Glittering Gangster | Wicked Wonderful Weddings

Glittering Gangster Wedding

As your guests enter your reception, they will betaken back into a time where flappers and gangsters filled the speakeasy bars. Ragtime music blasted through the streets andzoot suits with wing tip shoes was the fashion.

It is the 1920's.

Give your guests a reception filled with elegance, grace and forbidden fun. Watch them jump to the dance floor to participate in the dancing the Charleston and sip on bootlegged whiskey as you and your husband exchange in asilent kiss from the past.

Venue

GLITTERING GANGSTER Wedding Guide

FINDING your cotton club

An ideal place to hold the Glittering Gangster wedding is at an old building built during the 20's. Go to your local library and start investigating which buildings were built during the Art Deco era. Art Deco, was characterized by the use of vibrant colours, graphic geometric forms and simplicity, celebrating all that was modern at that time.

Another ultimate spot to hold your reception would be a cocktail bar. Bars were the the thing during the '20's. Of course any other type of venue of your choice would work wonderfully.

Some venue selections might be:

Your Home or a Friend's
A Community Hall
A Hotel
An Estate

CAPTURING the past

Make your wedding unforgettable from the very first impression! The Wicked Wonderful Pictured Moments Invitation is designed to captivate your guests, whether you choose a jazzed-up, bold design or a fun newspaper/tabloid theme.

At Wicked Wonderful Weddings, we believe invitations should be as unique and exciting as your celebration. With every client package, our experts guide you to craft invitations that reflect your personal style and set the tone for an extraordinary day.

Your invitations will dazzle and deliver a first look your guests won’t forget!

JAZZING up the place

Do you color motif in black and white! Color movies and photographs hadn’t been developed yet, so everything was black & white. Movies were also silent so consider having projectors playing some ofthese classic movies throughout the venue. They won’t interfere with theband! Going with the black and white theme, place pictures of yourfavorite film stars from this era in frames. To name a few think of: Greta Garbo, Clara Bow, Jimmy Cagnet, Humphrey Bogart and Charlie Chaplin.

Fill up clear vases with fake pearls on the bottom topped off with yourfavorite flowers for an interesting centerpiece. You could also replace theflowers with the ever popular ostrich flapper feathers! To go even simpler,just fill up champagne glasses with fake strings of pearls spilling out thesides of the glass

Loop strings of fake pearls around the table or chairs. You could also do this around doorways and your arch.

Hang reproduction pictures and posters from theatrical plays andmusicals from this period. Also try to find some Art Deco artwork to hang.

Oriental Lanterns were quite popular. Go to your local flea market orantique stores and see if you can find some of these lanterns to placethroughout the venue.

Alcohol was prohibited during the ‘20’s, but this didn’t stop people! Place wood wine crates throughout the venue and vintage bottles. Also,use whatever to drink your beverages from! Since it was banned, tea cupswere frequently used to hold the illegal drink.

Get your guests to participate! Ask the women to dress in flapperdresses with boas, headbands, feathers and cloche hats. Your men need to come dressed gangster style - pin striped suits, zoot suits, wing tip shoes and felt fedoras.

Consider setting up a casino for your guests to play. You can just use fake money instead of the real stuff. Just a roulette and blackjack tables will suffice.

Make sure you use low lighting for the reception. Consider usingcandles or dimming lights to the lowest possible. Many gangsters didn’twant to be recognized in the crowd.

CAPONE'S favorite cuisine

Give your guests a hearty serving of Al Capone’s favorite cuisine - Italian!Capone originated from Brooklyn and then settled into Chicago’s Little Italy. The“it” restaurant in Little Italy was Salvatore’s Ristorante famous for it’s pasta andsauces. When you walked in, the smells of garlic, olive oil, basil and freshly bakedbread was said to intoxicated people so give your guests a taste of this romantic andflavorful cuisine. Here is a sample suggestion for an Italian feast:

Dinner Party Menu:

Classic Italian Wedding Soup:

FLAPPIN' tips & traditions

Hands Up!

Get some of your buddies to bust the joint! The FBI especially AgentBilly Ness was always on the look-out for illegal gambling, drinking and partying! Have your FBI arrest your guests, take their mug shot with aninstant camera, have them place it into the police ledger (your guest book)and have your guest sign their name along with a message.

Dance Competition

Hold a dance competition! Get your guests out dancing the Charlestonand let your guests vote on who wins the dance.

Special Surprise

Feeling a little adventurous. Give your new hubby and guests a great BIG surprise by jumping out of a large cake.

Conversations

Slang was used quite freely during the ‘20’s! It was used to hide conversation from others. Try adding these words into your reception:

Babe - women
Bean Shooter - gun
Beef - problem
Bee’s Knees - An extraordinary person
Behind the eight ball - In a difficult position
Berries - money
Big Cheese - the boss
Butts - cigarettes
Canary - women singer
Clubhouse - police station
Corn - bourbon
Fin - $5 dollars
Frau - wife

Giggle Juice - liquor
Ice - diamonds
Mouthpiece - lawyer
Oyster Fruit - pearls
Pack - to carry a gun
Pitching Woo - making love
Pump - heart
Rags - clothes
Rats & Mice - dice
Squeeze - girlfriend
Swanky - ritzy
Take on - eat
Take a powder - leave

PATTING THE BACK of your gangsters

Gangsters were heros during the ‘20’s. The money they had was trickling backinto the American economy and was creating hope again. So, don’t forget to give your gangsters a little thank you for participating:

Give the ladies some long strings of fake beads; these will not only be akeepsake but something they can add to their outfits for the evening.

Model T Fords was the car to have! Try finding miniature models ofthis car for the men.

Smoking was cool in the ‘20’s and even though it’s not that popular anymore - people still need matches! Give your guests personalized matches - and for your smoker friends - try to designate an area where they can go have a smoke if they so desire.

Give your guests a personalized CD of songs from this period - ragtimemusic etc. (See suggestions below for more musical suggestions).

RAGTIME tunes & music

A jazz band is a must have for your reception! Jazz filled speakeasy bars withuplifting tunes and got people doing the Charleston and the Lindy Hop.

Songs to consider throughout the evening could include:

Let's Misbehave - Cole Porter Charmaine
Rhapsody in Blue - George Gershwin
My Blue Heaven - Gene Austin
I Wanna be Loved by You - Helen Kane
My Man - Fanny Brice
Charleston - Paul Whitman
Someone to Watch over Me - Ella Fitzgerald

VALENTINO'S romantic advice

Rudolph Valentino was the “it” man of the ‘20’s. He was known for hismagnetic and charismatic style. Don’t you think it’s time you cuddle up on thecouch with your love, put in an old flick and make some popcorn! Take sometime to just relax and reflect on more than all your planning! Here are a fewValentino movie’s to put some pulse back into your blood:

The Eyes of Youth (1920)
Cobra (1925)
The Eagle (1925)
The Son of the Sheik (1926)
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino (1982 Documentary)
The Married Virgin (1918)

TABLOID your life

The tabloids were hot during this era. Young boys stood on the corner screaming out the latest news! You are sure to have your own Glittering Gangster wedding thoughts, but here are some ideas to spark your imagination:

Until the wedding (and after if you enjoy), start a journal. Every morning for a half an hour take a moment towrite, free-hand and about anything. Even if you have nothing to write about - write about for example: “I havenothing to write about”. Try it! You will be amazed about what comes out while you do this exercise!

Grab a book and read some classic 1920 novels such as: A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemmingway or ARoom of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf.

Rudolph Valentino wasn’t the only one making fantastic movies! Check out your local video story for classicmovies that include Charlie Chaplin, Humphrey Bogart and Greta Garbo! Watch the background and thescenery of these films - could give you some great inspiration for your reception.