Having once played host to a roaring twenties wedding, St Audries Park, with its rich historical charm, set deep in the glorious Somerset countryside, is the perfect location to host your 1920’s extravaganza. Its 39 bedrooms, banqueting Hall and Victorian Orangery are reminiscent of something you might read about in an Evelyn Waugh or Agatha Christie novel.
Now, on to the wedding. The 1920’s were a decade when the world erupted into fun and laughter, after enduring four long years of heartache inflicted by World War One. It was a time when skirts got shorter, jazz ruled the roost and Hollywood started to become what it is today. Indeed, if you are looking for a themed wedding, the 1920’s has everything going for it, and with the big screen adaption of the Great Gatsby a few years ago, it’s a theme that has been reinvigorated. Many a bride and groom donning the spats and hiring a Rolls-Royce Twenty. Here are a few ideas to get the inspiration off to a fabulous start.
So, if you’re after a bit of Clark Gable and Greta Garbo glamour for your wedding, choosing the sophisticated colour scheme of black and white is definitely the way to go. Dawn Strong, writing in Style Me Pretty, found a beautifully evocative photoshoot by Desi Bayton Photography, that drew inspiration from The Great Gatsby. Its sublime mix of black and white, coupled with quintessential Hollywood sparkle, is a dream come true for any lover of this time in history. Speaking of the décor, Desi said “Sparkle, glitz, and glam were a primary element I wanted to incorporate throughout all the details. The main colors were black, gold, white, ivory, pearl, and silver. The table linens chosen were black chiffon sequined a rosette textured pattern. Strands of pearls accented the linens between the florals and candle-holders. The black satin napkins with jewelled napkins rings countered the gold charger plates and added lots of sparkle and glitz. Gold chiavari chairs were a great accent piece to bring out the gold tones.” Strong and over the top cinematic flare is ultimately what is required for this particular tangent of the theme, understated can take a back seat. Remember, at that time, Hollywood was in the beginnings of its golden age, where everything was big, bold and stylish. Have the confidence to push the boundaries.
Those bright young things
Of course, when we think of the 1920’s, it’s certainly not just Hollywood that comes to mind, but good old England too. With the aristocracy and arty sets of London turning heads with their extravagant parties and showing everyone how to live for the moment. Another photoshoot, sourced by Style Me Pretty, that melds together contemporary style with the English 1920’s extravagance, is by Kat Wilson Photography, evoking the same elegance and glamour, but giving a more laid back aristocratic flavour.
Giving attention more to the florals, antique glassware and cutlery, this variation of the theme offers a gorgeously whimsical alternative. Kat says “We had the idea of creating a shoot that was fresh, warm, bright and 1920s inspired. We tried to focus on the fun and elegance of the 20s but bringing in brighter colors like gold, pink and ivory. The table was set with oversized floral arrangements of hydrangeas, roses, gold berries, and greenery accented by crystal candle holders, a music sheet table runner, simple white plates, antique gold cutlery and vintage lace wall set behind. The focus was on sweet elegance and charm and the love and whimsy that comes from people in love.”
These are two variations of the 1920’s theme, so if you want to go for the Boardwalk Empire, American style of the decade or the more genteel English approach, there’s so much inspiration to choose from, as Alison Bonn writes in Inside Weddings – “The decade offers a lot of fashionable opportunities for enhancing wedding décor, whether you choose to completely infuse the day with a 1920s theme, or simply add a few favorite vintage-inspired elements here and there.”
