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Beginner November 2014

80s themed wedding ideas..How to make it tasteful not tacky?

Carmen, on August 20, 2014 at 9:28 PM Posted in Style and Décor 0 32

Hi everyone, I am having a buffet style 80s themed wedding in November and ive been looking online for ideas on decorating ideas. Id like it to be fun and totally colorful like the 80s was, but still look tasteful and not tacky. Any ideas?

Cotton candy on glow sticks, cupcakes with 80s toppers, and cassette tape centerpieces.

These are some ideas ive found so far: (pics)

But im not sure what the tables should look like.




32 Comments

Latest activity by Sally, on June 4, 2018 at 1:59 PM
  • Susan
    Master March 2015
    Susan ·
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    The cupcakes are cool, vase is a bit odd. What about just using neon colors like on the frosting in your decor. You could use them in your linens and maybe round up a few rubic cube games for each table and some old hand held games like Merlin or even atari cartridges for decorations also. Yes I am showing my age here. LOL

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  • Snarky
    Master September 2014
    Snarky ·
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    Just.........good luck with your endeavors Smiley smile

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  • MarriedOldHag
    Expert February 2013
    MarriedOldHag ·
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    These ideas would be great for a birthday party or maybe a shower, but I wouldn't do it for your wedding.

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  • C
    Beginner November 2014
    Carmen ·
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    I was questioning the vase. It looks cool but I wasnt sure ig it would look tacky or not. I like the idea of incorporating neon colors in the linens and runic cubes at each table! Thank you Susan.

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  • Susan
    Master March 2015
    Susan ·
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    No problem, I am a kid of the 80's and those stand out. Please don't get the ugly ass jelly shoes to wear though. LOL

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  • Susan
    Master March 2015
    Susan ·
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    If you wanted to use cassettes you could glue place cards to them, or use albums for chargers.

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  • Mary
    Super February 2015
    Mary ·
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    Not sure if you have a color palette set already, but this has done really neat ideas that seemed like it could work for a tasteful 80s theme. http://ruffledblog.com/80s-wedding-inspiration/ Good luck!

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  • ItsGoodToBeKing
    Master February 2014
    ItsGoodToBeKing ·
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    Like anything, where thereʻs a will thereʻs a way but Iʻd be VERY VERY careful




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  • C
    Beginner November 2014
    Carmen ·
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    I love love love that cake!

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  • C
    Beginner November 2014
    Carmen ·
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    If I stuck with neon pink, blue, yellow, white and black as the colors, would that look weird?

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  • doeydo
    Expert April 2020
    doeydo ·
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    Below are links to pages that have pictures of 80's themed weddings and events:

    http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2010/06/23/1980s-retro-high-school-love-wedding-ideas/

    http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--GAAdneERSs/UgM8rGicvrI/AAAAAAAABSI/NL6KC3d-tGE/s1600/guest+book+idea.jpg

    http://blog.hwtm.com/2012/05/radical-neon-80s-party-ideas/

    http://www.theknot.com/weddings/album/an-80s-themed-wedding-in-austin-tx-85269

    http://cdn25.printing-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/Number-6.jpg

    http://offbeatbride.com/2011/08/oklahoma-eighties-wedding

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  • Chasity
    VIP June 2015
    Chasity ·
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    I think one thing you may want to choose to do, is choose a few colors instead of every color ever like the 80s haha. With fashion avoid costume-y things like big hair and bangles. I think its possible just needs to be approached carefully. But if its you go for it

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  • Ellie
    Devoted December 2014
    Ellie ·
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    PAC Man, ET, Atari, Duran Duran! I would pay to come to your wedding! Love it!!!!

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  • SunshineJenn
    Master August 2014
    SunshineJenn ·
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    It's like my past is haunting me. The 80s were less colorful than the internet leads you to believe. Go with things that add to the day, rather than overshadow it or stand out to compete with you the bride:

    - All 80s music (because it IS the best music)

    - Silver bangles for BM jewelry

    - YOU could wear jelly shoes (although I wouldn't because they cause blisters)

    - Mix-tape Save the Date cards

    I'll be honest, it will be hard to do this tastefully without tackiness, because the 80s was all about over-consumption and tackiness.

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  • Northern MN
    Master November 2014
    Northern MN ·
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    Hi Date Twin! I think your event sounds awesome! I think in some ways the tacky is what makes the 80's memorable and awesome. http://us.moo.com/design-templates/business-cards/pack/i-made-you-a-mixtape.html awesome moo card mix tape thing...

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  • JanuaryWedding
    Super January 2016
    JanuaryWedding ·
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    I would be very careful and selective of the colors. But SunshineJenn is right. It made me think of this pic.


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  • StitchingBride
    Master October 2014
    StitchingBride ·
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    Januarywedding: I was just talking about that the other day. some of the stuff I've seen that is supposed to be 80s look, and it's not what I remember. Smiley smile

    the movie music and lyrics- that's a good example. the pants in the beginning with all the zippers. there were some extra zippers on stuff, but the pants in that movie had more zippers than I ever saw on any clothes!

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  • C
    Beginner November 2014
    Carmen ·
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    Buy wasn't the 80s known for neon colors and spandex?

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  • Ali Ess
    Devoted May 2014
    Ali Ess ·
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    I just have to say that I am kind of obsessed with that cake that King posted. Somewhere tucked away, I have a big barrette from the 80s that looks JUST like that!

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  • Maltese
    Master June 2015
    Maltese ·
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    I wouldn't necessarily theme the wedding after the 80's but have pops and small hints of it instead to help create a more glamours and grown up vision..

    Using a current trend of different colored shoes and accents for the bridesmaids and matching with the GMs: One girl wears yellow shoes, jewelry and carries yellow flowers and the GM she is paired with wears a yellow tie. The next girl wears hot pink, then lime green, ect.

    You're going to have to be careful or its going to look a bit cheesy and much like a college frat party.

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