How to Organize a 50s Style Rockabilly Wedding You’re sitting at the counter slurping the remainder of a chocolate milkshake. Suddenly you hear your favourite song Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin On by Jerry Lee Lewis. You look up and see someone outta sight standing at the jukebox. Your eyes meet and somehow you know this is the person you’re meant to spend the rest of your life with. Okay, so maybe this is not how you met your fiancée. But if this back-in-time scene gives you goose bumps in an upbeat kind of way, why not flavour your wedding with sock hop soundtracks and Elvis’ pelvis? Here are some tips for planning a 50s style rockabilly wedding that will rock your socks off! Rock ‘n’ Roll Celebrate some of the earliest days of rock ‘n’ roll by incorporating some rockabilly hits into your special day. Walk down the aisle to the tender “The Wedding” by Julie Rogers or the more upbeat “All Shook Up” by Elvis. Pick a romantic tune, such as The Five Satins’ recording of “In the Still of the Night,” for your first dance, and get everybody on the dance floor with “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and His Comets. You can hire a DJ or even a rockabilly-themed band! Dress the Part It will be so much fun for you and your wedding party to wear some retro designs! The women can wear 50s style tea-length dresses. The bride may opt to choose a white or ivory design with an underskirt of a different colour that matches her vintage platform shoes and birdcage veil. Men can wear two-piece suits complimented by a bowtie and a sleek fedora. Don’t forget the rockabilly era hairstyles, such as the pin-curl or beehive looks for women and the gelled ducktail for men. When you invite your guests, encourage them to dress the part as well! Rockabilly Décor Let your creativity run wild with vinyl records, polka dots and checkered patterns. Hang vintage posters or black and white photographs of relatives from the 50s, use old Coke bottles for vases, light up the space with paper lanterns and incorporate mini jukeboxes or rock instrument figurines into your centrepieces. You can even set up screens around your reception hall playing music videos of 50s performances. 50s Fun You can also organize some rockabilly era activities into your wedding day or weekend. Host a hula hoop or Elvis impersonation contest or organize a 50s music trivia game. Set up an ice cream float and sundae bar or a nostalgic toy shop for kids of all ages. Rent a jukebox or a karaoke machine. Have guests sing their favourite rockabilly hit, instead of clinking glasses, to get your and your new spouse to kiss. The possibilities are endless! Here at Kippure Estate, we love hosting themed parties (from 1920s Gangster to 70sRetro) and we like to make them authentic right down to the last centrepiece, appetizer and song. If you would like to host your rockabilly reception or your entire 50s wedding bash here, contact our personal wedding planner Grainne Eustace at weddings@kippure.com. |