From 40s Fantasy to Designer Deco: the New Black and White Wedding
The black and white wedding theme hummed along for years, occasionally dipping just below the radar. But as every wedding planner knows, it never really left us — and it's coming back up in a big way.
Still, we're not talking yesterday's black and white wedding. We're talking one that reflects today's greater sophistication in combining shades, textures, prints. And at its best, it leaves guests with the sense that your event was a full-fledged experience.
That's why we asked two prominent wedding planners you've seen on Style Network's Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?, Baltimore's Linnyette Richardson-Hall (Premiere Event Management) and Philadelphia's Mark Kingsdorf (The Queen of Hearts), to give us the scoop on "Black and White Weddings 2.0."
"Ten years ago," says Richardson-Hall, "there was no concept of textural interest, and no depth. Today, everything's about depth and texture: looking beyond the obvious, digging down, thinking outside the box.
"With a black and white wedding done right, you can knock it right out of the park. But done wrong, the look can be stark and boring. White tablecloths and chair covers, black chair sashes and table runners, red roses on the table — there's nothing fascinating about that. You want to turn that around: for example, zoot suits and pinstripes instead of the usual tuxes."
A Star is Born: How Black & White Hit the Big Time
if you've paid attention to wedding palettes, the question probably crossed your mind: why black and white? How did this retro palette ever manage to muscle in on an endless sea of chocolate brown?
"It's fun, clean and contemporary," says Mark Kingsdorf, chief planner at Queen of Hearts Weddings. "Brides are drifting away from that very frilly look, and if you're looking for another direction and want something almost Deco, this is it."
It's all about a stylized blast to the past, confirms Richardson-Hall. "The 40s craze, the return to high glamour, that retro look — you've seen it on runways, and it's definitely driving event planning."
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Sultry Sirens and Classic Cars: Richardson-Hall's Fantasy 40s Wedding
Both Kingsdorf and Richardson-Hall agree: the black and white trend leans heavily toward old Hollywood, 40's Harlem, smoky jazz clubs and sultry stars. They also suggest that when going for this look, keep it pure. Skip the accents, except for shimmer — and maybe the most classic of reds.
"When I'm designing around a retro, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie type of thing, I'd never suggest color," says Richardson-Hall. "This is all about the absence and presence of light. I'd blend in metallics, though. And if the client really felt a color, I'd bring in red roses, for a very, very classic look.
"My ultimate black and white wedding re-creates the 40s, and not just the look, but the feel. I'd be thinking timeless elegance: elegant women in hats, gloves, jewels, classic pumps, cocktail dresses with the crinolines. And the men in white dinner jackets and black bow ties, like Casablanca — or in pinstripes. Even the transportation is part of it: you can show up and leave in vintage cars.
"As far as the bride, you probably want a classic, sleek gown cut on the bias. You want to get away from pooffy, and lean toward the sleek chignon with a gardenia in the hair — and sultry red lips."
But picking the right venue is critical, reminds Richardson-Hall. "Your average hotel ballroom won't cut it." Instead, she suggests ornate, traditional nightclubs or restaurants. "Lots of heavy molding, starched white table linens, even jeweled table lamps."
Of course, you can hold a big wedding in the traditional ballroom, she says — but skip the chair covers, which disrupt the feel. "Stick with the black Chiavari chairs, or gorgeous velour-back chairs." Then, bring in a 10 piece (big) band or a jazz band, a hefty dance floor, and you're well on your way.
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All Deco'd Up and Someplace to Go: Kingsdorf's Hot-Mod Wedding
While Richardson-Hall envisions a glammed-up fantasy straight from the jazz age, Mark sees an event fusing strong classic roots with fresh flourishes.
"Black and white offer a huge advantage when dealing with a typical ballroom," he says, since ballrooms tend to be both colorful and patterned. "If you do black accents and white flowers, you're not fighting your surroundings."
But don't run too rampant with black, he warns. "You can use black chair covers and tablecloths, and set them off with red sashes and flowers. But you need to pick the right room, and you need to watch your light levels."
In other words, if you turn the lights down to low or the walls are too dark, the black "just sucks all the light out of the room." So turn up the lights, he advises, use plenty of red or white, and load up the tables with candles.
"Red works really well with black and white. Red roses are classic, and bring a lot of depth to the room, in addition to having a great velvety texture. I've also seen black and white done well with silver and gold.
"The other thing that works beautifully — and it's just a little twist, but still a very clean line — is black and ivory instead of white. The bride goes with an ivory or champagne gown, and ivory china, and avoids stark white." In that case, he suggests, good choices for the flowers include creamy hydrangeas, lisianthus, and stock, which in this case transcends its "always a bridesmaid" status as a filler flower.
A bonus to the black and white scheme, says Mark — plenty of bridesmaids are using it to raise the fashionista quotient of their bridesmaids' gowns.
"Brides are telling bridesmaids, 'It's a black tie, nighttime affair. Go find a little black dress that flatters you.' Then they give them the little restrictions involved: it needs to be floor-length, or the chapel wants the shoulders covered. The bridesmaids go to any boutique they like and buy a dress that works for them. They can wear it anywhere, and have it shortened afterward.
"Most of these kinds of dresses have an interesting cut, a bit of glittery ornamentation on the straps, and very clean lines. The final look is completely tailored and elegant."
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My, How Times Have Changed
We decided to really press Kingsdorf on what sets today's black and white wedding apart from the ones we saw ten years ago. (Of course, he was up to the challenge.)For one, he says, he's seeing a lot more patterns — toile, for example. "In a room that's a blank canvas, a toile overlay on a white cloth adds a lot of character." He's also seeing black and white checkerboard prints and stripes.
"We have a popular venue here that's an old warehouse with huge windows and huge white walls. It's perfect for bold solids and polka dot accents."
The wedding cake is an especially fun place to mod it up, he says. "The round white cakes with round black dots: they're sleek, modern, and Deco-y. So are the black satin bands on a bright white cake — it doesn't look like everyone else's. And it matches the type of sleek silhouettes you see in couture gowns — I'm thinking of an A-line gown by Vera Wang with a black satin sash."
(A more traditional but still current look, he points out, is the bridal bodice embellished in black, and the white cake piped all over in a matching black, lacy design.)
Another plus for this theme: trendy touches like the candy buffet are a perfect match. "Monochromatic candies are gorgeous, and there are so many retro kinds of licorice." And let's not forget the appeal of a crisp white or black favor box paired with a dotted grosgrain ribbon.
But what about the flowers for this hipster spin on black and white?
"Actually," he laughs, "carnations. I used to be a carnations snob, but now I'm finding there are so many cool, hybrid colors of carnations. Naturally-occurring purples and greens," he says, emphasizing the natural. "And when you bunch them up tight — pavéed — you can't even tell what kind of flower they are — it's just a great, super-saturated punch of color."
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Black and White Brides: Talk Back!
Now tell us about your black and white wedding: the venue, the flowers, the everything.
Pages: [13] 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 … 1 » Show All
I have no clue how to through a bridal shower. My older sister is gettign married and is having a black and white themed wedding. Any links or suggestions would be wonderful
Thanks
My daughter is getting married May 15, 2010 and I am throwing her a Bridal Shower on a Friday evening 6-9 at my house, casual atmosphere I want it to be like a girls night out, not like a Sunday shower in the middle of the day. My daughter is all for this, she says she will be more relaxed, and we plan on serving some wine and appetizer foods! My daughter is shy and does not like to be center of attention so I thought this was perfect for her! I hope this helps! We do plan on playing a few games, something more along the lines of bachelorette stuff!
I have the following left from wedding
8 black and white pew bows
20-24″ square damask
3 damask banners
3-36″ square for cake or gift table
1-8ft runner
$200.00 for all and I will ship for additional fee!
What type of fabric is this cotton or silky?
Is the fabric black and white? Or is it a bluish tint instead of white?
What are banners?
They are black and white, no bluish tint! The material is cotton, all hand made! The banners were hung over the front of the bridal table, so they all 3 have a v-shape to the front, measuring 64 inches at their longest part! I do not have any pictures from the reception, if I did it would make it easier to understand the concept! They just drape over the bridal table with the point heading toward the floor!, you could use them anywhere at the reception!
What is your e-mail address? Mine is bookworm@eatel.net.
Kim- Did you sell all the black and white stuff yet? I’m having black and white wedding in Sept 2010 and definatly love the black and white damask print!
I still have everything! I have had people interested but they want me to split the items up and the only thing I will split up is the pew bows! If you dont want the pew bows, I will minus that amount off! Otherwise, I would like to sell all of it together! Thanks for looking!
here is a couple of more pictures!
Hi im intrested in what your selling from your wedding ,but i have a quest. do u mean u have 20 pcs. in 24 inches of damask table covers, or did u mean 1 pc. in a 20-24 inch cover please let me know thank you”
20 of them! I have enough for 20 reception tables!
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Do you still have the damask for sale? Interested ,please reply;)
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Yes, I do! If you want to pay with paypal, I will ship immediately!
I am looking for that black dress pictured in the photo above~the Vera Wang A Line with strappy back and sash. Anyone know where I can find that in a size 14?
Hi every one I am having a black and white theme wedding and have no idea on how to plan a wedding and ideas will help
Jennie,
* ideas
*more pics
* real weddings
* wedding decor and boards
Jennie,
* neat ideas
Hi,
I am planning a 25th wedding anniversary for my husband and I July 31, 2010. We never had a wedding the first time.
I also have decided on black and white with silver. I am crazy about deco, contemporary and glitz. I want a evening/formal wedding but small. I have just started planning and have yet to pick out my gown, but I know it will have black on it or it will be silver.
Any and all ideas are so very welcomed. Thank you.
Susan,
* real wedding
* striped linens are great
* neat
* my favorite
* ideas
* real weddings
*more
hey every one……im getting married in aug of 2010 and i want my dress to be black and white…i fell in love with the dress that is posted on this website….the audrey & givenchy dress that is black and white (gown from sabrina)…where can i find a dress similar to that…please help….
gisel,
* try here
* anne barge makes this one
* lots of links
* very pretty
gisel,
*for dress on last link
this is actually a prom dress so i am betting it is super reasonable!scroll down and it is closer to bottom. style P527
I saw it on another site but they dont have black/white anymore and it was almost $350.00
Hello girls! I’m doing a black, white, and hot pink vinatge style wedding May 2010. Any ideas would be very helpful :)
caryn,
* this is beautiful
* i HAD to share this. it is not in your colors but it is amazing nonetheless. you could actually add a few hot pink blooms in this and make it totally your own
* wedding #3
* the rest of previous wedding
* wedding board
* ideas
* pics and ideas
*wedding girl pics
caryn,
* pink white black
* vintage board
caryn,
*had to show you this!!
brides,
i made a gangster style christmas wedding board. i am hoping someone might be able to use it!! hope ya like it!!
I too am going for a 40s retro feel for our wedding (May 2010). I thought it was a fantastic and original idea, but am now seeing that everyone is doing it! I am wondering if I made the right decision with this theme. We really want our wedding to be one of a kind. I am stressing out!
I am getting married January 2010! We are doing a 1940’s Old Hollywood theme for our wedding!
We decided to keep it classic and romantic by using black and white and red for our colors. I decided to put the bridesmaids in floor length black vintage looking dresses by Belsoie. The bridesmaids and I are all getting our hair done in different 1940’s style up-dos and wearing red lipstick for the wedding. The groomsmen are wearing black pinstripe suits and fedora hats.
We are using black magic roses for the bouquets and white phalaenopsis orchids for the reception.
Looking on the internet we found a couple who did their engagement pics vintage style. We used their photos as inspiration for our engagement pics and we’re going to display ours at the wedding for a surprise so it looks like they are stills from an old movie. Here is a link for the couple’s photos that gave us our inspriation (www.jenstewartphotography.com/blog/index.php?/archives/462-Joe-Julie-Vintage-Fabulous!.html)
HandyKane.com had some gorgeous vintage Hollywood invitations that we just ordered.
http://www.handykaneweddings.com/index.cfm?id=87874&fuseaction=browse&pageid=141
We are renting a 39′ Dusenburg for our getaway car.
I hope this gives you some ideas! Let me know if you have any questions!!
Hello, I LOVE that website with the wedding invites, and thank you very much for helping everyone out with these sites. I really want to order with them, but wanting it know that they are legit. I would love to hear your input on them. Thanks!!
I am also doing a black and white wedding. I plan on using a damask pattern. I am trying to do as many things DIY as I can. You can check out my blog. I am getting married 12/12/09 and will be selling things after the wedding if anyone is interested. These ideas are great!
could you please send pictures of reception. I am also doing a wedding in black, white and yellow so i may be interested in buying what you have. also where did you get your diy invitations from? Thanks
I created the design and made my invitations. I have some runners that are black and white damask and they are about 2 feet wide and 5.5 feet long. Here is the bridal cape I had made, the centerpieces with the runners and the place cards I made. The place cards have poker hands attached which match the poker hand at the table. I did this instead of putting table numbers because we met playing poker. I figured it was a personal touch.
Here is the arbor my dad made for the ceremony. He made the big planters on the side also. I can then use these in my yard. My stepmom decorated it all with the greens and branches. I painted the aisle runner and my mom helped me sew it. I loved the candy buffet and the staff set it up really nice. It was so popular that I didn’t get a picture of it full! There are containers knocked over!
Here is the Seinfeld picture that my friend put my husband and I in. We used this as our sign-in and will frame it soon. We love Seinfeld. Here is also a picture of the tables with the poker hands instead of table numbers. I did put table number on the back so that those who don’t know poker weren’t totally confused. The last picture is how we used the aisle runner at the reception. If anyone has any questions about how I did any of this, you can take a look at my blog and email me through there or leave a comment. Enjoy! diyblackandwhitewedding.blogspot.com
oh yeah my wedding is 06/05/10
want to what are you selling from your wedding
I am trying to find more pictures of the black and white cake above. the one with the black polka dots and black piping with white lace. anyone have any pics similiar to this or know who made this cake? please email me bcloutsourcing@yahoo.com
Hie ladies
I would like to cover our hall in white but l’m having a hard time picturing it, so if anyone have any photos please help. Also l’m from Zimbabwe so its so hard to access magazines like the knot so l’ll need your help ladies on centerpices and the cake. thanx
peggy,
*wedding reception draping
*wedding draping
*ceiling draping
what are your colors, style, and theme of wedding for centerpieces and cake? formal or informal?
i’m from south africa and my fiancé and i have a long distance relationship. we’re not really that far from each other, about 3 hours’ drive away but we’re finally getting married on the 5th December! i’m having a black and white with red wedding. i’ve always dreamt of having the most romantic wedding with red roses and red candles and i’m super excited that my dream is finally coming true
my future mom-in-law gave me some ideas of adding a little bit of silver to the wedding and i think its gonna look absolutely gorgeous!
i’m not very creative or artistic but i’m trying to do as much as possible by myself. at the moment i’m still busy with my invitations. takes up a lot of my time but i think it’ll be more special to my guests. my invitation is a black lace envelope (handmade) with a red card and the invite on white paper with almost like a silver effect to it. it looks very smart. my bridesmaids are my three sisters and they’re wearing red dresses with black lace around the waist (there the lace comes in again)
i’m struggling to figure out how i can dress up the bestmen. any ideas would be VERY welcome
also, i want my bouquet to be all red roses. nothing else. will look nice against my white dress. but it would be too much for my bridesmaids to have red roses against their red dresses. or what?????
Hi Luwada, congrats on your coming wedding. By the way, that is my birthday and I was gonna get married on the same date but my fiance asked me to postpone to accommodate his family as they could only come to South Africa on the 15th so now I’m getting married on the 19th.
I’m also using red roses and my bridesmaids are using a single white rose.
They are wearing black & white boob tube dresses.
I can’t wait for my elegant wedding…….good luck with everything
Penny
Congrats on getting married… I am an Event Planner and these colors are great… I am getting married this month but, my wedding is black, white, and lime green… I think that all red roses would be great for you. You could add a few diamonds to give you that extra shine. For your girls I would not do red flowers because it’s your day and you need to look different. You could do white flowers or you could do an arrangement that has red, white and black in it. For your guys …if they wearing a tux then it should be black with either red ties or black if your like with white shirts… If there not wearing tux then black shirts and pants and the flower for their shirt should be red. I too did my own invites. Once the wedding is over I will send you pics…
Hi I’m getting Married in Oct.2010 and my wedding colors are also black, white and lime green. Do you have any suggestions or sites that would be helpful in planning decor, flowers, favors etc.?
Thank you so much! And Congrats on your wedding!
kelly,
*wedding pics and boards
*real weddings
*more boards
*black and green
Hi! I am getting married in March 2010, This will be a second wedding for both. We wanted something fun and simple, low cost. I beleive I have decided on a champagne maids dress for myself. With a black & white theme. But how do I keep it elegant yet non-traditional?
Its only going to be about 25people (immediate family) with a reception a week later. I’m at a loss with ideas since I was only 18 when I married the first time, and don’t want a fancy todo.
Originally I wanted a purple dress, but I have come back to a more traditional color. So I would like to keep a rich dark purple as part of the acent. But it maynot work with Black & white.
Lori,
is there a particular type of theme you want? your colors will work. i made you a board and gave it a fun modern elegance. i didnt know if that is where you were leaning but the decor i chose are just simple paper lanterns, glass cylinders with floating candles( one submerged flower), and paper bag lumineries. all these items can be gotten cheaply at saveoncrafts.com or any local craft store. fresh white linens with black napkins are all that is needed like shown in the pic on board. i put the bm in rich purple; after trying the champagne dress it didnt flow as well. black would be another good choice. now here you can put a sash around her dress if you like. simple heels in black or silver. i hope you like the direction i went if not please let me know and i will look for more ideas!!
lori,
here is your board
eggplant looks beautifly with black. I know this may seem weird but imagine black and purple at halloween, it goes well, As far as keeping it simple and classic, I would do a long table and do like a sit down dinner for a close group of friends, Maybe do a toast and a first dance. then allow some coctails to folllow with a little dancing and desert. maybe at a nice resteraunt that might have a room in the back you can have it in will be available. I would just pre program a ipod for the music. A lot of peopel that want non traditional small elegant weddings are having them at a nice sitdown resteraunt where it wouldnt be uncommon to be dressed up to be there in the first place.
think eggplant and use it as an accent color,.. it will go beautifully
Hello…I found this cake and loved the decoration…found it in The Knot (Michigan) magazine on pg. 93 in case anyone has it :)
Its simple black flowers with white centers…possibly made out of sugar?? Im wondering if I could buy something like these and would appreciate suggestions! Thank you!
Hello ladies I am also getting married July 31st, 2010. My fiance and I are doing a theme wedding and I am in need of idea’s. I will be wearing a poodle skirt combination, and he will be wearing the white - t-shirt and black jeans with black shoes. Oh yes and dont forget the cigarette pack in the sleeves. I was told I need an offset color for my flowers but I dont know which way to go. I would really rather stick with 2 colors. Any ideas?
susan,
for fun i wanted to include my mom on this since she lived in the 50’s. she said the way to go is black and pink and use pink carnations which were THE flower or mums( pink)
*wedding flower pics
susan,
in honor of your wedding theme i couldnt resist a wedding board!!
My brides maids are going to be wearing a deep teal. I have never really been a pink kind of person. My skin tone doesnt really look good with pink but love the ideas.
keep them comming and thanks.
Also wanted anybody else to know that we have chosen the cake decorations we are going to be making them look like old 45 records.
susan,
how about some bright red roses, they are classic and if you are both in balck and white then the pics could look really good like if youtake all the color out of the pic like in the older days and keep just one thing colored. the bright red roses. you could do black roses to but not sure if you and your fiance would like that.
We are thinking of taking black fabric pain and misting it over the white flowers. Sense we are making the bouquets out of fake flower. and then the girls will have Black white and Teal and I am thinking of having a red boquet to walk down the isle with and a mixed one with all the colors to toss. Still everything up in arms just yet.
But Please keep the ideas comming. I have taken a little here and there from you all and tried different things. I greatly appreciate your help.
I would go with pink and black and add some white for accents.
hello,
congrats to everyone, i am getting married may 23, 2010 which is 9 months from now. i came up w/ the black and white theme from my father, him and i were talking and he said it would be really cool to do it and i said dad come on im not doing that… unfortantly i lost my father june 17th 2009, so i decided to go w/ what my dad wanted… in my research and getting everything ready i love the idea and everyone has great ideas, and the website is the best… good luck everyone,
ps. michaels has a black and white set, flower girl basket, ringbearer pillow, a guest book a pen for 40 bucks save lots of money girls….
tracy, i think this is a wonderful tribute to your father. I wish you the best.
have you thought of doing a ‘tribute’ to your dad?
my dad passed away when i was 12, so i am going to have a framed picture of him displayed at the reception - and neither me nor my fiance have grandparents still alive, so we will put smaller pictures of them around my dad’s picture. we are calling it a tribute to those who are going to be with us in spirit
tracy and erin,
both of your ideas are beautiful.
congrats on your weddings
brides, here is a new board i made i hope it can help with your planning!
I love the board you did…my daughter is having a black and white theme….with alot of silver accents. The invitation on the board is awesome…..where could a person order that from?
brides,
here is a great black and white loft wedding….
*nyc loft wedding ( you will love this!!)