Contents
- How to organize a Chicago-style wedding
- Hall decoration in the style of Chicago photo
- Chicago Style Wedding Invitations
- The image of the bride and groom
- Chicago Style Wedding Scenario
- Music and wedding greetings
- Process video
Each couple dreams that their joint holiday will be original - for this, young people often turn to thematic stylized events. For passionate, energetic natures who do not know their lives without adventure, a Chicago-style wedding of 20-30 is ideal - the time of the reign of gangsters and mafia groups. This unique style of the holiday will make the event unforgettable, will leave a pleasant impression on the participants in the process..
How to organize a Chicago-style wedding
What is Chicago at the beginning of the last century? This time, when the rule of crime was brought to an extreme, the gangsters and the mafia seized power. The government instituted a prohibition law prohibiting the supply and consumption of alcohol, which the bandits skillfully used. Clandestine casinos were organized, smuggled alcohol was transported there - often people in the public service helped to deal with supplies, for which they had a good percentage.
The Chicago syndicate, which flourished in those years, was not much like a traditional mafia group. This association of gangsters was formed on the basis of an existing organization in charge of brothels, so the syndicate members did not perceive each other as a family. Because of this, gangsters in Chicago even to «his» were much stricter, touched each other harder. Chicago syndicate managed to create a truly powerful corporation, the head of the casino, underground clubs.
How to organize a Chicago wedding:
- Choose a venue for the celebration. If the holiday takes place in the summer, a young couple can organize a wedding on the street - fresh air, picturesque nature will please guests. In the cold season, renting a banquet hall of a restaurant, if not stylized in Chicago, then at least having common details with this style, will be an excellent solution. A room decorated with red or dark wood, with small windows and massive curtains is suitable.
Also an excellent solution would be to rent a hotel, in the rooms of which guests can stay after the wedding. Chicago gangsters lived luxuriously, so don’t reject the richly decorated rooms of expensive restaurants..
- Inform guests about the dress code. If you plan to have a fully themed Chicago wedding, you must warn the guests about the style of clothing in which they should appear. It will be a retro look: men can wear classic suits made of gray, blue or black material, they can be decorated with a print strip. They will complement the male image of the hat. Women can wear stylish low-waist dresses, a boa around the neck, pearl jewelry, do retro makeup and hairstyle.
- Think over the holiday menu. The main items of the upcoming menu should be American dishes, popular during the time of Chicago of the 1920s: a variety of steaks (medium, full-fried, with blood) from lamb, veal, pork; fried chicken wings, legs, barbecue. For an easier version of the kitchen, fish dishes, all kinds of salads, other snacks are suitable.
The main dessert of the wedding, a birthday cake, should be made according to the style of the holiday - in the spirit of the gangster Chicago. Order a multi-tiered refreshment with elements that match the style: pistols, hats, newspaper clippings, alcohol bottles.
- Buy a drink. Alcohol will be a separate menu item, it should be emphasized, because in Chicago at the beginning of the twentieth century a prohibition was introduced that prohibited the sale of alcohol. The owners of underground casino clubs never sold drinks openly, they were always brought in teapots, drank with the help of tea cups. Culprits of the celebration can arrange a similar liquor «performance». On the table should be whiskey, rum, other strong drinks.
- Order a wedding procession. The perfect solution for the Chicago wedding style is to order stylish retro cars. If tenants do not provide a whole motorcade, future spouses can only order one car for a wedding in order to effectively appear in it and leave after the wedding ceremony. It is difficult to find a model of a car similar to what was in Chicago in the 1920s, enough to find a similar in style and appearance.
- Order the services of a photographer. A Chicago wedding is not uncommon, so many professional photographers will not only find the right props for the photo shoot, but also a portfolio by which you will be able to evaluate previous work with this style. You can take a color shot or ask a professional about black and white photos. You should also call the operator, who after the wedding will mount an interesting video.
Hall decoration in the style of Chicago photo
When the venue is chosen, the heroes of Chicago's celebration can do the decoration of the holiday. To create the atmosphere of a Chicago casino, future spouses should darken the banquet hall as much as possible. It’s good if the restaurant or hotel is already in style or in the basement. If not, the windows should be decorated with dark heavy curtains, create a muffled, soft light that creates a cozy atmosphere.
Next, you should choose the colors of the design: against the background of the tree, which must be present in the interior of the wedding, three colors can be distinguished associated with gambling - red, black and white. White is not necessary to use, or you can make it a shade of some details. A piano will become a good element of Chicago wedding decoration, on which the invited pianist will play several jazz tunes.
The bride and groom can decorate the walls of the hall for weddings with paintings in heavy frames, aged newspaper clippings, printed portraits of newlyweds and guests, stylized as wanted ads by Chicago gangsters. Posters of old films, black and white photographs will also become an excellent wall decoration. Additional room decor details - casino chips, garlands with playing cards, artificial money.
A few more details of the upcoming celebration, suitable to the style of Chicago: red fabric draperies, figures of criminals. It will turn out to decorate the banquet table with bouquets of bright red flowers, but then these plants should be present in the bride's bouquet. For a later evening, candles that create an intimate atmosphere will be a wonderful decoration.
Chicago Style Wedding Invitations
We should also think about invitation cards, because this is why guests will learn about the style of the upcoming wedding. In order for the invited participants of the event to understand the topic, you need to create an interesting decor of invitations: for example, postcards made in the form of an advertisement in a newspaper about the crime with the place and time of the wedding will be a great idea. Also, the heroes of the occasion can send small notes-cards with aged paper.
A more budgetary and simpler option is the classic rectangular invitation cards, which depict elements of the Chicago style: roulette, playing cards. It is good if postcards are delivered by a courier dressed in accordance with the theme of the wedding. In invitations you need to write about the wedding dress code and send it a month or two before the event.
The image of the bride and groom
The image of the groom of Chicago is a luxury and impeccable style. The gangsters of the 20s did not even allow themselves to look «on four», everything was impeccable in their image. Perfectly ironed suit, shoes polished to a shine - it was impossible to find fault with their style. Basically, men sewed suits to order, so the outfit fit perfectly: the hero of the occasion should adopt this tradition or file a purchased suit. Wide-brimmed hat completes the image of Chicago gangster.
A man should style his hair, wear expensive watches and cufflinks, because they will be able to emphasize his high status, as well as fasten a holster with a revolver on his belt.
For the female image of Chicago, the 20s was a turning point: the ladies began to abandon lush dresses with a tight corset, giving preference to convenience and sophistication, so you need to forget about the skirt on the crinoline. An elegant dress in a light shade with a low waist will emphasize the sophistication of the hero of the occasion of Chicago, her original style. Pump shoes, low flats or pointed low-heeled shoes will perform well as shoes..
The makeup of the Chicago girl is bright, highlighted lips, dark cheekbones, neat arrows. The hairstyle should also be done according to the retro style: to style hair with cold waves, popular during the time of Chicago in the 1920s, to collect them in a smooth, neat hairstyle. The final detail will be a headband decorated with a brooch and feathers or a stylish veil.
Chicago Style Wedding Scenario
Chicago's wedding begins with an interesting ransom. Bridesmaids can prepare a real performance, based on the transfer of the future wife to another gangster group. The head of the bride’s family, the owner of a large criminal corporation, is not too happy about her daughter’s fate, so the groom will have to prove his worth, intelligence, resourcefulness, and most importantly - love for the girl. Watch an interesting video where the Chicago ransom took place:
When the ransom is over, the future spouses go for registration, after which the professional newly-married couple with guests is photographed by a professional. At the end of a thematic photo session of the Chicago style, the bride and groom go to a festive banquet, where the rest of the event guests are waiting for them. It’s good if the heroes of Chicago will hire a professional presenter who will create a unique scenario with competitions, tasks for guests that reflect the style of the wedding.
At a classic Chicago wedding, the bride must be kidnapped. This is an interesting production that will leave everyone with interesting impressions. How it goes: in the middle of the banquet, animators dressed as gangsters burst into the hall, they are armed with toy pistols and want to rob guests, and the head of the gang goes to the bride and takes her away with him. Suddenly, the groom and his friends get water pistols and «hit» criminals taken by the police. Finish the party with colorful fireworks.
Music and wedding greetings
The main musical accompaniment of the Chicago wedding should be blues and jazz compositions. They do not have to be of past years; entourage will also create more modern options for execution. It would be ideal to order the services of a musical group, in the arsenal of instruments of which there is a saxophone, piano, guitar, harmonica, and its participants do an excellent job with a repertoire that suits Chicago.
Wedding greetings from guests and host can be varied: both classic toasts with sincere wishes and interesting congratulations that emphasize the style of the wedding are suitable. For example, if two clans unite during a holiday, then a guest can congratulate the newlyweds on behalf of one group, express their pleasure in «a new family with whom things will go even better, and enemies will be even smaller».
Process video
A wedding in the original Chicago style is an event that does not lose popularity thanks to the cheerful atmosphere of excitement, passion, and adventure. The heroes of the celebration of Chicago, who chose this style of the holiday, can be sure that it will leave an unforgettable impression on everyone present. Look at the video, an example of such a wedding:
