Great Gatsby Wedding Betty's Tea Room York Custom Handkerchiefs

“I love her, and that’s the beginning and end of everything”

The Great Gatsby was, is, and will continue to be one of the greatest stories of all time. There’s a reason why it’s one of the most popular party themes and, as of late, wedding themes. It’s glamorous, sophisticated and portrays the most enticing of lifestyles. There is an overwhelming sense of luxury that comes with The Great Gatsby, a comforting affluence that offers the sense that anything could happen. Nothing is too much, or too over-the-top for Jay Gatsby and his infamous parties. At Extra Special Touch, we pride ourselves on being able to offer timeless accessories that inject a touch of luxe into your wedding day, which is why we jumped at the chance to be involved in this Gatsby styled shoot with custom handkerchiefs, captured in all it’s glory by All You Need Is Love Photography.

The rich opulence of The Great Gatsby can easily be translated to your wedding through some of the finer details. And if you want your guests to really feel like they are at one of the parties described in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s party then the details take on extra importance.

“In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars”

The shoot took place at Betty’s in York which has as much of a legacy as the novel itself. Betty’s rich history provided the perfect backdrop to the shoot that was all about displaying the best bits of times-gone-by with a more modern, fresher take.

As you can see from the styling of this shoot, by the rather lovely Loveli, the attention to detail can really take a wedding to the next level. From the ritzy colour palette – featuring brass candlesticks, and golden tealight holders by Savon Claire – to the tile print design, every little touch transcends the ordinary ‘themed wedding’ and allows you to feel like you’re really there with Gatsby, Daisy and the rest. The abundant blooms, arranged by the incredible Claire Slater, and the cake designed by Where The Ribbon Ends, perfectly follow suit in their attention to detail to really deliver a tablescape that Gatsby would be proud of. And props by York Wedding Hire Company really bring the theme to life.

The dresses by Blossom and Belle deliver a gorgeous dose of Hollywood glamour which is really essential to the Gatsby era. These are two juxtaposing designs – a high halterneck affair, and an off-the-shoulder number – that both happen to perfectly encapsulate the ritz, glamour and glitz of the roaring 20s. Hair and makeup by Alison Martin, and the vintage-inspired hair pieces and jewellery by Elisoberry are the flawless finishing touches to this stunning shoot.

“Those gleaming dazzling parties of his were with me so vividly that I could hear the music and laughter, faint and incessant”

Handkerchiefs have had their place in history since well before the 1920s, but are still a practical and sentimental accessory for both the bride and groom in present times. They have always been aligned with the social elite which make them the perfect addition to a Great Gatsby themed wedding, or any wedding where you want to give a nod to style, tradition and sophistication. Custom handkerchiefs are a perfect gift for mothers who may shed a tear during the ceremony, or bridesmaids to wipe away a smear of lipstick after hours.

Hankies are such a sophisticated, glamorous and elegant way to incorporate something a little more traditional into your wedding day. We designed these delicate adornments for the shoot – trimmed in lace for the ladies and straight-edged for the groom and his gang. One of the finer-points that is so easily recognisable with The Great Gatsby is the font. It’s unmistakable in its association with the 1920s Art Deco era that the novel is set against. Which is why we carefully embroidered the custom handkerchiefs to this effect, in a complementary shade of claret to tie in with the rest of the styling, to personalise them for the recipients.

Monogramming on handkerchiefs and other accessories was also very trendy in the 1920s, and is one of our most popular services at Extra Special Touch. With an increase in wealth around this time, many women also collected souvenir handkerchiefs from the ships they sailed on or hotels they slept in. Which is why we think it’s a lovely sentiment to provide guests or members of the bridal party with handkerchiefs as a souvenir from your wedding.

You can find monogrammed or personalised handkerchiefs in our shop, or please do contact us to discuss any bespoke designs we could create for you.

Credits

Photography – All you Need is Love Photography

Dresses – Blossom and Belle

Hair & Make-up – Alison Martin

Flowers – Claire Slater

Venue Styling & Stationery – Loveli

Cake – Where The Ribbon Ends

Hankies – Extra Special Touch

Gramophone – York Wedding Hire Company

Hair pieces and jewellery – Elisoberry

Tealight holders – Savon Claire