This wedding style has four names: some call it a gangster wedding, others give the name to the Chicago style; you can often hear a wedding in the style of the mafia or the 20-30s.
These weddings are very popular lately. Couples who prefer this theme for the celebration are quite energetic, passionate, love to travel and want to have a lot of fun on their wedding day. Men are happy to choose the Chicago style because they want to feel like real bandits, and girls like to transform into such an interesting and unusual image. The most important items in the 20s and 30s were revolvers, dollars, cigarettes, cars, playing cards, and the alcoholic drink whiskey. Using all these accessories will help you convey your desired mafia style with ease and precision. The color scheme of a gangster wedding involves two main colors - black and white, add shades of red if desired.
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.
Hairstyle
A distinctive feature of almost all hairstyles of the 30s are the waves, which were large and sometimes with a wet styling effect. Hairstyles have a side parting or are done without it at all. The neck should remain open. It should be noted that you need to adhere to the retro image in everything. Instead of a veil, use a neat hat with a veil or a ribbon with stones.
Groom's look for a wedding in Chicago style
- cloth. Choose formal suits in dark, light or gray colors;
- shoes. Patent leather pointed shoes;
- groom's hairstyle. Hair should be combed back and styled with gel;
- additional accessories and clothing: a gangster hat, suspenders, an expensive watch on a chain, a cigar, cufflinks, a boutonniere with a red carnation or a white rose, red socks, and, of course, a gun, all this will perfectly convey the desired image.
Reader
Invite the host to include several gangster sayings from Chicago in the 1930s into the event script. Guests will try to guess and an interesting competition will follow. Liana Obertinova
As for alcohol, the Bloody Mary cocktail is considered a classic. There must be whiskey on the table. You can also add rum, red wine and liqueur for the ladies.
At that time, Prohibition was in force in America. Residents of the United States could not openly buy and drink alcohol, so they smuggled it in and drank from mugs. Of course, you don’t have to bring alcohol in teapots to your wedding, but you can arrange an interesting alcoholic performance on this topic.
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.
Themed wedding photo shoot
An additional point that should not be forgotten at your gangster themed wedding is the photo session of the newlyweds. Be sure to capture your gangster-themed wedding so you can create a wedding photo album and enjoy viewing it for the rest of your life together. Such an important event cannot be left without memorable moments in photographs, so look through the ready-made options on how to decorate a gangster photo shoot with beautiful frames.
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.
Guest clothing
Who does a gangster invite to his wedding? Of course, fellow accomplices! The groom's friends must be dressed to match him.
They can be “armed” with dummies of rifles and machine guns. Bridesmaids also dress in period style.
If one of the guests did not dress according to fashion, it’s okay, it’s easy to fix. Men should be given white scarves. For a group photo, ladies can throw on pre-prepared shawls with long tassels, as well as put on headbands and tiaras.
Congratulations
Here are a few congratulations that can be heard at such a themed wedding.
- Today is a significant day for our city! Two huge and influential families (surnames of the young) united. We want to wish a happy bride and groom to increase the wealth of their families by bringing a new generation into this world. They were able to find each other, despite any obstacles, so let them live, enjoying every day, and delight their loved ones with their achievements!
- You created a new family today. Let her be strong and indestructible, like a huge rock, cheerful and strong, like the wind. Let adversity and strife bypass your home, in which two wonderful people have united - worthy children of their clans, in which two traditions have come together. Be happy!
A wedding decorated in the style of Chicago gangsters is for extraordinary, cheerful and adventurous people. In conclusion, a short thematic video from a wedding in the style of Chicago gangsters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o05eCzUVy44
Decor
It takes work to create a wedding that comes out of the past.
It is necessary to pay attention to the details that made up the life of gangsters of that time and translate this into a wedding. Only things that look vintage and were popular during that period of time are acceptable, for example, a feather or a glove.
Venue Design Elements
Basements or remote houses with darkened windows are suitable for holding a wedding banquet. The interior is designed in dark colors, with black and wooden surfaces predominating.
The tables and chairs are made in a vintage style; if a tablecloth is used, then choose either a cream-colored lace or rich shades of dark garnet or emerald.
It’s good if the canvas contains abstract embroidery patterns in the same color. Be sure to have openwork towels or napkins. The color of the walls should be dark or faded, inexpressive, showing that the place was chosen only for its safety. But the best look will be the brickwork. Against the background of rough wall decoration, there should be elaborate interior elements, such as gilded frames and furniture decorated with carvings.
As well as other touches that can be easily transferred to a new place, escaping from the pursuit of police raiding alcohol distributors.
Invitations, bonbonnieres and other accessories
Printed products of the 1930s are most often associated with a boy on the corner, inviting people to buy a newspaper and shouting out the latest news.
Therefore, it is best to make invitations for guests in the style of the editors of those times, using similar fonts. Sometimes they use yellowish paper and the classic wanted poster format that is so popular in films.
It’s especially chic when the cards are made in the form of aged playing cards. Bonbonnieres are made from small light-colored boxes that are decorated with feathers, beads, and dark-colored ribbons.
Sometimes they add inscriptions, which can be either black or red, but must be created using elaborate fonts, or handwritten.
First feast
The presenters offer to fill the glasses and greet the first toast with applause (a beautiful toast in verse from the presenters).
After some time (about 10 minutes), when the guests satisfy their first hunger, the hosts continue:
Presenter:
Now Mr. Colt and I will introduce you to the files on someone that we managed to get at the police station. We think those present will be interested to know who they are dealing with (they take turns reading the dossier).
Dossier (describe specific life stories of those on whom the dossier is being compiled)
The young don, cheerful and daring, fair and kind, diligently gnawing on the granite of science, set himself the goal of getting a beautiful and independent daughter as his wife. For her sake, he was ready to do crazy things. While waiting for his fate, he did not sit idly by, but rode around on his “iron horse” in search of her and worked for the benefit of the family and actively developed the business. Currently, he is a wealthy man and an accomplished person.
A beautiful and independent dona, distinguished by exemplary behavior and a serious disposition since childhood, she never wastes time on trifles. Therefore, she had quite high demands on her future husband, which she discovered in Don (the groom’s name). Having met her chosen one for 1 year, she agreed to become his wife.
He has been interested in sports since a young age, and is a master of sports in judo. He has been friends with Don (name of the groom) since kindergarten. She always helps him with practical advice and provides all possible assistance in all his endeavors. Weaknesses: milkshakes and beautiful girls.
I met the newlywed in my first year at (insert name) university. She is the direct opposite of Donna (the name of the bride), because she does not have a gentle disposition, loves to have affairs and is not yet in the mood for a serious relationship with the opposite sex. When I found out that my friend was getting married, she even shed tears because she unexpectedly hit herself in the eye with a mascara brush (she was tinting her eyelashes at that moment).
The head of the clan _________ and his wife ________ have been together for 30 years. During this time they raised a lovely daughter, whom they are marrying off. The girl is well brought up and respects her parents. The relationship between the head of the clan and his wife is characterized by reciprocity and trust. They are a wonderful example of what a union between loving people should be like. They hope to have grandchildren in the near future.
From an early age he is the main protector of his cousin. Well built, has a beautiful appearance and an extraordinary mind. Single. Dreams of a romantic relationship. I’m already ready for combat, because at the wedding of my beloved cousin I noticed a charming beauty, for whose attention I was ready to do anything.
The head of the clan ________ and his wife _____ even before they tied the knot, they dreamed that they would have a smart and handsome son. Their dreams came true. And so, after 27 years, he announced that he was getting married. The parents, having heard about this, were slightly frightened, but, having met the bride of their beloved son, they came to the conclusion that in her person they would find a daughter, beautiful and smart.
If desired, a dossier can be compiled for all close relatives.
The presenters offer to raise a toast to such respected people.
Presenter:
Since we are having a gangster party, I propose to add a twist to it, inherent in the spirit of that era: at a wedding, the newlyweds always covered their hats when kissing, and the guests fired pistols and shouted “Bitter!” Let's rehearse
Young people kiss, hiding behind a hat, guests shoot from toy pistols.
Then the parents of the newlyweds are given the opportunity to make welcoming speeches.
Leading:
Now the time has come for the first dance of the newlyweds - the dance of passion and love.
The bride and groom dance tango. You can also choreograph the dance to the lovers’ favorite music.
Dance break (everyone dances)
Second feast
The hosts invite guests to the tables and offer to drink to the best moments of life that await the young couple in the future.
Then those present are given the opportunity to congratulate the newlyweds and raise a glass in their honor.
Leading:
(addresses guests)
Dear mafiosi! We invite you to familiarize yourself with what awaits you today.
So, each of you must:
Attention! For participating in competitions, everyone will receive special money, which they can then exchange for special prizes.
Presenter:
It's time to check how strong, dexterous and smart modern gangsters are. We invite you to take part in several competitions. I ask people who have the following cards in their hands to come to me: queen, jack, 10... (those who have the necessary card come out).
The presenters conduct games with the participants that are in tune with the theme of the holiday.
The game "Peaceful responsibility"
Leading:
Today there has been a merger of two respected clans into a large friendly family. A new cartel was born.
They say that the first year of family life is the most difficult. The mafia has always had a law of mutual responsibility, so the heads of the clans set the task for their fellow gangsters - to make the life of the newlyweds easier in the first year of living together under one roof and to bring pleasant moments into their lives, to help them build a happy life.
Look, this black hat contains 12 shell casings, each of which contains a note with an order. It indicates the month and the task that needs to be completed.
Attention! We approach one by one, take out the cartridge case and read the note loudly, then write our name on it so that the young family knows who will carry out this assignment.
Contents of the notes:
January - so that young people do not forget that they need to lead a healthy lifestyle - take them to the skating rink.
February – after skiing, warm up the young couple in the sauna.
March - add romance to the life of a young family - organize a romantic dinner.
April - it’s time for a married couple to think about their first child - hint them about it and give them a pack of diapers.
May - wash the windows in the house of the newlyweds to make their life brighter.
June - arrange a trip to nature with barbecue to restore the vitality of the newlyweds.
July – arrange a beautiful fireworks display in honor of your wedding anniversary.
August - the honeymoon is coming to an end, look, maybe you need to repair the marital bed.
September – expand your life horizons and take your young family on a Ferris wheel.
October – The rainy season has begun, so wash the family limousine.
November - do some general cleaning and make your everyday life easier.
December - arrange a surprise and decorate a Christmas tree in the house of a young family, and hide a nice present under it.
Shooting game
Representatives of the groom's clan are called to participate in the game (if there are a lot of people willing, in this case, make a choice using the cards available to the guests. For example, 4 participants who have higher cards can play).
Their task is to “shoot” all unpleasant problems with darts. For a miss or falling into a sector with a positive event - a fine (squats, push-ups, a “penalty glass” or a monetary fine).
Game "Obshchak"
To play the game, the presenter calls 4 participants, preferably 2 guys and 2 girls.
Each of them is given a box of “dollars”. This is a “common fund” that should be immediately hidden from the police on oneself. Whoever hid it first wins.
Alternatively, players divide into pairs and hide the “money” on each other.
Game "Card Sharper"
This game is very similar to the game "Obshchak". Only instead of “dollars”, players are given a deck of cards. Condition: the cards must be hidden on yourself. It is forbidden to place more than 3 cards together.
When all the cards are hidden, the host announces that this was only half of the task. Now you need to quickly find the Ace of Spades hidden on yourself and hand it to the presenter.
Whoever completes the task faster will win.
Game "Shoot and steal!"
This game requires 6 participants. They are given toy guns that shoot balls, from which the players must hit one of the plastic cups placed in advance on the table. The presenter puts a dollar in each cup with a color written on it.
Participants take turns making shots. Whoever misses the target is eliminated from the game. He got it - he looks at what color is written on the buck.
The presenter sets a task for the marksmen: to “rob” those present in the hall and bring two things corresponding to the color that was “knocked out”. The shooter who brings the items of the required color fastest wins.
Game “Dividing the Loot”
The presenter calls 8 participants, shows them a jar filled with bills of various denominations and reports that the clan members have taken the bank. Now they want to share the loot without taking money out of the bank.
The players' task is to determine by eye the amount contained in it. The winner is the participant who names the most accurate number.
Game "Money down the drain"
Guests who have not taken part in any of the competitions are invited. The presenter invites them to line up.
The presenter places a dollar bill on the floor at the feet of each participant. The task: to blow hard on the money so that it flies away and quickly reaches the finish line indicated by the presenter.
Game "Money Smells"
This game will appeal to true gangsters who know how to “sniff out” money even in their neighbor’s pocket. The player is blindfolded and asked to determine the value of a real banknote. Money is allowed to be sniffed, crushed, touched, and tasted. The person who guesses correctly receives the correct banknote as a reward.
Those who did not cope with the task will have to complete the following task: kiss guests of the opposite sex in accordance with the denomination of a banknote, the denomination of which could not be guessed.
Leading:
The respected heads of clans want to quickly find out who will be born first to a young couple - a girl or a boy. Let's help them find the answer to this question and play the game “The bets are in, gentlemen!”
A toy roulette wheel is brought into the hall and guests are asked to place bets (small amounts of real money). Those who favor a boy are recommended to bet on black, and those who favor a girl are recommended to bet on red.
Anyone can take part in the first round. Then those whose bet did not win are eliminated. The game is played several times.
The results are summed up. Whoever (a boy or a girl) wins more money will be the first to be born to the newlyweds. All the money goes to the young family fund - “for a boy or a girl.”
Dance break
Decorating the room, selecting props, creating a photo zone.
Gangster parties are held both in entertainment venues and at home. If you find a bar or pub that works in the right style, it will make the preparation task much easier. If there is no “ready” space, we decorate the room ourselves. There are nuances that need to be taken into account in the design: we use black, red and white as the main colors; We make the lighting dim; We close the windows and doors with heavy curtains. In those days, this was necessary so that no one would see that a meeting of gangsters was taking place, at which they not only decided on their important issues, but also drank illegal alcohol. There are some interior features that will definitely help you when decorating your interior. 1. Print in a printing house or printer, and then hang posters with views of Chicago or New York, black and white images of celebrities of those times on the walls. First of all, these are portraits of famous gangsters - Al Capone, Johnny Dillinger, Tommy Morello, Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, and others. Images of “movie gangsters” will also add a party atmosphere. 2. You should also hang the posters on the wall, which we wrote about in point No. 5 “Preparation of invitations.” Place "Wanted" posters on your walls with pictures of your friends and a funny description. This design will definitely lift the spirits of your guests. 3. What is a gangster without passion? Also use dice and cards as interior elements. Place them on furniture and a holiday table. 4. Wooden boxes, which can be stacked in a chaotic manner at the entrance to the room, are suitable as excellent props for the interior of a mafia-style party. The boxes may contain empty bottles or straw, indicating that something fragile was transported in the boxes. 5. On some boxes with straw, you can use a stencil to make the inscription “whiskey”, and also put a couple of bottles of whiskey in the box. 6
In the 30s, gangsters loved everything luxurious, so pay special attention to various kosher interior elements - pearl beads, feathers, etc. 7
An excellent option to highlight the financial success of your gangster party would be a large number of stacks of dollars that need to be laid out on furniture, tables, etc. For such dollars, you can use napkins with an image of a 100 dollar bill printed on them. The napkins look very realistic, so they will definitely add their own thematic charm.
Ready-made scenarios for home and street quests ⇓
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We also advise you to pay attention to jute bags or, as they are simply called, “burlap.” Such bags can be filled with something bulky and folded at the entrance to the holiday room
Your guests will feel like they are in some kind of underground warehouse. 9. As a tablecloth for a festive table, we advise you to order a green cloth on the Internet with an image of game cells printed on it, just like in a casino. If you couldn’t find such a tablecloth, then buy a piece of green fabric in the store, preferably its quality should be similar to the fabric that is used to cover billiard tables and roulette tables. This will give your guests the feeling that they are sitting at a gaming table in a casino. 10. If you have old vinyl records, they are also perfect as props for your mafia party.
Photo zone:
When decorating a room, plan a separate space for a photo zone. Surely guests will be delighted with stylized photographs. For the photo zone, you can use a prison stadiometer, handcuffs, dummy weapons and, of course, a large number of souvenir American dollars in your suitcase
You can also separately make various signs with thematic inscriptions, such as: “The Mafia is immortal!”, “Wanted,” “Attention! Dangerous criminal." etc. With such signs your guests will be happy to take pictures
Also, having bought a black piece of fabric measuring 1.90 m X 1.5 m, you can draw a body outline on it with chalk, as a reminder that there was a shootout in the room in which Big Joe, a militant of the opposing mafia clan, was injured. Spread such a piece of fabric on the floor. If there is an advertising agency in your city and your party is taking place in a cafe or restaurant, then you can order a professional photo stand. For example, you can make a photo zone with a real-size car of that time that was shot at.
To ensure that guests behave appropriately and do not forget who they are visiting, be sure to post the rules of your party in the most visible place. Every gangster present must respect your rules.
