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Love on the High Seas: A Pirate-Theme Wedding

Some time ago, Jessica dropped a note in our inbox about her pirate theme wedding ... and painted a vivid picture right off the bat:

"I'm 22 years old, and got married in early July (on the hottest day of the year). Now, my wedding wasn't a lavish $20,000 event. My budget was so low, I don't even know what it was! I was my own wedding planner. I searched endlessly online for deals and creative ideas. I even managed to find the dress — you know, "The One" — on eBay for a mere $125.

"In the beginning I wanted the traditional wedding. I had some ideas about earthy seafoam greens and browns. But about a month after trying to figure out how to throw this all together, I got fed up. In fact, I pleaded with my fiancée to just marry me in Las Vegas.

"In the end I found out he wanted a large wedding ... even more than I did. But he also wanted a themed wedding. And somehow, and I don't know how, he convinced me to have a pirate-themed wedding." This, she admits, after he initially pushed for a circus and then a superhero theme.

"It actually turned out rather beautiful."

First the Courtin'; Then the Marryin'

For invitations, Jessica created some of the cutest messages-in-a-bottle we've ever seen. And luckily for us, she shares exactly how she did it.

"I bought 200 plastic sand art bottles with corks for $118. And we designed and printed out our own little treasure maps. I spent endless hours burning the edges, for realism. Then we rolled them up, tied them with gold ribbon and tucked them in the bottles.

Finally, we sealed the cork with gold wax, and stamped the top with an "S." Really, our guests were delighted when they got them."

What's more, she says, they actually mailed these invitations directly in the bottle, with "To" and "From" labels attached. "The post office allows it," she said. "I had no clue we could do this, but my mother-in-law tipped me off." (Editor's note: this is where purists can really see the advantage in plastics.)

"I think it all worked out to about $.60 a bottle," she says. "We saved a lot of money doing it this way." But, she admits, after the twentieth one (out of 200!), the process became a pain. "Printing, burning the edges, sealing, stamping ... yikes."

Droppin' Anchor at Home

Bill and Jessica, who hosted the event in their own backyard, couldn't have dreamed up a better venue, with their spacious yard, lush tropical landscaping, and weathered solid board fencing, oh-so-reminiscent of an island oasis. "We'd looked around for other places, but I just wanted a place where we were in complete control.

"We were lucky enough to have a large yard."

Saucy Wenches & Stylin' Swashbucklers

Still, not everything ran according to plan ("as we headed to the ceremony, I think we both had thoughts of just driving right on to Mexico," says Jessica, who needed some last-minute hair and dress tweaks), but when they arrived, most things fell into place. Including the world's most adorable ring bearer.

"I wanted the ring bearer to be Peter Pan, and the flower girls to be little Wendys, dressed in white nightgowns. Actually, they ended up being little Tinkerbells.

"For the ring bearer, we actually made an alligator pillow out of green velvet."

Bill, of course, wore a pirate costume custom-made for the occasion. "It turned out beautiful." Jessica had her dress custom-fitted by the seamstress who made Bill's costume, and ordered a matching veil.

Okay, but what about the guests? The bridesmaids? The (erk) mothers-in-law? Did they play along?

Indeed, says Jessica. The invitations mentioned that dress-up was an option ... and pointed out that the bride and groom would be really glad if they did. "Most people loved the idea," she said, recalling that a lot of male guests took to classic pirate costumes complete with billowing ruffles, cuffed boots, headscarves and magnificent three-cornered pirate hats. While some donned rentals, others showed up in lovingly-handmade outfits.

"Two men came as islanders, and women mainly dressed as wenches. Of course, not everyone warmed to the idea right away. It took a while to talk the mothers into dressing like wenches.

"But in the end, we did."

Trickin' Out Me Timbers

Once they'd agree to a pirate wedding, the couple settled on a color scheme of black, red and gold. They draped the romantic fencing with wide swags of red and gold tulle, covered the tables with red and black, and punctuated the corners with swaggering skull-and-bones pirate balloons.

They dressed the arch with swags of red roses, and the wedding party proceeded down a white runner strewn with red rose petals. ("Though it would've been nice to find a red one," muses Jessica.)

"Bill picked the music," she adds, "and the wedding party walked out to 'Love Story' from the Princess Bride.

Later on, after the party started, the DJ played 'I'm a Believer' — the Shrek version."

Then I saw her face (ha-ha)
Now I'm a believer (listen)
Not a trace
Of doubt in my mind
I'm in love
(Ooh, ahh, yeah)
I'm a believer
I couldn't leave her if I tried ...

"No one warned me ... but the kids sure loved it."

"I, Mad Dog Bill Take Ye, Saucy Jessica As Me Heart, Me Soul, Me Good Wench."

We had to bring up the tricky subject of vows. After all, Elvis Vows are one of the main attractions at certain Las Vegas chapels. Were we talking pirate vows, with lots of "Yars!" and "Ahoy, mateys"?

"Actually, Bill did want them," says Jessica. "But I wanted real ones. Our roommate tracked down some pirate vows, and they really were funny, but I wanted this one part to be serious.

"It was our roommate, ordained online, who performed the ceremony. I wasn't sure if I could find a normal minister to do a pirate wedding," she laughs.

... And a Bottle of Rum

Sometimes the greatest magic in theme weddings lies in the smallest touches: the witty favors, the movie-set food. Needless to say, this wedding was full of them.

"We focused on finger food. For example, we served lots of kebabs. Like, maybe 400 kebabs, with five different kinds. And we had tropical fruit, and chocolate fountains."

Her sister-in-law came through with the perfect centerpieces ... and even made them herself. "We had small chests filled with jewels on planks of wood that we scattered with sand. And next to these, we placed miniature galvanized pails we filled with three types of mini liqueurs — Jack Daniels for me (I'm a Tennessee girl), tequila for him (he's Mexican), and Captain Morgan for the theme.

"Everyone loved the mini bars."

That Takes the Cake

The really tricky part, says Jessica, was finding the cake topper. "It was tougher than I expected," she said. "Everyone said, 'try eBay,' and believe me, I did, but I wasn't having any luck.

"I spent three solid days looking for that figurine. I asked at Yahoo! Answers and everything.

But I finally found the topper I wanted on Ebay after all — only it was called 'The Captain and His Lover,' and the word pirate was nowhere to be found," she sighs. Still, it was totally perfect.

Set Sail, and On Toward Morning

So, does the couple have anything else to share with other lovebirds hitting the high seas of romance?

"Actually, I don't suggest that anyone ever plan their own wedding," laughs Jessica. "It's so much harder then I expected.

"Still, at the end of the day, we were happy with how it came off. Everything cooled off when the sun went down, and people were eating and drinking — clearly enjoying the dance music the DJ played. In fact, the whole thing went on until midnight." Blackbeard, Captain Hook and most other infamous roisterers would approve.

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Amy
wrote
on October 22nd, 2009 at 8:01 pm
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Everything for our wedding was amazing and we can’t believe how many people dressed up. Of our 200 guests probably 80% were in pirate attire, even the grandmas!

Here are a few pics for our big day.

 
Jim
wrote
on October 15th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
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I love this idea! Ironically I got married on the waterfront surrounded by canons and it never occurred to me to have a pirate themed wedding.

Anyway, I’m getting ready to start a video business with a pirate theme. If anyone in the Boston area is having a Pirate themed wedding soon I would be interested in providing free videography services. It would make the perfect demo reel.

jimmrchnt@pirateslane.com

 
Pirate Parrot
wrote
on September 8th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
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Look at our fun wedding! It was at the Des Moines Renaissance Faire 9/5/09. We dressed as Elizabethan Period pirates. I sewed everyday for a month using historical patterns by Margo Anderson. My husband made the jewelry which was inspired by Elizabethan Era jewelry. Our minster was a Martin Luther re-enactor who preformed an authentic ceremony written by Martin Luther. We originally planned on having portraits done aboard the replica of Christopher Columbus’s ship the Nina, but the weather was not good that weekend. The Hollywood-Jack Sparrow or Halloween-pirate-theme did not fit our personality.

 
Linda
wrote
on June 2nd, 2009 at 12:44 pm
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Hey. How many people would buy the Captain and His Lover cake topper or a similar style? I don’t get why this isn’t being made anymore when there is such a demand. Please respond if this is something that you’d like for your weddings and parties.

mary
wrote
on June 9th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
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if any one has this topper i would love to buy it for my sept pirate wedding. or would really love to find one similar.

 
Kathy
wrote
on July 14th, 2009 at 9:06 am
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Has anyone found this topper? I want to purchase it for my son’s pirate themed rehearsal dinner in September..

 
Lisa
wrote
on July 14th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
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Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Uploaded photos were found with this post, but won't appear until comments are approved.

I looked into having it made, it was going to cost $500 for the mold and then $200 for each one, way out of my price range.
I found my topper on ebay, it was the one pictured. It cost around $50 but it was worth it.

 
Lynleigh
wrote
on July 24th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
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I would love to get thsi cake topper for my wedding. I can’t find it anywhere either. My fiancee loves pirates and as a surprise I would love to get this cake topper for his grooms cake.

 
Erica
wrote
on August 6th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
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I would to have this cake topper, im having a pirate themed wedding at the reniassance fest and im pulling my hair out not being able to find this one, or anything close to it.

Sarah
wrote
on August 11th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
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Hi, I have a very similar figure I used on my cake. It is a pirate holding up his mate (a woman). It is not very large but would sell it to you if you’d like. Contact me if you want it.

erica
wrote
on August 14th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
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Sarah, if you have a poicture of it i would to see it.

(Comments won't nest below this level)
sillysarah8466
wrote
on September 6th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
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Let me know if you’d like to buy it from me.

 
 
 
 
Vickie
wrote
on September 6th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
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I would love to have this top my wedding cake!

 
 
Pirate Parrot
wrote
on April 15th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
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I already have a small wooden treasurebox with a slot for cards. But, would it be too cheesy to make a fancier card box like the one I pictured? What have the rest of you done?

Is anyone giving the kids at their wedding bubble swords?

I also threw in a picture of my crazy black pearl ring.

bberky
wrote
on September 22nd, 2009 at 11:35 pm
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Hey where did you get that cook ring? is it titanium?

 
 
wrote
on April 14th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
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Has anyone purchased the figurine that was posted at this shop (pic-this.com/lovers/loversp6224.html)? The shop doesn’t look too trustful… :pirate:

Pirate Parrot
wrote
on April 15th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
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I agree.
It doesn’t seem to be a secure site.

I wonder even if the store is still current since it was last dated 2006 at the bottom of the page. I am going to email them.

wrote
on May 7th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
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Sorry guys. My pirate & lady cake topper is in storage right now, so I don’t have access to it to get the info off the box. I found the info online forever ago - even the sketch the artist made of it before making it - but I don’t have that link anymore. I’ll see if maybe I can find it.

Melissa
wrote
on May 21st, 2009 at 8:35 pm
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Hey What did you invitations say I’m getting married on a pirate ship the end of June and I’m trying to do my invitations….how were yours worded? can you help?

(Comments won't nest below this level)
wrote
on May 22nd, 2009 at 1:58 pm
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I found one online that used similar wording to mine:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jh_5LITUKto/Rx4aUyAiDxI/AAAAAAAAACg/hbAPnm2n8JM/scan0002.jpg

We didn’t do AKA, I just wrote Pirate William S——-, and Wench Jessica C——-. as our names. And we didn’t haven anything about picnic attire.

 
 
 
 
Erica
wrote
on August 9th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
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I researched that link for the captain and its lover, i live local to Ft lauderdale and put the address in my GPS it took me to a house in Ft lauderdale that was for sale. no one was home when i got there so maybe they work out of there house but it didnt look to promising. I will let everyone know as soon as i find out. :?

 
 
Pirate Parrot
wrote
on April 10th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
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I need some HELP with ideas for a dress!

Do I make a red silk Elizabethan dress? Or should I make more pirate-themey-type dress? What do you think of the red dress that I included a picture of below?

I made an awsome custom hot wax stamp, if you like to know how email me. If you would like to share ideas email me at teachfcs2003@yahoo.com. The 1st picture is a draft of my invitations.

stacey
wrote
on April 12th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
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pirate parrot,
i really love the red elizabethan style dress. you must go to this website and look around! gorgeous stuff!
*les habitudes
also here…
*the red dress

 
Saucy Wench Lilly
wrote
on April 12th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
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Pirate parrot,

Your dress should be what you are most comfortable in! it’s your day, dress in whatever makes you feel the best! The red dress is beautiful or wear something more pirate-like if you’d like! Be YOU! No matter what you wear you will be radiant… you’re the bride!
My “dress” was a cream colored handkerchief hem skirt , a cream colored Victorian blouse with 10 button cuffs and ruffle front. At the last minute I decided it was too blah so I added a red & black corsett type cami on the outside. It worked sort of like a bustier and I put a tattoo of a ship on my cleavage! I added several long scarves at my waist.
Love your invitations, great job!
I am going to email you some ideas & pics from my wedding.

 
 
wrote
on April 3rd, 2009 at 12:01 am
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I’m so happy to read how much this article has helped everyone!!! Honestly, after almost 3 years - I wish we could do it again!!! We think maybe we will when we renew our vows later on down the years.

:D

Kanya
wrote
on April 3rd, 2009 at 10:29 am
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That is EXACTLY why I had the wedding on “Talk like a Pirate Day”. Every year can be a pirate anniversary party!! :D

 
 
rachel
wrote
on March 25th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
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i need help on invitations!!! where did the wedding invites come from?

saucy wench lilly
wrote
on March 28th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
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Hi Rachel,
We made out invitations. My nephew is a terrific artist so he designed them. I tweaked the words from an invitation I found online(might have been Jessica’s) to fit our needs. Printed them by computer on Parchment type Paper ( resume paper) , burned the edges, tied with raffia, dropped in bottles, sealed with wax and mailed. You are welcome to email me at lillystouch@hotmail.com, if you would like me to send you a copy of mine. You are welcome to use the artwork. It has a pirate ship on it that is very authentic. :pirate:

Mailing Tip if using bottles! Some rural post offices or PO box #’s didn’t ever receive their invites and I never got any back despite including a return address.

 
 
Cap'n Mad Hatter Rob
wrote
on February 7th, 2009 at 12:10 pm

All the pirate wedding info and pics gave us so many ideas for our own pirate theme wedding. Thanks and congrats to Vern and Kanya! If you want to buy a Captain W Lover figure here is your link and press the ORDER now button. ARRRR!!!!!
You get a discount and it costs 42.00$

BJ
wrote
on February 23rd, 2009 at 7:54 pm

I called this site & he said he had none of the figurines any more & that they are no longer being made. Sigh. I guess we keep on looking.

 
 
BJ
wrote
on January 12th, 2009 at 2:04 am

I understand that the Captain & his Lady may not be made any more. I was wondering if someone out there who has it can give us the info off the bottom of the figurine like the maker, etc. Thanks.

Fair Maiden Salazar
wrote
on February 5th, 2009 at 5:52 am

Hi I have had the same problem - they were being sold by http://www.pyrates.com but they seem to have disappeared. I would be very grateful for any info if you manage to find the topper, and likewise, I’ll forward any info to you.

Cheers
FMS

 
 
Cindy
wrote
on January 1st, 2009 at 11:01 pm

Just wanted to share my pirate themed wedding. A little different from most I see on here I’m afraid, but it turned out exactly how I wanted it to. I also want to thank Jessica for the help in locating the cake topper. It was the first thing I purchased for the wedding. I made my husband’s pirate coat and the kids outfits. I purchased my dress from David’s bridal and added gold coins down the front. The wedding took place in Virginia Beach.

Saucy Wench Lilly
wrote
on January 14th, 2009 at 10:07 am
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Scott & Cindy,
Thanks for sharing your wedding…beautiful and a memory you will cherish forever! Our wedding was well over a year ago & I continue to run into folks who heard about it or those who were there that can’t stop talking about it! Happy lif e together till you meet again at the bottom! Arrggghhhh!

 
 
Dawn P.
wrote
on October 9th, 2008 at 12:01 pm


This tricorn pirate hat made my jaw drop. You wouldn’t have to worry too much about your dress if you wore this hat! :faint: This is by Etsy seller topsyturvydesign.

 
Deanne Rubenzer
wrote
on October 2nd, 2008 at 11:26 am

I am Chairing a Charity Ball - with a pirate theme. I’ve read what you have here and like it; however, if you have other suggestions, I love to hear them.

Deanne

 
Kanya
wrote
on September 26th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
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I want to thank everyone for the great ideas. Our wedding was a huge success. Everyone is still talking about it. We even had the Jack Sparrow look alike that was our minister that every girl could not leave alone. And yes he is a minister, and yes he is single and only 24. Here are a couple sites that show photos. Thank you everyone, please let me know if i can help anyone else.

Verna & Kanya at Shutterfly

our Pirate Wedding slideshow

This is from the photobooth that we set up outside the sign-in table that people got to keep photos from, cut them up and paste in the book along with signatures.

stacey
wrote
on October 23rd, 2008 at 9:51 pm
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heh kanya, this was so much fun to watch!! wowo and the costumes and the work put into it!! it turned out sooo wonderful!!! congrats!! i am a fan of potc. and this truly was a great wedding theme!!

 
H
wrote
on January 14th, 2009 at 5:52 pm

Hello Kanya,
Great pictures looks like it was s lot of fun. congrats! I was thinking about having invitations that looked like treasure maps and I really liked the image on your invitations could you direct me to the place where you got your invitations made?? Or where you got the image?
thanks,
H

Kanya
wrote
on January 20th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
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My nephew hand drew the artwork for me. I scanned it in, manipulated it in Powerpoint and Word and printed 2 per page on nicely textured paper, tearing the paper in half to give it that piratey feel. Once we rolled them up and tied them with ribbon, we burned to tops and bottoms with a flame torch. I’ve attached the graphic, but if you need a cleaner copy, email me at nvrlandtink@yahoo.com for it.

 
 
 
Jessica
wrote
on September 19th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
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Hey everyone! Glad our wedding has gave a lot of people some ideas for their own. I love the person who said they made ‘talk like a pirate’ books for little keepsakes - that’s an awesome idea!!

I was bored browsing Etsy.com the other day and found a cool garter that I know I would have used if I had seen it before my wedding.

 
Sauy Wench Lilly
wrote
on September 3rd, 2008 at 12:26 pm
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Arrrgggggggggggg! Sail your ship to Wenzville Mo in september for the 3rd annual pirate festival! Lots of fun. It’s where our wedding adventure began! http://www.stlpiratefest.com

 
wrote
on September 2nd, 2008 at 6:06 pm
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Hello everyone!
I just wanted to spread the word that I just went to Savannah, GA, and while I was there we went to The Pirate’s House. Now, if I would’ve know about it before our wedding, I so would have gotten married there! Aside from being the oldest residence in GA, and being haunted, they are already decorated pirate-like. They have plenty of room, a great staff, and plenty of parking. They also just opened a huge banquet room! On our (free) tour of the place, they took us in this banquet room, and there was a large fancy table with the most beautiful, huge, wooden pirate ship as its centerpiece. We are talking a round table, linen table cloth and linen napkin quality reception possibility here! And (gotta love it) a large treasure map painted on the wall of that banquet room! Really, I can’t wait to have a pirate vows renewal here! http://www.thepirateshouse.com

 
roverbabe
wrote
on September 2nd, 2008 at 8:54 am
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i just want to say a huge thankyou! i have been searching for weeks for pirate wedding themed things without much luck. my fiance and i met on a pirate game so naturally we want a pirate theme. these ideas are perfect and i never thought of messages in bottles!

 
Mad Tortuga Tess
wrote
on August 18th, 2008 at 8:14 am
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Hi Amy - I was just curious where you got your bridesmaid dresses. The one in the pic was really cute! Can’t wait to see some pics of the wedding!

Mrs. Amy E!
wrote
on January 5th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
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I got them from an eBay seller. Did you leave a comment on my site? if so I wrote back and it has all the details in the “leave us a comment” section. :)

 
 
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