Throwing An Old Hollywood Wedding: Tips & Tricks For The Perfect Day

An old Hollywood wedding may be a dreamy wedding theme for many. Do you feel like you were born in the wrong generation? Do silent movies leave you breathless? And most importantly: do you want to bring all the glitz, glam, and magic of the silver screen to your wedding day?

If so, then you’re in the right place. Because today, we’re here to go over tips, tricks, and awesome tools to throw a dazzling old Hollywood wedding. 

Gather inspiration

Let’s get specific here – when you say “old Hollywood”, what exactly do you have in mind? Do you love the silent film era in the roaring 20s, or maybe you favor the technicolor grandeur of the 50s? Going beyond the era, are there any iconic movies or stars with styles that you’d like to mimic? Gather pics of their trademark style and start a wedding mood board with all your favorite ideas. Pinterest is an awesome way to keep track of all your ideas in one spot. 

Collect screenshots from your favorite movies, snapshots of stars on the red carpet, or pics of other old-Hollywood-inspired weddings. Photographs from actual Hollywood weddings are an especially good goldmine of inspo – since that’s as authentic as it gets. Once you have a clear vision of what you want, other aspects of planning an old Hollywood wedding can come easier. 

Will your Hollywood wedding take place in winter? Then you also need to check out our winter wonderland wedding ideas!

Find a glamorous location

Once you’ve got your mood board of inspiration gathered together, it’s time to start scouting locations. 

For an old Hollywood wedding, your venue helps set the stage and create a dazzling environment where you and your partner are the stars of the day. And if you need help finding a spot, we’ve got the perfect tool in mind. It’s called Peerspace, and it’s the largest online venue marketplace in the world. It’s an awesome way to find and book wedding venues for your big day.

You don’t have to be in California to stage an old-Hollywood wedding, either. You can find tons of beautiful vintage-inspired venues throughout the country. Some Peerspace locations that could be awesome for old-Hollywood wedding day include: 

• A 1920s Spanish Home with romantic Old-Hollywood furniture and decor (pictured above)
• A Hollywood Hills Mansion and event space just 5 minutes from Sunset Boulevard
• A Glamorous Mansion with Mediterranian touches in Buckhead, Atlanta
• A Vibrant and sultry event venue in Miami, Florida

And that’s just a sample of the awesome spaces out there! Feel free to search the listings to see what beautiful wedding venues are available in your area. You can filter your listings by their size, hourly rental price, amenities, and overall aesthetic to narrow down your search. Try using keywords like “retro” or “vintage” to find venues with the vibe you’re after. 

Decorate to the nines 

Sometimes, your venue looks awesome enough as-is. Other times, you might want to add an extra layer of romance to your setting to really capture the theme. Your wedding decorations should work together with your venue to create a cohesive vision and help elevate the event for yourself and your guests. 

For an old-Hollywood wedding, vintage-inspired floral arrangements can help you sell the glamorous vibe. Color schemes featuring shades of gold, silver, or rosy pink can offer a gilded touch that pays homage to the silver screen. Or, you could go for a more vibrant color palette with bright technicolor shades for a cheerier look. 

Reference your mood board and your venue to decide on the vibe you’d like to achieve with your decorations. If you’re using a professional florist, you can show them pics of your venue and ask how they’d use flowers to make it feel like a Hollywood soiree. Or, if you’re taking a more DIY route, you could prepare artificial floral arrangements yourself and have them ready before your big day. Whatever works for you! 

Dress to impress

The clothes that you, your partner, and the members of your wedding party will style are a central aspect of your theme. So, it pays to do a little extra research here. Study pics from old Hollywood star’s weddings to get an idea of the styles of the time. How cute is Natalie Wood’s hooded bridal veil or Elizabeth Taylor’s pale yellow wedding dress? 

Tons of bridal shops offer vintage-inspired selections in their dress lineup, or you could go the extra mile and find an actual vintage dress on Etsy or eBay. If you want to go for a full immersion experience, encourage your guests to come in period-appropriate attire. It’s a fun way to turn your special day into a party that guests are sure to love. 

Make your old Hollywood wedding plans even simpler by tying in our mid-century modern tips and tricks!

Dance the night away 

Music is one of the best ways to capture the theme for your wedding day. By appealing to multiple senses, you can create a truly immersive atmosphere for your guests, making them feel like they’ve stepped back in time. 

For an old Hollywood wedding, the soundtrack could range from 1920s ragtime tunes to movie soundtracks from retro musicals. Check out Thumbtack to see if any bands or vocalists in your area specialize in a vintage sound. 

Or, you could go with a more modern route and curate a playlist of your favorite old-time tracks. No matter what route you choose to go with, the overall goal remains the same – create a swinging atmosphere that’s like an old-Hollywood wrap party, where you can’t help but dance the night away. 

Curate a menu 

Of course, no celebration is complete without food. And a menu full of old-Hollywood-inspired offerings is a must-have. Think retro cocktails, old-fashioned hors d’oeuvres, or a steak dinner fit for a star.

If you used Peerspace to book your wedding venue, then you’ll have access to the Peerspace concierge, which will make this step a whole lot easier. 

Peerspace concierge can help put you in touch with local vendors and caterers for your wedding day and arrange for nearly anything you may need at your ceremony or reception. Just tell them what kind of food you’re in the mood for – like a sumptuous steak, and they’ll work with local vendors to help bring your vision to life. It helps make your wedding planning a whole lot easier.

Find unique wedding venues on Peerspace