Mystery Theme Wedding

A mystery-themed wedding is filled with a sense of clandestine fun.

Everything -- the '40s clothing, the slightly down-at-heel venue, the wild invitations and even the dinner -- should convey the thrill of something secret and slightly dangerous.

There will be nothing traditional about this wedding, but it'll be a blast from the past for both the happy couple, and the guests.

If you've always wanted to toast your beloved with "Here's looking at you, kid," read on to get the lowdown on a mystery wedding.

There are lots of fun venue possibilities with a mystery wedding theme. The venue should be large enough to accommodate your guests, but a good mystery wedding is ideally small enough to feel intimate -- even clandestine. If the venue wouldn't be hard to find at night, you might even schedule the wedding in the evening, to intensify that vibe. Consider:

• A restaurant with a mystery or '40s theme -- preferably with an alley entrance and a fun password for your guests
• A historic mansion from this era that can be rented for weddings
• A party boat
• A grand, old, slightly down-at-heel urban hotel
• A small chapel
• A dinner train
• Penthouse condo atop a 20-story high-rise

The bride and groom in a mystery wedding are definitely not going to stand on ceremony. Think of the classic costumes in a Bogart thriller. The groom needs a:

• snappy felt fedora
• sharp tailored suit
• well-shined shoes and possibly
• a discreet ring.

A film noir bride wouldn't be caught dead in a ruffled gown. And if this woman of mystery wears a veil, it's likely to be made of netting and attached to a hat. The mystery bride glides down the aisle in a

• tailored suitdress and heels
• classic silk dress with clean, simple lines
• vintage '40s party dress

She has one chunky shoulder pin and may possibly be holding a few calla lilies. Imagine Lauren Bacall. What do you see her wearing?

One note: the quality of the bride and groom's wedding clothing will make or break the mood. As much as possible, go for movie-quality period reproductions. Nothing will kill the vibe faster than wedding clothing that looks like party store costuming. Have the dress and suit fitted by a tailor, and buy the best you can afford.

Invitations for a mystery wedding should draw on the classic noir books and movies that made the genre famous. Why not print yours with detective-magazine-like artwork on the outside, and wording like this on the inside:

"The Love Detection Agency has been hired to follow (groom). We think he's in danger. He's been acting strangely lately and has been seen around town with a bombshell blonde/fiery redhead/mysterious brunette.

Our agents found this crumpled note on the floor of his office: Finally found the woman. Meet me at (wedding venue) at (date and time).

Our conclusion: It's too late: she got him. There's going to be a wedding, and you're invited!"

Hire a Big Band to play swing music and the occasional sultry tango for the mystery wedding dinner and dance.

Or, if you prefer, hire a mystery theater company to enact a custom-made dinner mystery to delight your guests. Have them incorporate details from your romance, favorite hobbies, or family history to personalize the fun.

No mystery bride should arrive at her own wedding in anything less than a glamorous bomb of a vintage car. Choose a huge, '40s film noir land yacht for the big event, and don't forget to hire a sinister vintage Packard to shadow your car for at least five minutes, when you leave, so you disappear in true film noir style.

But be sure to call off the watchdogs after a few minutes. After all, the location of a mystery honeymoon should be a real secret!