A Great Gatsby themed party is a spectacular idea if you want to dress up fancy and have a great time putting together the theme. It’s an elaborate theme with lots of different things you can try to make the experience more authentic.
The 20s were luxurious and bold, which needs to be reflected in your party decor. Starting from crystal light fixtures to champagne towers and gold-bordered invitations, everything needs to scream elegant.
Here are some interesting ideas to make your Great Gatsby party more authentic and fun.
Setting up everything to match the party theme of your choice can be intimidating, especially if it’s something as elegant as the Great Gatsby theme. Here are some things you can try.
For a Great Gatsby-themed invitation consider incorporating Art Deco patterns in emerald green, deep blue shades, or black accented with gold or silver for a luxurious touch. Use metallic foil in silver, rose gold, or copper to highlight borders or specific design elements.
Textured paper, like linen or velvet with lace and ribbons, will look more elegant and gorgeous. Moreover, adding unique die-cut shapes, like vintage ticket stubs or ornate frames, reflects the 1920s style beautifully.
To provide a classic closure, you can do a wax seal in gold or deep red, featuring monograms. Finally, add small rhinestones, pearls, or charms with quotes from "The Great Gatsby".
For vintage decor, furniture such as tufted sofas, elegant armchairs, and vintage trunks as coffee tables, with gold or brass accents will add a luxurious feel.
Rent velvet couches and bar carts to evoke the 1920s. You can make a centerpiece using tall vases filled with ostrich feathers, pearls, and gold branches. Add floral arrangements in rich colors like burgundy and emerald.
Decorate walls with art deco panels, mirrors, and vintage jazz posters, accented by metallic streamers and gold balloons. Lighting is very important for 1920s decor, use string lights, chandeliers, or vintage lamps to create a warm ambiance.
The 1920s was a luxurious time and nothing adds to the glamour of a night like fancy lighting. You can rent crystal chandeliers, and install wall sconces, spotlights, intricately designed table lamps and floor lamps, and string lights.
For a more festive look, you can create a centerpiece by filling tall vases with fairy lights or LED candles and surrounding them with pearls, feathers, and flowers.
Another great idea is to use marquee signs with bulbs to spell out event-related words or phrases. It will be a nice throwback to the 1920s.
Serving classic cocktails will add to the ambiance of your 1920s party. Prohibition-era cocktails such as the Mint Julep, Sidecar, and French 75 are among the best choices.
Use sophisticated glassware, like coupes or vintage crystal, to present these cocktails. Display cocktail recipes on ornate menus and consider a vintage bar cart for serving, enhancing the overall luxurious feel. You can also use a wooden table draped with a gold or black tablecloth to keep the drinks.
If appropriate for your event, create a cigar lounge area with vintage seating and ashtrays, offering cigars or faux options for ambiance.
Consider hiring a jazz band for some authentic 1920s entertainment. A live band playing classics like "Charleston" and "Ain't Misbehavin'" will set the perfect mood.
You can ask the band to dress up according to the theme in period attire. It will add to the glamor of the night. When shortlisting bands for the night, ask them questions about how many sets they do for an event and the duration of each set. Also, discuss the breaks they require and how much space they’ll need to set up.
To ensure you like the band, you can ask to see them during one of their performances.
A vintage car display can be an exciting photo opportunity for your guests. Reach out to local car clubs, rental companies, or classic car enthusiasts to find a 1920s car. Pick a car that matches the theme and color scheme of your party.
Park the vintage car prominently near the entrance of your venue for an impressive start. Create a designated photo area around the car with a red carpet.
Moreover, you can even give guests a brief ride around the block in the vintage car to make it a memorable experience.
A champagne tower is a dazzling centerpiece that would seem straight out of the Great Gatsby movie set. Classic coupe glasses are the most accurate for this era.
Start with a broad base layer of glasses and build up, reducing the number of glasses in each successive layer. Ensure each glass is perfectly aligned and balanced to make the structure steady.
When the party begins or after an important announcement you can ceremoniously pour out champagne onto the top glass, allowing it to cascade down and fill the glasses below. It’s going to be a grand moment worth remembering.
Due to the prohibition of the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the US that lasted from 1920-1933, secret bars called “speakeasies” became a trend.
The use of a password added to the allure and exclusivity of speakeasies, making them thrilling places to visit. The secretive nature, combined with jazz music, fashionable attire, and the rebellious spirit of the time, made speakeasies iconic elements of the Roaring Twenties.
You can recreate this spirit with a password for your guests. When they arrive, you can ask guests, "What's the word on the vine?" They’ll have to respond with the password to enter. "Whispering Willow” is a great password for a Great Gatsby-themed event.
To add to the mystery of fortune telling, set up a vintage-inspired tent or booth adorned with rich fabrics, such as velvet and lace, in deep colors like burgundy, emerald, and gold.
Add fringe and tassels for period authenticity. Use dim, ambient lighting with candles or vintage lamps to create an intimate atmosphere.
You can make it more interesting by asking the fortune teller to include tarot card reading, palmistry, tea leaves reading, and crystal ball gazing.
The 1920s was an interesting time in fashion. In this decade, fashion became closely tied to feminism. Women were liberated from the corset, and the flapper dress, with its loose fit that hid a woman’s shape, became the trend.
By having a fashion show, you can highlight this change in fashion that was not only remarkable but also a huge leap. It’s a time in fashion history that requires celebration.
You can ask your friends to model for the show and wear flapper dresses, evening gowns, swimwear, sportswear, and daytime dresses from the era. You can also have a range of casual and formal looks for men.
The Great Gatsby-themed party is all about capturing the glitz and glamour of the Roaring Twenties.
By incorporating these ideas, from glamorous invitations to vintage decor, elaborate light fixtures, and classic cocktails, you can create an unforgettable experience that transports your guests back in time.
For an authentic and immersive experience, hire a live jazz band for your party. Nothing beats the power of live music when it comes to engaging guests and setting the mood.
Remember to select an appropriate playlist with jazz numbers from the 20s for a touch of authenticity.
