many years later.

It’s better to write several options at once. As a rule, the first one is always very long and protracted. So it shouldn’t be corrected. After a few days, start writing your vows again. The second time you will be able to express your thoughts more concisely, succinctly and restrainedly.

Of course, love speech requires romance. But this does not mean that all your text should be full of sentimental meaning. Leave room for content too. For example, it would be useful to tell how you met and what attracted you to the person. Both guests and partners always listen to this with pleasure.

It is much more difficult to compose a text for a man. They are less emotional and romantic. But often it is the stronger sex that makes the most mistakes. You should avoid comparisons, which men love very much.

For example, stop saying that your wife is a second mother or that she is the best woman you have ever had. Instead of saying mom, it’s better to say that your woman is caring and economical. And instead of comparing with women, point out that your wife is simply the best in the world or in the world. This will be enough to make a woman’s heart tremble.

Gambling test

After the groom brings Don Papa a box of liquor, he invites him to play any type of gambling. The most common gambling game at Russian mafia style ransoms is the game of poker. According to the script, Don Papa invites a young gangster to a gaming table covered with green cloth and begins to play. Representatives of the boss's clan are always seated at the table, who with a grin inform the groom that he will not see victory.

The game will be played by a person who is well versed in card games. If the groom does not know how to play poker, then you can offer to play the fool. This option is also acceptable, since the main thing is to preserve the atmosphere of the 30s until the end of the wedding. Papa Don bets his dowry in the game, and the groom puts on the alcohol he found for the boss.

Unusual bride ransom in mafia style

The mafia is alive

A cheerful ransom for the bride is the responsibility of the groomsmen and friends of the bride. It is best if all competitions and tests relate to the same topic. This way you will be able to organize an integral event in which many guests will participate. I propose to consider a bride price in the mafia style. Everyone loves gangsters, guns and playing cards, so this is a pretty good solution. Imagine what beautiful photos the newlyweds will receive.

Props

In order to make the ransom interesting, you will need props. Here is a sample list of necessary things:

- gangster suits (black jackets, hats, ties). They should be such that the girls in them look like real bandits;

— cigars (well, what gangsters would be without them?);

- pistols (toy ones, of course), because you will need to create a dangerous situation;

— decks of cards and playing chips (judging by American films, many bandits like to play poker);

- tables, chairs to create the necessary situation;

- a case with a million dollars (you can find a suitcase from someone from the adult generation, and the money can be photocopied);

- a darts game (you will need it for the competition, which we will consider later);

- keys, among which there should be one from the bride’s apartment. Thanks to these props, the bride price in the style of gangsters will turn out to be very interesting.

Meeting the groom

In order to meet the groom, you need to be well prepared and create a real den of gangsters in front of the bride's house. Set up a table on which you place all the necessary attributes: cards, pistols, glasses of whiskey and the like. The mafia style ransom begins. The girls sit down at the table and prepare to meet the groom.

Competitions

The girlfriends, dressed as bandits, must make sure that the groom is worthy of the bride, so his friends are asked, while the match is burning, to name his 10 most important advantages. Another interesting competition: show the groom a video without sound in which the bride says something to him, for example, I love you. The groom must guess what exactly his beloved is saying. This word is the password to go further.

After all, this is a mafia-style bride price, so no one will give her away so easily. Darts can be used to test the groom's accuracy, because only the one who loves will hit the mark. In the remaining fields, you can indicate other reasons why the groom decided to get married, for example, he wants delicious borscht or there is no one to wash his socks. Mafia-style bride ransom should take place in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. The bridesmaids give the groom a bunch of keys so that he can select the right one for the apartment lock, and if he doesn’t guess right the first time, he pays a fine.

Nuances

It will be interesting if the groom is called Don (Name), as in real films about the mafia. The friend who conducts the entire ransom must use all sorts of phrases that will indicate that he is in a real gang. Mafia-style bride ransom will be more interesting if the groom is warned in advance so that he is prepared and also uses various gangster words. In general, using these competitions and using your imagination, you can organize a very interesting ransom that will be remembered by everyone for a long time, and most importantly, it will leave beautiful photographs reminiscent of a “dangerous mafia meeting.”

Test giving

If the cunning and calculating Don Papa still loses at cards, then he gives the groom only part of the dowry. For this challenge you will need three old suitcases, one of which will contain a reward for the groom. He must guess which of the three suitcases contains the dowry.

A target is attached to each suitcase and the groom shoots a toy gun with suction cups at the target. If everything goes well, then you can be allowed to open the suitcase and see the contents. To add a humorous twist to the challenge, add oversized underwear or a cut-up old newspaper to two suitcases. The dowry can be elegant clothes, jewelry and money.