The idea of a costume themed wedding really took hold in my imagination. I started brainstorming about how I could incorporate the feel of a costume party without letting it take over. Then the idea of a vintage themed wedding popped up.
I’ve always loved old cars, the glamour of old Hollywood, retro fashion and music from an era long gone. My mother used to joke when I was a little girl, that I was born too late.
The Roaring 20′s seemed like it might be a good time to channel for a lesbian wedding. Follow me on a little history tour, Sasha style:
The 20′s were big for us, ladies: On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the last of 36 states needed to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment, granting women the right to vote. Equality at the polls marked a pivotal moment in the women’s rights movement.
There was a backlash to all things stuffy and traditional. Including gender roles, sexuality and hemlines. The fashion rebelled against the old Victorian days and women had more freedom then ever.
Dance clubs were at an all time high. The Jazz era was in full *swing* and prohibition was making the speakeasy the place to be.
The 20′s was a time for gangsters, outlaws, feminists and queers. Drag Queens and Kings were popular acts at dance clubs and the closeted gay movie star wasn’t so closeted at the time.
All of this made it seem like the Roaring 20′s might be the perfect theme for our wedding. But I would have to find a retro looking venue or decorate a blank space. Here were some of my ideas:
For the venue, I was thinking one of two things. If we have a blank space to decorate ourselves, we could make it into a speakeasy. Complete with bouncers and a password to get in. An old fashioned tup in the corner with bottles of “hooch” for favors and Big Band music.
Or …. we could find an already decorated venue. Like, oh … I don’t know … the Queen Mary. Which for those that aren’t local, it’s the last survivor of the great ocean liners that sailed the North Atlantic for the first half of the twentieth century. It is now a haunted hotel, permanently docked in Long Beach. If we did it there, we wouldn’t have to worry about decorating because the ship itself is like stepping back in time.
One of the QM lounges
The Queen Mary has quickly worked it’s way up my list of possibly, ideal locations. For many reasons, here look:
- It’s already decorated! They did a complete re-haul of the entire ship a few years ago, restoring it to it’s former glory. So it definitely works with a vintage theme.
- It’s surprisingly affordable!
- It’s only 15 minutes from our house, which for a girl that hates to travel, that’s a plus.
- It’s also a hotel, so we can still provide rooms for all of our out of town guests.
- It’s not just some boring banquet hall in some over-priced country club or hotel. It’s a freakin’ antique ship with a really cool history.
- It’s supposedly the 10th most haunted place in America. Which goes along perfectly with a near-Halloween wedding. See? I get to sneak in my Halloween thing after all!
- It’s on the water, which I love.
So I guess it sounds like the Queen Mary is our number one choice so far. But that’s just the location. What about the rest?
As far as the fashion, I fell in love with the idea of dressing my Maid of Honor up in a cute flapper dress like one of this one. She’s has a perfect figure and can literally pull off whatever dress I pick for her. Which is fun, she’s like my little paper doll I get to dress up for the day!
But then the fashion excitement dies down for me …. when it comes to my dress. Because the most popular styles of that era were most flattering to stick thin women. Even at the lowest weight, I’m still … well … curvy!!! I’ve got hips and D-cup cleavage and even when I’m at my thinnest (working on that) I never look “skinny.” Try as I might 
A coke-bottle figure it what I was left with even when I was starving myself to a size 4 in college. And while some old food “issues” have worked their way back up to the service, I’ve accepted that I’ll never be a size 4 again. I don’t even want to be.
I’ve always been a woman that believes in wearing what looks good on you and I know that the 20′s style wedding gowns, just won’t give me that va-va-voom look I’m going for. See? Here’s a 1920′s style wedding dress:
It’s cute but it’s not me.
While there is a lot to love about this idea, I’m not totally sold. What do you think? Personally, I love love love the Queen Mary as a possible venue. But the 20′s style dress just isn’t giving me the sexy-wow-factor I’m wanting ….. hmmmmmm …….
Weeeelll, you could take a cue from a lot of comicers who embrace certain timelines. Modify it! Yes, your theme can still be Roaring 20s, but, like any period-inspired fashion, you can modify it to bring it into the 2010s era.
Take advantage of the lingerie of the time, too.
Love this theme and the venue – the Queen Mary is to die for! The fact that it’s so convenient and stress free makes it beyond ideal for you. Hands down my favorite idea so far.
As for the dress, go into one of the high end boutiques on the west side and tell them you want a 20s inspired dress that also shows off your natural assets – too many designers have gleaned from that era for such a dress to not exist. If you find nothing but budget breakers, you can use them as inspiration for having a dress made or finding a knock-off. There are a ton of fabulous seamstresses and budding designers in the area who can make amazing pieces for a song…and they can add details to accentuate your fabulous figure with a custom touch!
There’s a comic called Lackadaisy (Lackadaisy Cats, if you Google it) that is set in the 20s, and in it there is a character named Mitzi who has a coke can figure (one of the best to have, IMO LOL) and you could also look at what she wears for inspiration.
The artist does take license (see FAQ) as I mentioned before, and it turns out beautifully. And your hair could be adapted to the style the character Serafine Savoy sports. You could even wear the dress pictured above that you don’t think works! Just get it brought in at the waist, get one of those invisible support bras and you’d be golden! (Or silver, or ivory, whichever).
This is a great idea. Love the Queen Mary for the venue for all the obvious reasons. As far as the wedding dress goes, think Hollywood red carpet glamour. Matte red lipstick, finger waves, and sparkling jewels. If you decide not to go with the 20′s theme, the QM would also be a great setting for a gothic halloween wedding since it is, you know, haunted and all.
I think the Queen Mary is a great idea. That is a beautiful venue. And no worries you WILL
find your dream dress when you least expect it just like you found your dream girl.
I’m into this one, not gonna lie. The other ideas have seemed a bit costumey….but this one is actually really cute! I love the idea of the 20s and all that it meant for women and for sexuality.
In the end, I think the fashion from that era sorta sucks. But at the same time, you can modify anything. A flapperesque spin on a modern wedding gown? White gloves will add a 20s feel to anything…..
This idea is my favorite. And you wouldn’t necessarily have to dress like a flapper. You could always use the Hollywood glam of the 1930′s & 40′s. Didn’t you say this ship sailed in the first half of the century? Old Hollywood glamour is pretty cool too and still fits with the ship right? Just a thought. But the venue is amazing.
Sasha; Check out how they dressed Marilyn Monroe in “Some Like it Hot” it was set in the 20′s and they made the most out of her divinely curvy body & gave her a fabulous flapper look.
Love the Queen Mary, love the 20′s theme; doing the Charleston & all those fun dances!
Wow! It is torture that we live so far apart, Sasha! That is my all time favorite era!! What an interesting idea for a wedding!! You’re the bride!! So you could definitely pull away from the flapper look and join the glam. Check out 1920′s red carpet looks. That sounds like so much fun! Surely you could find something to hug your gorgeous curves!