Great Gatsby and Event Planning

So it has been a very busy week... and my blog has really suffered.

I started writing this blog on Monday - but there is so much to write about. Plus juggling my job and family (hubby and 4 girls) - you can imagine I don't have an enormous amount of spare time.

There is just so much to cover on this one - it has taken me a few days to write it...

OK... in the theme of the Great Gatsby and events - I thought I would write my blog about it. So - truth be told - I will be attending a Corporate event that's theme is 1920's. So it got me to thinking about the extent that you can go with this theme.

With the release of the movie The Great Gatsby - there has been a lot of buzz using this theme in all different types of parties.

Further to the clothing - which is very cute and fun - for both men and women... there are a few other things that you can do to be able to pull off that theme. Think VINTAGE. From the wedding to the Christmas party - the possibilities are endless.

If you are thinking about having a party or wedding with the 1920s theme incorporated - there is so much that can be done.

Decor:
Figured it would be nice to have some ideas on how to decorate an event that is set way back in the 1920s.
From fur to feathers and glam to glorious - this is where many people experimented with a wow factor.

One piece that screams 1920's is the Gramophone. I'm sure most of you have no idea what that is - until you seen the picture. This replica is actually an iPod docking station - so you can listen today's technology with a flare from the 1920's. Find some songs from that era - and you have yourself a party.

In the 20s, it was really popular to have candles and sand in mason
jars. Using mason jars as candleholders was all the rage for garden parties in the 1920s. 

For food displays such as trays - look for steel pieces such as the one in the picture. This has a very vintage fell to it. It does not have the new look to the metal. Rounded edges and steel will bring a 1920s feel to your food display table.

Games station
Keep guests entertained with a games table set up. From checkers to cards to dominoes, these timeless games will create a lighthearted atmosphere

Mint julep
1 1/4 cups fresh blackberries, plus more for garnish
1/4 cup superfine sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup plus 4 tablespoons bourbon
1 big bunch of fresh mint leaves, plus whole sprigs for garnish
Shaved or crushed ice
Club soda, chilled



Directions
1 - Mash together the blackberries, sugar and vanilla in a small bowl and let macerate at room temperature until juicy (about 20 minutes). Strain the mixture - extracting as much juice as possible - discard the rest.

2. Put 2 tablespoons of blackberry liquid and 1 tablespoon of the bourbon into a silver mint julep cup, add 8 mint leaves, and muddle together.

3. Add shaved ice until the cup is half full. Insert a sprig of mint and then pack in more ice to about 1 inch over the top of the cup. Pour 1/4 cup of the bourbon over the ice, add a splash of club soda. Garnish with sprigs of mint and whole blackberries (if desired).

Champagne flutes
End the night in the true Gatsby fashion with a champagne toast. Go for a classic pour or play it up by adding some berries into the glass wine flutes.

Lighting
If you plan to have your Gatsby garden party - don't forget to add stringed lights overhead. This was wildly popular during the period. Simply hang fairy lights in straight lines or a sting of globe ligths for a brighter effect.

Table Cards
Encourage all of your guests to mix and mingle by creating a seating plan. No matter how many tables you may have - these 1920s style place cards would be perfect on any table.

Feathers were all the rage in the good ol' 1920s. They were used as centerpieces and all the way down to being used in fashion. This is a great centerpiece from that era. Multiple feathers - with faux pearls. So simple - yet so extravagant.

Woman of the 1920s

Hair
In this picture are some of the hair styles for women. The styles were often short back then. Women also wore the tiny hats with veils, head bands that are beaded or with feathers and flowers. There was long hair - however not as common - and often made to look like they had short hair.

                     

Clothes

A familiar description of the 1920s women's dresses could be described as the flapper dress. It was all the rage. Dresses and skirts were getting shorter and shorter. Ladies often wore a boa type shawl made of fur or feathers. The long pearl necklaces were often adorned with this ensemble. And who can forget about the shoes...

Shoes

 The days of pumps became more and more common. Ladies could where a stylish pare of shoes - as you could see in the pictures - their choices were very very limited.

And the men...

It was all about suits and fedoras. It was also known as the mafia days. It was all the glam in those days. The days of pinstripe suits were coming into style. It was also known as the zoot suit era. The oversized suit coats that would go down to nearly the knees.

All this is to say that the ideas are endless - and inspirational. The amount of changes that happened in that time frame. The social changes - women were able to vote and show their legs off. Money was easier to come by and spend - on a new car! I'm sure I will be writing about this again in the near future - there is just so much to write about!

If you have any questions - or need some help with ideas on an event you are planning or even going to - I am so happy to help! The 1920s was the bees knees!