Black & White Wedding Party Themes
Like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers, dancing up a storm, creating a swirling dervish of creamy floor length silk, bow tie, tails and top hat, a black and white wedding party screams elegance, sophistication and class. You, too, can create old-world glamor with a new-age spin, using a simple color palette of black and white. Does this Spark an idea?
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Invitations and Attire
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Woo your guests by sending them invitations that are worthy of your wedding. Whether it’s in black and white filigree, creamy white with an antique lace pattern, or shiny black card stock with art deco shapes in silver foil, use this opportunity to let your guests know what your wedding party theme is and what sort of attire is expected of them. According to Emily Post, “White Tie” entails a floor length evening gown for women, black tails and white bow tie for men. “Black Tie” means a dressy black dress or an evening gown for women; black tuxedo, black bow tie for men. “Creative Black Tie” is like formal black tie, but with a splash of color in the way of an accessory, or the bow tie itself.
Set the Scene
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Think outside the box by having your wedding party decor pay homage to classic black and white films, such as “Casablanca,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” or “Top Hat.” Hang classic film posters and black and white framed photos on the walls. Decorate the tables with crisp white linens, and black dishes using art deco patterns. Create floral centerpieces of white roses and white carnations in black vases. Set elegant black taper candles in silver holders on each table, covered in black-and-white confetti. For a punch of color, add something red to the table, such as red roses in a black vase; a red ribbon; or the couple's new monogram in a deep shade of scarlet on a white cloth napkin.
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Music
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For a lively, upbeat vibe, have the band or DJ play classic movie tunes from Casablanca or The Cotton Club, or sass it up with music from roaring '20s productions of “Sweet Charity” and “Chicago.” Or, travel back in time by turning the scene into a 1930s jazz club. Think old-school karaoke, and encourage your guests to sing along with the likes of Billie Holiday, Mel Torme, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, or any of your favorite crooners and torch singers.
Food and Drink
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Elegant food goes best with a black and white affair; elegant food that actually is black and white works even better. Think cream cheese and black caviar, with crackers or blinis; steak covered in crushed dark peppercorns; blackened fish. For dessert, the options are endless -- dark chocolate and white chocolate drizzled on black forest cupcakes; strawberries dipped in dark and white chocolate; black and white cookies; and the wedding cake, a white tiered confectionery masterpiece, or perhaps a simple chocolate tuxedo cake will do, too. For beverages, try black and white Russians, or bubbly white champagne served in stylish black flutes.
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References
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