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1920s Virginia Wedding

1920s Virginia Wedding

The bride from today’s wedding shot by Joyeuse Photography describes her wedding day as “stepping into a daytime party from The Great Gatsby.” Yep, we were sold right then and there! We guarantee you’re going to love their “table number” idea! Each table was assigned a particular figure from the 1920s and decorated in tribute to that individual — think Coco Chanel, Al Capone, Josephine Baker, and Babe Ruth, just to name a few. Oh, and you just might notice the most incredible vintage getaway car we’ve ever seen!

vintage wedding getaway cars

From the bride, Alicia: I have always been fascinated by the 1920s and the exuberant pop culture that went with that era. I can remember my great grandmother telling me a story about how she and her friends would “rouge” their knees before going out. I loved this story and how it was an act of defying the traditional standards of society at the time. I wanted to somehow capture that spirit and glamor of the epoch through our wedding. I viewed our wedding as a blank canvas where we could re-create and experience anything we wanted. What could be better than the Roaring 20s!


bride getting readyvintage grooms cufflinks

vintage grooms shoes

vintage wedding shoes seychelleshanging wedding dresses

bride getting ready

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vintage wedding invitations

I think our wedding can be described as “Gatsbyesque”, if that’s a word! As we got deeper into the planning, I wanted the wedding to have the feel of a picnic on a summer day in the 20s. As if you were stepping straight into a daytime party from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby.” And, I think we succeeded!


vintage getaway cars

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vintage wedding fashion

vintage wedding fashionvintage wedding fashion

bride and groom getaway car

vintage wedding fashionvintage wedding fashion

Our color scheme was peach and cream with some black and gold thrown into the mix. We thought nothing would say 1920s class more than having us both dressed in cream period attire and a matching automobile to complete the look!


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rings in succulents

feather wedding invitationshanging picture frames

drink table displays

quilt wedding guestbooksquilt wedding guestbooks

We did all of the table flower arrangements ourselves (or at least a family friend did them). Several of our other DIY projects were the door with the guest seating, all of the signage including the serving platters that we turned into chalkboard signs and the family “photo” tree.


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vintage reception place settings

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vintage reception succulents

vintage wedding receptionsvintage wedding receptions

vintage reception succulents

vintage wedding receptionsvintage wedding receptions

Any advice for brides planning their weddings now? I cannot say enough great things about our wedding planner. My advice for brides to be is to invest in a planner, if not for the entire event then at least for the Day Of. Our case was a bit unique in the fact that we had to plan the entire wedding from abroad. Our planner helped us to not only manage our other vendors & make timely decisions but she was also able to keep the thread of my vision. Whenever I felt overwhelmed or that I was not able to communicate my ideas correctly to the people involved helping us State side, she was always there for support and to remind me and others of how to move forward. As for the day of, she and her team were brilliant. My family and I did not have to worry about a thing. She kept us right on schedule and we were able to focus on our guests and celebrating our happy day!


vintage wedding receptionsart deco wedding cakes

ernest hemingway table numbers

art deco cake detailsvintage wedding guests

swing wedding music

vintage couple first dance

art deco cake detailsvintage wedding guests

View all images from this wedding in the gallery

Wedding Music:
Processional: “Hoppipolla,” Sigur Ros
Song Before the Prayer: “Grow Old With Me,” The Postal Service
Recessional: “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” The Beatles
First Dance: “La Vie en Rose,” Louis Armstrong
Father/Daughter Dance: “The Way You Look Tonight,” Frank Sinatra

Wedding Location: Hartfield, VA / Wedding Photographer: Joyeuse Photography / Wedding Location: Bride’s Grandmother’s Home / Wedding Planner: Malissa Murphy of CMT Event Planning / Bouquets and Boutonnieres: Smith Florist (Gloucester, VA) / Succulents: Succulents Galore / Wedding Dress: Novia D’Art “Fantasia” / Bridal Cap and Veil: Twigs and Honey, style 109 / Wedding Shoes: BHLDN / Bride’s Earrings: Luxedeluxe / Reception Dress: Blue Velvet Vintage / Bride’s Hair: Janet of Razzle Dazzle (Yorktown, VA) / Bride’s Makeup: Susie of Best Face Forward / Groom’s Suit: Vecona Vintage / Wedding Music: Glen Boswick and the Sound of Swing Orchestra / Wedding Caterer: Williamsburg Catering Company / Wedding Cake: Creations from the Heart / Wedding Invitations: Two For Joy Paper / Wedding Program: I Heart Paper and Thread / Menu: He Saw Sparks

View Comments (16)
  • Hello,

    This is a question for Alicia – first of all, your wedding was magnificent! Congratulations!
    I absolutely adore your head piece, but I see that Twigs & Honey do not offer returns, so I’m hoping you can let me know if you were satisfied with the quality and if you would recommend them?

    Thanks!
    MB

  • Hello there!

    Thank you all for your kind words! We are currently swimming in matrimonial bliss and the day was just perfect! So worth it!

    Maribeth, I absolutely loved my Twigs & Honey head piece. The quality is fantastic and it made me feel just gorgeous! If you do decide to purchase, I would suggest doing so early. Myra Callan, the talent behind it all, has a lot on her plate and makes most of the items herself. From start to finish it took me about 3 months to get my head piece.

    The best of luck to all you brides to be! I welcome any questions!
    Warmly,

    Alicia

  • What a great post! Best Face Forward loved working with Alicia and her wedding planner, Malissa, for this amazing event! Definitely one of our all-time favorites!

  • Thanks for all your lovely comments ladies- good luck! I look forward to another posting.

  • This couple truly didn’t miss a beat in realizing their dream of a 1920’s wedding. All the details are perfection – I especially love the typewriter.

  • I Lovee you husbands outfit where did he get the tie? I found the vintage website but no tie.

  • Hello Alicia,
    My fiance and I are getting married in March 2014 and we LOVE your wedding husband’s shoes. We have been searching and trying to find them to no avail, would you mind sending us the name of the shoes and where you bought them? Thank you for the wedding inspiration! You two truly have a unique and artistic perspective that we love!

    Cheers!
    Lauren

  • Did you rent the car? If so, where from? Would love to have something similar at my wedding in NC next year! Thanks!

  • GORGEOUS WEDDING/THEME!!!! I’ve always wanted to have a 20’s style wedding and I’m SO thankful its the only theme my fiancΓ© and I can agree on! LOL He’s become more of a “Groom-Zilla” then I thought!! ;P hehe! Usually guys leave it to the women and just show up. LOL
    Your wedding is VERY BEAUTIFULLY put together. And I absolutely LOVE the idea of the quilt signing for all the quests!! SOOO PERFECT!!!! πŸ˜€
    CONGRATULATIONS AND MANY BLESSINGS FOR DECADES TO COME FOR YOU TWO!!!! <3 <3 ;D

    Sincerely,
    Brie πŸ˜‰

  • Hello! First of all I absolutely love your wedding! Alicia, My question is that I was wondering where you purchased your wedding shoes at. I am absolutely in love with them and would like to know where I could get them.
    Thank you so much!
    -Savannah

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