A Great Gatsby Themed Wedding: The Party of the Year

One of this summer’s most anticipated movies was The Great Gatsby. Whether you loved reading the novel, parties, the 1920s, or any of the cast members, this movie appealed to almost everyone.
Although the movie failed in the eyes of those who read the book, there is still a lot to be said for certain aspects: the parties, the dancing, and the music. It was a movie that appealed to the senses, and it exceeded expectations in that regard.

So whether you prefer Jay or Nick, Daisy or Jordan, here’s how to throw a roarin’ 20s wedding that would make Jay Gatsby’s parties look like a backyard barbecue:

The Venue and Decorations

Pick a location that is open and has plenty of space for dancing. Choose big, fancy lighting and decorations in elegant colors: think white, black, and gold.

A venue that has both indoor and outdoor seating is ideal for a summer wedding. Use lanterns for lights outside, and trail ivy around the furniture or any railings or fences.

Inside, choose tall, leafy plants, so the centerpieces on the table are big, but the blooms are high enough that your guests can see the people they are seated with.

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote many beautiful sayings about love. Use these quotes as part of your centerpieces.

The Dress

Dress to the nines for this glamorous occasion. You can choose to completely embrace the theme and dress like they did in the 1920s, in dresses with dropped waistlines and single-breasted suits.

Ladies, wear lots of long strands of pearls, gloves, and feathers or a headband in your hair. Remember, the more sequins, the better! Gentlemen, top hats, bowties, and pocket squares are encouraged.

The Music

Anything you can dance to! The 1920s were a fun, fast-paced, casual age. They loved to party and dance. The most popular music during this decade was jazz, so choose music with lots of brass instruments and swinging rhythms to stay true to the theme.

The Food

In the 1920s, party hosts tended to be more concerned with appearance and drinks than the food. However, one food they did love was oysters. Their drink of choice was champagne – they were always celebrating!

Decorate your wedding cake with golden art deco, and complement it with black and white desserts.

The End

End the night with a fireworks show and drive away in a vintage car, leaving your guests happily lost in the past.

Image Credits: Quote, Staircase and Feather Centerpieces, Picture Frame and Hanging Dress, Art Deco tablesetting, Beyonce, Groomsman, Oysters, Champagne tower, Cake, Trumpet player

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes for My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as creates multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

Movie-themed Party Ideas to Match Your Star-Studded Wedding

As promised, here is your key to planning the star-studded pre-wedding parties you have always dreamed of, with you as the star! From your engagement party and wedding shower to the bachelor and bachelorette parties, these fun, movie-themed party ideas are sure to be a hit.

Lead your guests from the parking lot to the entrance with a red carpet. Ask guests to dress up as their favorite movie character and give trophies to the best dressed. Give favors in popcorn boxes. Watch your favorite wedding-themed movies. There are tons of ways to make your party a box office hit!

To get started, use an "admit one" ticket format for your invitations. On the top and bottom, write the date of your party. Instead of a movie title, write "[Name] & [Name]’s Engagement Party" or "[bride’s name]'s engagement party." Have some fun and come up with a creative title for your party!

Movies to watch

Engagement Party/Wedding Shower

• The Engagement Party
• The Proposal
• Father of the Bride
• The Princess Bride
• The Philadelphia Story
• Four Weddings and a Funeral

Bachelorette Party

• Bridesmaids
• Bachelorette
• Magic Mike
• Crazy Stupid Love
• The Wedding Planner
• Dirty Dancing

Bachelor Party

• Bachelor Party
• The Hangover
• How to Murder Your Wife
• The Best Man
• Very Bad Things
• A Guy Thing

Games to Play

• Kiss the Actor/Actress (similar to Pin the Tail on the Donkey)
• Charades
• “Who Am I?” Write down the names of movie stars on note cards and have guests tape the card to       their forehead – without looking! They have to guess who they are.
• Match the quote to the movie (to make it easier, use quotes from movies you watched at your party)
• “Movie Plot Slam” Split your guests into teams of 3 or 4. Write movie titles on note cards and give a card to each group. There are a couple ways you could have them tell the plot:
    - In poem format
    - In song format
    - In a way that relates the story back to the bride and groom
• Use conversation starter drink coasters to break the ice!

Food

One of the best parts of the movie theater experience is the popcorn and candy! Satisfy every taste bud in
the room with these delicious treat ideas:

• Popcorn (of course!)
• Offer extra butter, salt, and any other topping you might want – on the side so guests can choose what they want
• Chocolate covered raisins
• Sour candy
• Don’t forget the cake! Go for a black and white movie reel cake or try the popcorn cupcakes!

Decorations

A party would not be complete without decorations of some sort, and movie theaters are usually lavishly decorated, if not overwhelmingly so.

• Put flowers in a plastic popcorn holder
• Write guests’ names on Hollywood stars for place cards at the table
• Since red, white, black, and silver are the colors that are traditionally associated with movies and the theater, use those colors for tablecloths and napkins
• Hang up movie posters or a red curtain for backdrops for pictures

Image Credits:

Invitation: Cards Direct
Party food: Dreaming In Scraps

Popcorn cupcakes: Fifties Wedding

Movie-style cakes: Fifties Wedding

Place cards: janet21.hubpages.com

Roses: janet21.hubpages.com

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes for My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as creates multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

How To Make A Courtesy Basket

Styling a reception bathroom is perhaps one of last things on a brides mind and not the most appealing.  Luckily for you, with one quick addition it’s easy to turn a bland bathroom in a little retreat for your guests.  Cue wedding courtesy baskets.

Courtesy baskets are small baskets full of toiletries and other necessities for your guests to utilize during their trips to the restroom.  To start, you’ll need a medium-sized basket and decorative fabric or ribbon. Either a square or a circle basket will work just fine, as long as the opening at the top is wide. Use the fabric to cover the bottom of the basket or tie the ribbons on for a splash of color.

Next, put the courtesy items in the basket.  Don’t overcrowd them, because the basket will get messy as guests use the items throughout the night.

What to include in your baskets

There are many things you could include in your courtesy basket. What you choose to add will depend on your setting and budget. Here’s a list of some ideas for your own basket:

The Basics - Add the following items to baskets for both the men and women:

• Advil/Tylenol
• Cough drops
• Kleenex
• Mouthwash/gum/mints
• Toothpicks

• Safety pins/Sewing kit
• Mini first-aid kit
• Lint roller
• Hand sanitizer
• Tide-To-Go pen

For the Women you will also want to include the following necessities:

• Deodorant
• Tampons/pads
• Bobby pins/hair ties/clips
• Hair brush
• Perfume

• Lotion
• Hairspray
• Lipstick/chapstick
• Clear nail polish for pantyhose snags

Men will appreciate a few extra comfort items of their own including:

• Deodorant
• Comb

• Razors
• Cologne

Well-stocked - A well-stocked bathroom basket should also include the following items for both men and women:

• Rolaids
• Tums
• Q-tips
• Eye drops
• Floss
• Contact solution

• Tweezers
• Manicure set
• Extra band aids
• Bug spray
• Sunscreen
• Dryer sheets (to remove deodorant stains)

There are, of course, many other things you could include. It’s up to you to pick and choose to decide what your guests might need.

The finishing touches

Set your full basket on a small table or stool next to the toilets. You might like to include a note or small sign explaining the basket to your guests and requesting that they only use what they need so that everyone can utilize the basket. This note could be as simple as a piece of cardstock folded in half, or you could put a piece of paper in a picture frame to make it a little more formal. You could write a sentence or two or you could write a short poem, such as one of these:

~~~~

So happy you’re here sharing our special day
But just in case something should go astray:
Please help yourself to the contents within
Mouthwash, hand lotion or ibuprofen
Use what you need, and just leave the rest
For it may be useful to some other guest!
Repair the damage that may have been done,
Then quick!  Hurry back and join in the fun!

~~~~

If your skin feels dry, your hair out of place,
Your throat is parched, or whatever the case.
We've put this together to help you along,
Now get yourself out there before the next song!

With so much happening on your wedding day, it’s easy to miss little details like this, but your guests will be so grateful when they see that you’ve thought of their every last need.

Image Credits:  It Weddings Florida, Weddingbee

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes for My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as creates multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

Movie-Themed Wedding Ideas: Be the Star on Your Big Day

Are you planning a themed wedding? There are many themes to choose from, and many are tried and true. If you’re looking for something different and new, however, you might want to try a movie-themed wedding.

It’s no secret that people love themed parties. We take our favorite things and use them as props to celebrate with. Fictional characters, historical events, holidays, and so many more things make a party fun and meaningful. Even weddings can take on a theme. Sometimes it’s based off of a color theme, other times the bride wants a beach or vintage theme. Themes give an event a united focus, making it easier to plan decorations, attire, and everything else!

What movie should you pick?

When people think of a fairytale wedding, Disney’s princesses often come to mind first. Many women want to feel like Cinderella on their wedding day, so a princess movie is an obvious choice for a wedding theme. It’s not the only option, though.

Do you and your spouse-to-be share a favorite movie? Maybe it’s the movie you first saw together or a romantic comedy you think parallels your relationship. Or maybe you like a particular production company, like Pixar or 20th Century Fox.

Pick a movie that fits your personalities, one that you think is the perfect romance movie, or even one that was filmed in the same area as your wedding. There are hundreds of possibilities for how and what to pick.

How to incorporate movies into your wedding

Make your guests feel like movie stars and the bride feel like the leading lady with a red carpet aisle to walk down.

Set up a photo booth that would make even the best paparazzi jealous. Include a backdrop that shows a theme from your movie or a photo stand-in of your favorite characters.

If you’re not into photo booths, set up a video camera instead. Provide a few movie props such as popcorn, 3D glasses, a movie ticket, a cardboard megaphone, or clapboard. Ask the guests to grab a few props and leave the newlyweds advice using quotes from romantic movies.

Use miniature clapboard or Hollywood movie theme place card holders to reserve seats for your guests of honor.

Take the movie poster and turn it into a Save the Date or invitation to your wedding.

Take engagement photos that match photos from the movie you chose, such as this picture, mimicking “Lady and the Tramp:”

If you want to wholeheartedly embrace this theme, you can make a trailer to announce your engagement. For lots of fun, you could make an over-the-top video announcement like Jeff and Erin’s EPIC Wedding Trailer, or you can make a simple but cute animation telling the story of your relationship.

Another bonus to making a video announcement is saving money on printing and mailing paper announcements, as well as going green by not using paper!

Favor and gift ideas

Give personalized party bags filled with popcorn, favorite movie candies and other goodies as favors to your guests.

For the bridal party, what about movie theater vouchers or a home movie night kit? Include popcorn, drinks, candy, and a DVD or Redbox gift card. Add a personalized gift that goes along with the theme of the wedding. If you don’t mind spending a little extra, a nice addition would be popcorn seasoning or a small blanket. For the final touch, add a thank you note that looks like a movie ticket, or if you’re feeling ambitious, record your thank you message, move-style, of course!

Be sure to stop back next week for ideas for movie-themed engagement, bachelorette and bachelor parties, and wedding showers.

Image Credits:  Themed engagement photos, Movie photo booth props

Elizabeth Grace

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as create multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.