Medieval style wedding (ish)

Degeneratemoo

Hi!

We're getting married in a castle and the wedding reception is being held in a tudor themed, wood panelled room that follows on from the castle very well. We wanted to have some medieval style stuff to give the wedding a nice feel but don't want to go over the top with it all, we really just want to stick to the little touches that make it as opposed to wearing period costume to get married in etc or having medieval entertainment.

We've gone for burgundy and gold for the colour scheme and we're having our coat of arms for the venue, was thinking about naming the tables after famous castles in Britain etc, but what else could we do?

MIL to be suggested using small rolled up scrolls as name place cards instead of the standard a-frame type, not really sure how I'd go about doing them though and not have the rolling about the table..

Does anyone have any other suggestions (and no, we're not doing away with the cutlery :rotfl: although that is a popular misconception about the era, they were actually very civilised when it came to meal times)?

Minxy_Bella

A quick google for a magazine that I buy showed up this, hun.

The bit most pertinent to you is this:-
"To make your medieval wedding truly authentic you’re going to have to dance. Yes, really. A lack of documentation means the proper medieval steps have to be interpreted from pictures and stories, but fear not, there’s a wealth of dances to learn: The Washerwoman’s Branle, The Rufty Tufty and The Honeysuckle Almain are but a few. Lyre music is, of course, the perfect accompaniment. There’s also an endless range of other entertainments that can be arranged to bring the Middle Ages to your marriage celebration. Remember, Marco Polo brought fireworks to Europe in the 13th century, so a dramatic pyrotechnic finale over the castle walls would be well in keeping with the times. Then there’s jesters, falconry, juggling, acrobats, fire-eaters, magic…and if you’re truly ambitious and feeling flush, how about jousting?
Have a look at www.themiddleages.net/life/steps.html for a breakdown of medieval dance-steps, and the following sites are packed with useful ideas:
www.castles.me.uk/medieval-entertainment.htm
www.medieval-period.com/medievalentertainment.html
www.medieval-entertainers.co.uk/"


"

When it comes to food nowadays, a good number of castles are keeping the traditions of this bygone age alive by catering for large banquets with staff properly attired. The most immediate benefit of this is that you can finally call “wench” on your waitress and get away with it, but the range of medieval foods available in this form of dining is quite enough in and of itself to take one’s interest. An evening’s repast might include roast quail, turtledoves and partridge, goose, venison, roasted boar (sanglier), gilded and silvered calves’ heads, roasted peacock, oysters steamed in almond milk and ale-flavoured bread. Dieters will be heartened to know that medieval folks did have salad as well, and there are varieties you can try featuring chives, scallions, boiled carrots, radish roots, young lettuce and turnips. Top it off with some herbs, nuts, olives, vinegar and oil, and maybe, if you’re a wealthy noble, a spoonful of sugar.
There are six courses, and you’re obliged to eat until it’s all gone. The fork wasn’t unknown to medieval diners, but if you’d rather be like Charles Laughton hurling that chicken over his shoulder, so much the better. Wash it all down with spicy mulled wine, mead, ale or cider, but go easy. There’s the dancing to be done afterwards."


"So you’ve booked your castle, and now you’re thinking of adding a touch of the theatrical to your wedding? Good for you. It goes without saying that costume is great fun, and will make for some great memories and photographs. If your religious orientation leads you in a certain direction you may want to delve into the intricacies of neo-pagan nuptial ceremonies, but the themed medieval wedding also offers great scope for couples with a bit of imagination. Many of our modern matrimonial customs and laws were established in medieval times, so you can have an authentic castle wedding without straying too far from the rulebook.
Just how historically accurate you decide to make your themed wedding is of course a matter for your own discretion, but choosing period costume appropriate for the era your castle belongs to can only add a pleasing authenticity to the proceedings. There’s no shortage of dress-designers and costume-makers who’ll happily advise on how best to fit the finery to the fortress, but here are a few general tips to get you started.
Firstly, forget white weddings. Blue was considered the colour of purity and it would be worn by both bride and groom – indeed, it’s from the blue ribbons that adorned couples in those days that brides now wear “something blue.” For the congregation, go with brightly coloured gowns and robes studded with gems and embroidered with gold and silver thread, offset by fur and lots of jewellery. If you can find a willing serf, make a dandy wig from their hair.
Women were heavily made-up and it was the fashion to pluck the hairline to create a larger forehead, although you’d have to be really keen to go quite as far as that in creating the true Middle Ages look. And get some flowers in that hair, loosely woven or as a floral crown.
The garter played an important role in medieval weddings, as it was thought to bring good luck to the wedding guest who could take it from the bride. (It would be more realistic to expect a swift slap round the chops as the reward for your troubles these days.) If it’s a little intimidating for brides-to-be to imagine a crowd of eager males trying to get their clutching hands on your intimate accessories, just remember that in the days before the garter, guests would try to get hold of absolutely anything the bride was wearing…
But most important of all, if you really want a heady sense of authenticity, don’t bathe for a couple of weeks. In the early Middle Ages public baths were very popular (one of the perks of having been invaded by the Romans), but as woodland was depleted to fuel the heated baths it became prohibitively expensive for all but the richest of nobles to freshen up. So don’t be afraid to be medieval all the way, because you can always cover up the stench with gallons of spiced perfume like our ancestors did.
So, whether it’s chivalric romance or fabliau that tickles the fancy of you medievally-minded ones out there, there’ll be someone who can clothe you for your big event. The internet is obviously the best place to start, and here are a couple of sites:
www.lindsayfleming.com – hand-made Celtic gowns from Scotland
www.rivendellbridal.com – beautiful hand-made dresses and accessories
www.virtue.to/articles – a huge resource of medieval clothing
www.medieval-banquet.co.uk – well-established costume makers
www.medievaldesign.com/indexengl.html – a large selection of 12th-15th century clothing and furniture"


HTH

Horace

Why not put the scrolls into the glasses (or should that be tankards?), it will stop them rolling around the table.

mshelsbels

Horace wrote: »

Why not put the scrolls into the glasses (or should that be tankards?), it will stop them rolling around the table.

Why not tie them with ribbon or raffia to stop them rolling?

Neeny82

Would there not then be lots of people unscrolling the scrolls to see where they are sat?

One idea could be that you roll the napkins like scrolls then tie with ribbon and thread a tag through the ribbon with the persons name on?

Degeneratemoo

Hmm good idea.. have to see how it works in practice!

Pee

No suggestions at all, but think it sounds really lovely!!

Minxy_Bella

I'm glad I bothered to take time out of my day to offer suggestions. Not.

Degeneratemoo

Ermm I've used the thanks button... sorry I didn't give you a personal reply.