1930s Wedding Dream Theme

Setting the scene for a Vintage 1930s Wedding Theme

The 1930s began with the Great Depression and ended with Word War II, so one would imagine a chance to brighten the mood was accepted warmly. Therefore, when we think of 1930s we think Great Gatsby’s lavish parties (That we all secretly wish we could go to), and Cary Grant making us swoon!

Weddings gave way to glamour, fun and excitement as soon to be newlyweds eagerly searched for distraction from the reality of an uncertain future. So if you decide you want to relive those glamorous weddings there’s no better place to start than with a 1930s theme.

Flappers fade as we give way to old Hollywood movies, glamour and romance. The 30s means you can pick out one of your old movie stars for inspiration, and have a Hollywood inspired wedding.

The Dress

If your thinking early 30’s then you need to be looking for a fitting flowing gown, and be considering slippery higher sheen fabrics. The dresses worn were imitations of the evening dresses worn by glamorous movie stars of the era. Cowl Necklines, curved trains and even medieval sleeves were a major part of the overall look.

Designer Kate Collins based in the North East can help you design the perfect 1930’s inspired wedding dress with soft silk satins and antique laces combined in an elegant 1930s Hollywood inspired floor length gown.

The most exciting thing about planning a 1930s wedding is choosing the clothing. You can either find genuine vintage pieces, or have reproductions made. Many bridal shops have brilliant selections of vintage style gowns, and you can find some specialists online that actually reproduce vintage wedding clothing.

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Dresses with high necklines, standup collars and padded shoulders with total skirts were popular. But the movie Gone with the Wind, launched in 1939, noticed lavish ball gowns the complete skirts with crinolines panniers worn by Scarlet skyrocket in popularity. In marriage ceremony dresses bustles emphasized the hips and backs and extended trains were connected from the centre again. 

So when deciding on your 1930’s theme you needs to be sure which part of the 30’s you want to celebrate.

Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids, get those eyebrows plucked! Eyebrows in the 30s were completely plucked and penciled in, so if any of your gracious bridesmaids want to go totally 1930s check out Elizabeth Arden’s range for real authenticity, as lipstick shades, mascara and eye shadows came in eight shades of rouge in the 30s. To finish the look each bridesmaid should have perfectly styled hair, perfect make up and fitted long dresses. Check out Attica Vintage in Newcastle for inspiration.

Groom

Okay, so the bride and her ladies are now perfectly dressed and ready to dazzle come the wedding day. What's left to complete the stunning vintage picture? Why, the groom of course!

Making a comeback, popular tuxedo can be thought of as a much more modern wedding choice. In fact, during the 1920s and 1930s, the morning suit was the usual choice for weddings. It wasn't until the 1930s that the tuxedo began to work its way into acceptable wedding attire! So just as the ladies follow their favourite stars, the gents followed theirs with the likes of Cary Grant leading the way.

Go trendy and pick up a tuxedo; there making a comeback anyway! The original vintage suits of this era are truly spectacular as well; if you can find one in your size, snap it up!

Invites

Glamour, Hollywood and more glamour! Your invites could be anything from popcorn boxes to Grammy invites, either way it would pay off to stick with your movie star related theme. Remember, it is the glamorous 30s!

Flowers

Although roses were popular at the time, the most popular flowers were the Madonna lily. Silver fox was the favourite fur! Believe it or not, some brides even substituted their bouquet with a fashionable handbag.

Venue/Entertainment

Hollywood stars and musicians provided a fantasy world of lavish living, luxurious clothing and carefree lifestyles. Use the entertainment of that era as inspiration to create a 1930s-themed wedding.

The 30s was the golden era of the lindy hop, a type of swing dancing popular from 1935 to 1945. This exciting partner dance that features slides, jumps and throws is entertaining to watch, so if you are feeling adventurous you could hire professional lindy hop dancers as the entertainment for your wedding reception. Other popular dances from the 1930s include the foxtrot and the rumba. Take lessons to learn either of those dances and perform it as the first dance. Another option is to invite the wedding guests to join a conga line during the reception. Conga lines were popular in nightclubs in the 1930s so if it was ever time for a conga, it’s definitely at your 1930s wedding.