2007-07-27 01:31:32 · 12 answers · asked by davidgrocks 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Tons. I love renaissance weddings. Personally though--I like being able to mix and match different things from across the period--medieval to renaissance. But your style might be more tudor. However, after the last crusade was such a great time b/c so much was brought back from the desert. More vibrant colors, more luxury, new foods. As the years progressed, the French court got too scandalous/risque for modern wedding standards. Also the Renaissance (like the plague) swept upwards from Italy, leaving a couple hundred years when the same style was worn in different countries. Feel free to mix and match countries without trapping yourself to a specific date range.
There are tons of absolutely gorgeous renaissance gowns on ebay. Usually too expensive for anyone not using at as a wedding gown and wearing to a faire a couple times--but tending to be about half price of most wedding gowns.
This is more medieval but I absolutely love this gown (12th c) for bridesmaids. Comes in all sorts of colors so you can decide if you want each bridesmaid different colors (more renaissance) or all the same color (more modern)
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZdornbluthQ5fukQQssPageNameZSTRKQ3aMEFSQ3aMESOI
Under clothing and accessories, the category vintage, has an entire subsection for Renaissance clothing.
For the groom, the store Royal Coffers had the best selection I noticed.
http://stores.ebay.com/Royal-Coffers_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm
I was in SCA and currently do a lot of ren faires so I spend a lot of time in that section. One piece of advice is get your dress decided on and ordered before you figure out what kind of chemise you need. If you decide on an overdress, you'd want one with some embellishment on it since it's going to show but if you go with a full gown, you may just need a half style. To make you stand out, I'd go for a one piece more medieval style for your bridesmaids and a more renaissance bodice and wide skirt for you. Your groom may want to spend a lot of time looking for just the right sword, but allow him to pick his own wardrobe. He might not be willing to go too frilly and garb for men during these times varied so drastically that he has a lot of wiggle room. Though I don't think this look can be beat
http://cgi.ebay.com/Renaissance-BLACK-VELVET-MENS-DOUBLET-PANTS-COSTUME-RC_W0QQitemZ300113494087QQihZ020QQcategoryZ48560QQcmdZViewItem
For a veil I'd either go with no veil (really popular in arranged marriages but not really necessary) or a Spanish style mantilla.
Also remember white was not worn as a bride back then so it's up to you to figure out how much modern with renaissance (though personally I wouldn't give up the modern cake for blackbirds in a pastry) you want to include.
A couple things I would incorporate:
~a simple tiara--more circlet than tiara with the flower girl having a floral wreath in her hair
~swans (live, ice sculptures or merely decoration on the cake)
~harp player
~honey. they sweetened more with honey than sugar so anything you can include like honey bread, sweetmeats, or dates.
~set the organ (if you do a church wedding) to harpsichord setting. Most have one.
~instead of the unity candle I'd do a unity goblet. His family fills a decanter with red wine. Yours fills a decanter with white. You pour from both decanters into a goblet and drink.
And I would serve mead for your toast. A lot of small companies make mead, it is very good and roughly in the same price range as many champagnes. It will make it very unique for the guests.
Hope these ideas help. Go to a couple of websites (like other posters suggested) for more ideas but definitely attend a couple Ren Faires for tons of great ideas.
2007-07-27 05:14:32 · answer #1 · answered by phantom_of_valkyrie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why are you doing a renaissance wedding? What part of that theme appeals to you? Take those answers and begin to formulate some ideas. If you are choosing a renaissance wedding because you both love the fashions and atmosphere, include that in your ceremony and/or reception. If the music or the dance appeals to you, include that. It's all about what you like and how you want to remember your big day. The possibilities are limitless - you can do the outfits, the music, the entertainment, the food, the style, the tone, the lighting, the location, just about anything!
Good luck!
2007-07-27 02:06:25 · answer #2 · answered by Joanna 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well, I had my wedding on Halloween night, and the "costumes" of our wedding party were renaissance themed. Hopefully I have some good ideas for you.
*We initially considered having our wedding at one of the many gorgeous Renaissance Faires. That might be an option for you. The do them very nicely, you can call any of the Faires to get details.
*Obviously, the dresses and "suits" could be Renaissance styled---you can find plenty of sites online that have BEAUTIFUL clothing.
*You can use instrumental, fantasy, wind and percussion themed music. (Think Enya, Celtic Women, The Chieftans, etc.) We used a VERY cool Scottish highlands wedding march. We even used the theme from "Legend" a fantasy movie we both loved.
*Wedding favors...you could make them anything renaissance themed. Little castles that have your names and wedding date on them, T-shirts with a fantasy/Ren landscape and your names and wedding dates on the back...be creative :)
*The cake could be a castle---that might be really cool looking!
There are a lot of websites devoted to wedding themes. Just type "Renaissance theme wedding" in your search engine, and I am sure you could get more ideas.
2007-07-27 01:43:29 · answer #3 · answered by Calliope 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
There are so many possibilities! My advice: don't limit yourself to the "typical" ideas. Sure, a lovely bowl of Wassail might be nice, but be sure to include silverware (afterall, most guests will be dressed up!) If you search renaissance weddings on Yahoo, there are lots of ideas if you want to maintain a traditional approach to the idea. But, after all, your imagination is your only limitation! My favorite touch would be a single harpist at the ceremony for the music. Very romantic!
2007-07-27 03:05:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contact The Society For Creative Anachronism they rein-act that time period some will even help with weddings. Learn from them a few of the dances to perform at your wedding you might even be able to get some of their musicians and bards to attend your wedding.
Good luck and best wishes!
2007-07-27 01:44:09 · answer #5 · answered by Sunshine Tiddles 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Check out the Unique Ideas on
http://www.theweddingfavorcompany.com
They have themed wed info ideas.
2007-07-27 02:06:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Arrive in a horse and carriage.
Maybe hire entertainers for the first hour, and then make it more traditional.
2007-07-27 01:52:00 · answer #7 · answered by no_frills 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Here's a pic of a colleague that performed such a ceremony
http://www.ourchurch.com/view/?pageID=281619
2007-07-27 02:12:33 · answer #8 · answered by weddrev 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A pre-nuptual contract
2007-07-27 01:36:21 · answer #9 · answered by annoyed_with_the_other_answers 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
clear out the reception by having it sacked by saxons
2007-07-27 01:34:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋