A retro wedding can be the perfect way to tie the knot with style and finesse!
Top wedding planners and fashionistas predict “groovy” things for marriage celebrations this year. From guest favors to party essentials, Totally Wedding Koozies has plenty of products and ideas to put retro into your wedding day!
Stepping back in time to the era of the ’70s can make your wedding celebration the talk of the town. Wouldn’t you like to give guests a fun and magical experience they’ll never forget? It’s really quite easy to do without shattering your budget.
Get ready for vintage wedding ideas and tips to create a groovy theme for your wedding!
What is a retro wedding?
Before you dive into retro wedding plans, you need to understand exactly what “retro” means.
Retro is defined as relating to or reviving a style from the recent past. The word “retro” typically refers to something that is at least 20 years old.
Although each of the previous decades had their own distinct feel, the fun and free-spirit style of the ’70s is most often associated with retro. Retro parties bring back the vibes of Woodstock, bell-bottom pants and memorable rock music that entertained Generation X.
What are the colors for a 1970s-themed wedding?
The first step in planning your retro wedding is choosing a color scheme. The ’70s were all about earthy tones — beige, rusty reds, harvest golds, brown and avocado greens.
Your customized guest favors and party supplies should incorporate these colors to create the touch of nostalgia you want. Here are a few examples of products to order with suggested colors to complement your retro wedding:
Best retro wedding favors and essentials
- Wedding Premium Foam Can Coolers | Retro colors: Camel, Rust, Athletic Gold, Olive
- 16 oz. Wedding Frosted Plastic Cups | Retro imprint/design colors: Brown, Khaki, Athletic Yellow
- Wedding Dinner Napkins | Retro colors: Ivory, Mimosa, Pumpkin Spice, Matte Gold
- Two-Tone Tropic Wedding Sunglasses | Retro colors: Yellow With Black Frame, Orange With Black Frame
- Wedding Lip Balms | Retro Template Designs: 2218 and 2241
- .33 oz. Wedding Hand Sanitizer Sprays | Retro colors: Orange, Green
- Bex Wedding Pens | Retro colors: Orange, Yellow, Green
- 30-in. x 72-in. Full Color Wedding Table Runners | Retro colors: Totally Athletic Yellow, Totally Camel, Totally Brown, Totally Army Green, Totally Burnt Orange
Other ways to add retro colors to your wedding
Our Totally Wedding team has more than 30 years of experience in selecting wedding colors. You can count on their expertise to find groovy colors to enhance your wedding décor.
Here are a few of our most popular suggestions for infusing retro hues into your special day:
- Bring on the flower power with rust orchids, green gerbera daisy, beige roses and sunflowers for the bridal bouquet, table decorations and other floral arrangements.
- Use the suggested retro colors when selecting bridesmaid’s dresses or incorporate the tones in apparel accents such as lace and bows.
- Choose bride or bridesmaid hair accessories, jewelry, shoes, nail polish and/or eyeshadow in the vintage colors of the ’70s.
- Keep the retro colors in mind when shopping for groom and/or groomsmen’s suits, ties, vests, socks and boutonnieres.
What is the best jive wedding music?
How about some ’70s classics that will have your guests tapping their feet and singing along?
The most popular wedding song to boogie down in the ’70s was “I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton. It’s still as romantic and lovely as it was back then and perfectly appropriate for your reception.
But there are so many other songs to consider! Include hits from artists such as Donna Summer, the Bee Gees and Elton John to keep the crowd dancing all night long!
’70s hits for a groovy wedding
- “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” by B.J. Thomas
- “Best of My Love” by The Emotions
- “Never Let You Go” by Bloodstone
- “Maybe I’m Amazed” by Paul McCartney
- “Fire and Rain” by James Taylor
- “Groovin'” by Wilson Pickett
- “Your Song” by Elton John
- “Mama Told Me Not to Come” by Three Dog Night
- “Ladies Night” by Kool & The Gang
- “Nights on Broadway” by Candi Staton
- “I’ll Be There” by The Jackson Five
- “Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind & Fire
- “Close to You” by the Carpenters
- “Love to Love You Baby” by Donna Summer
- “If You Could Read My Mind” by Gordon Lightfoot
- “Night Fever” by the Bee Gees
- “Stayin’ Alive” by the BeeGees
I’ve also got you covered for that special first dance wedding song!
What are clothing styles for a retro wedding?
Your threads need to be on point if you want your retro wedding to be the ultimate groovy experience. Think flowy materials and Bohemian styles for the bride and her bridesmaids, complete with fringe and love beads.
A flower crown, a headband or a feather clip can add a touch of ’70s chic to the hairstyle of the bride or her tribe.
The groom and groomsmen can wear plaid suits, vests and tie-dye shirts, or even polyester leisure suits if they’re feeling adventurous. Just remember to focus on the retro colors suggested earlier.
Far out decorations for a retro wedding venue
For added ambiance, decorate the wedding venue with disco balls, vintage posters and large floral arrangements. Set up a photo booth with props such as party sunglasses, long hair wigs, smiley faces and peace signs.
You can also use your retro colors for wedding signage at the venue. Hang a banner printed with your engagement photo to thank guests for their support. Place a smaller banner near the entranceway to welcome friends and family.
Consider ordering customized table covers in retro colors for your gift table.
Other cool ideas to enhance your retro wedding theme:
- Serve signature cocktails that celebrate the era such as the Harvey Wallbanger, Pina Colada and The Pink Lady.
- Order wedding invitations with images of colorful butterflies, peace symbols, hearts and mushrooms. Use chubby fonts that were popular in the 1970s such as Recoleta, which combines round shapes and sharp-angled strokes.
We’ve got the lowdown on retro weddings
Our team of wedding experts have done their research on this one. Count on your personal graphic account manager to hook you up with the best wedding favors and supplies for your big day!
Your guests will be transported back in time with a genuine ’70s color scheme, jive music and the best retro threads and decorations. We’re ready to make your dream wedding look and feel like a blast from the past.
Get your groove on and shop our wedding items today!
