A Fantasy Fairy Tale Wedding
Royalty and romance: aren't these at the heart of every union?
It's no wonder that the fairytale wedding — also known as "Happily Ever After" or "Dreams Do Come True," to name just two — never goes out of fashion.
Spotlight on the Princess Bride
Walking down the aisle to a fantasy wedding theme means that as this type of bride, you can go
all out.
That might mean a voluminous ballgown from Lazaro or Mary's Bridal Princess Collection, complete with petticoat ... or a design modeled after a particularly beloved princess from Kirstie Kelly for Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings.
But even when the gown is an A-line with a sleeker silhouette, fairytale brides usually go for a substantial veil, floor-length or longer.
The hair's often a half or full updo, but formally styled, dripping with romantic ringlets. And the shoes? Never an afterthought, they're something deliciously feminine, strappy and sparkly (though you can even walk down the aisle in clear 'glass' slippers).
And if you want the full-out princess look, straight from the pages of an oversized storybook? Add opera-length gloves, a tiara and a sparkly rhinestone choker.
Dressing The Royal Retinue
Bridesmaids, as often as not, are wearing something with at least at a touch of pink! A string of pearls makes a treasured gift for each of your girls.
But what about the men? American grooms find it hard to look past the black tux, which fortunately looks stunning next to a princess bride. But a white tuxedo has a bit more fairytale flavor, and it's worth considering.
Sure, no man one wants to look like a fashion victim fresh from prom, but Calvin Klein and Jean Yves Formalwear offer some elegant choices that just might put to rest any Prince Charming's qualms about style faux pas.
The Honour Of Your Presence Is Requested ...
Just because you're having a fairytale wedding doesn't mean your invites need to sport castles, but they should be something special. Just choose an elegant, timeless font and style (letterpress is always a gorgeous option).
Or go custom: you can never go wrong with beautiful ribbon to wrap up a made-just-for-you pocketfold design, with a few quality rhinestones placed by hand.
Setting the Scene
Like other fantasy weddings, the fairytale wedding starts with draping, and lots of it: draped walls, head tables, cake tables, sweetheart tables, you name it. Luxurious linens are the name of the game.
In addition, this theme pretty much determines where you'll hold the reception: a ballroom. (Unless, that is, you're lucky enough to be able to book an actual castle, or live near one of America's castle-style buildings.)
Fortunately, a good ballroom will do some of the decorating work for you: look for regal curtains, dramatic molding and sparkly chandeliers.
A fairytale wedding is not the place for humble, easy-to-talk across centerpieces. Here, you need the drama that only height and heft provide. Go for towering eiffel vases filled with dramatic fantasy foral arrangements, leggy topiaries, or tall clear cylinders wrapped in satin ribbon and filled with floating candles.
Other ingredients in your toolbox: lots of silver (candelabras, silver cake plateaus), plenty of pinks, classical symbols (swan or double-swan ice sculptures are perfect here), and pearl or rhinestone accents as brooches or bouquet ornaments.
Also: sparkling monogrammed cake toppers, whimsical "I DO" letters for the cake table, and buckets and buckets of rose petals. Plus, every princess bride needs a really cute card box, whether it be a magic pumpkin or a sassy hot-pink hat box. A giant Storybook guest book would be a cute touch, too.
Roses for a Rose
Flowers for fairytale weddings tend to the traditional side.
Occasionally you'll see exotic orchids, but mostly what fairytale brides prefer (in bouquets, especially) are classical choices like roses, peonies and stephanotis. If carrying a hand-tied bouquet, she might have crystal bouquet picks, or choose the larger cascading style.
Plenty of flowers are key for pulling off the fairytale look, but don't overlook the important of candles for setting the mood. Keep them simple, but group large masses together for maximum effect. Floating candles in clear cylinders offer more of a visual punch than regular votives.
A Fashionable Entrance
Drama's essential to a fantasy wedding, so plot out your high points. Find a way to make a grand entrance at the ceremony or reception: a spiral staircase and spotlighting, page boys, or a trumpeter. Take the time to learn a romantic waltz with your Prince Charming and throw in a few stylistic surprises, so all eyes stay glued to you through your first dance.
Outfit your guests with beautiful paper cones they can use to shower you with rose petals as you leave the church (another popular choice is sparklers). Travel from church to reception venue via horse-drawn carriage ... or even pumpkin carriage, available in several metro areas.
A Royal Repast
Fortunately for your guests, Cinderella food means elegant 'comfort food': cream sauces, poached mushrooms and wine. Consider Oysters Rockefeller, and a roast beef carving station. For a touch of the country squire, serve crispy roast duck or Cornish game hens, and plenty of champagne.
The Sweet Strains of Love
A bit of intimate floor music will really set the mood, so see about booking a harpist or string quartet, at least during the ceremony or dinner. Later on, ask the DJ to queue up a few songs from Disney's
Cinderella or
Beauty and the Beast soundtrack albums. Other soundtracks with tunes worth a spin:
The Princess Bride,
Shrek,
Anna & The King, and
Ever After: A Cinderella Story.
excellent ideas
Hi guys,
I am getting married in September 2012 in a castle http://www.castleleslie.com/ and I was thinking of having a fairytale theme. I am Irish and my fiancee is Australia so we wanted to have something extravagant and memorable but not too expensive. Any ideas? My colours are ivory, dark red and ivy green. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Lisa x
Lisa,
You already have a elegant color scheme.
Look what they did here
This wedding has very unique and fairytale worthy ideas. Using one color in one type flower will not only save you money but make centerpieces more lush. If it were me i would choose lots of greenery, rent candelabras, and have red flowers in bouquets, boutonnieres, etc. Keeping the flowers to a minimum while greenery takes center stage. Combined with the candlelight it would look magical. Make garlands of greenery replicating “renaissance” weddings. Have them draping on tables set with simple white linens. have the wedding cake regal style with cascading greenery and dotted with deep red flowers. Fifty flowers website has bulk rates on roses. If you could use all red roses it would add to the ambiance of the theme. Actually, roses in bulk actually can have a better price rate. Garlands or wedding decor of babies breath is always cost effective
Look at the style of this cake. This can be done with simple dots on cake and a few roses with rose petals. Rose petals have alot of impact at reasonable costs. Look at this
This wedding decor can actually be done on a less expensive scale. Use all red carnations with dripping greenery in rented containers. You can use tall or low urns or candelabras. Simple white votives pull in romance and fairytale quality. For even more fairytale, have a monogram in fancy script on invites, cake, bouquet ribbon, etc.
Again use as much filler and greenery as you can for more filled out centerpieces without using alot of florals.
Example One
Example Two
Example Three
Lisa,
More examples
This wedding decor has peach in it but I thought you might like it.
Thank you so much!! This was a great help!
Hi,
I’m having a Cinderella-themed 40th Birthday party lovingly titled the “Crystalrella Ball!” And I wanted a horse & carriage cake stand. And for my guest book, I wanted a brocade-covered book with a tassel and cord around it (like you see on drapes). For my wishing well or card box, I also want that done in a brocade-like fabric with the tassel and cord around it. Do you have any suggestions?
Crystal P.,
Here are some links for the tassel box…
Google image search horse and carriage cake stand then try cinderella cake stand ( loads of pics and links) You may also try your local rental gallery, they usually have these items. Also call a bakery for local places that may have them. I also google imaged satin and tassel guest book and some beautiful books came up.
Hi! I’m planning my daughter’s sweet 15 (that’s the age we do in Brazil). She wants it to be “Remember the Magic” themed. It’s gonna be on April, 2012.
Please, can you help me?
Thanks,
Ana Braz
Ana,
Could I get some more details like color scheme, venue link or pic, etc. Also remember the magic could dip into a couple different themes. Could you tell me the idea you were thinking? Thank you!!
Thank you Stacey.
The “remember the magic” theme she was thinking about, is from the disney song. Since she was a baby, we used to travel to Walt Disney World Resort and she grew up with that “magic feeling”. So, now she wants everyone at her party to remember that feeling. I think the colors should be light blue, light purple,…She wanted everyone at the party to feel like they were in a castle.
The venue website is http://www.espacolamartine.com.br
I’ll send you more ideas we are thinking, ok? Thank you again.
Ana
Ana,
when I think of Disney’s Cinderella Castle and magic, I think of it changing color. You could use lighting to change the color in our venue.
There is a Disney Party Blog that you may find helpfull. Check it out at disneypartyblog.com
There are some great ideas!!!
Ana,
fairytale princess
wall washing
featured
If youre wanting it to look like a castle, then stick with candelabras and florals to give it that regal touch. You can also use swags to decorate with and bring in touches of gold. have any paper products using old world script. Think about having scrolls with tassles at each place setting. One thing that was popular in castles was displays of food and fruits overflowing, would give the regal feel.Uplighting was a great suggestion, you could always use a uplighting of stars on teh ceiling too.
You might like this too, using the pinlighting and stars on ceiling…
http://www.afehouston.com/blog/christmas-eve-gathering
Ana,
This could work….
you may love this, adjust colors like you want…..
another …
Robin and Stacey,
You are great! It’s really helping me! Thank you so much.
Please, keep sending me ideas. As soon as I have it planned, you’ll be first to know!
I’m the maid of honor for my mom’s Beauty and the Beast themed wedding/renewal of vows. We’ve got a great venue, and my mom’s dress and such, but we’re having some trouble finding good favors that fit the theme, but aren’t “kid’s birthday party” and aren’t overly expensive. (Our original idea was teacups, but that’s a bit costly) Any ideas?
Jessica
My first thought was a crystal or glass rose, but not sure if you will be able to find them in your budget. So my second thought was that you could find glass bud vases and fresh rose. I have seen nice little bud vases at the dollar budget store and if you by the roses in bulk you could get a good price on them!
Good Luck!!!!
Jessica,
What about some rose shaped chocolates? I am all for anything edible for favors. You can easily make these too. Just go to your local craft store and scoop up some rose shaped molds, buy chocolate, pour, set, and voila. Or this is a chance for the couple to give out thier fave sweet treat all wrapped up in the color scheme. Have a card attached to it with a beauty and the beast motif.
I really want to marry my girl but she wants this expensive wedding, not really expensive just really nice. I only have 5,000 dollars to my name. What should I do???
Jesse,
usually the parents will pay for the wedding or both sides will help out the couple( if the couple chooses to pay a portion). There are many ways to have a expensive-looking wedding on a budget. Black and white or red color scheme gives a luxe imapsrt look without a big budget etc. Those little details can mean more bang for the buck. I strongly urge to find a budget and stick with it. You dont want to begin a marriage in debt. I would wait til you are better prepared financially or figure out what the both of you really desire in a wedding. Going through a list and seeing what is important and what is not, helps in the planning process especially when on a tight budget. Alot of couples are foregoing the huge affair and simply having a backyard or intimate bash, smaller weddings can still have that luxe look. With less tables, less bridesmaids,less food, means less costs. Does family or friends have a great place to hold a wedding? You may scoop it for for free. Anyone in the family own, operate, or just love to cook? Perfect wedding catering with a discount. Did you know that very late evening weddings is popular for champagne and cake or coffees and desserts? it can have instant class. All inclusive venues that have catering, tables, chairs, etc. are actually cheaper in the long run. Trim the guest list and axe the alcohol if you can, which can shave off major dollars. I hope I have helped with your question. If you have any more questions, please write back. If you have chosen a date and already have the planning process rolling, I would be happy to help with some budget friendly options!!
Jesse,
One more thing. When sitting down and deciding what is important to the bride, dont forget to include what is important to you too. She may want a bigger wedding and your more low key, for example. Then a nice wedding on a lesser scale would fit the bill and both tastes nicely. If so, meeting in the middle will be a wedding about the both of you, as it should be. Then you have a wedding with meaning, which should always be the most important ingredient on the list.
I’m having a hard time deciding on centerpieces for our Cinderella theme wedding. I’d like to do something with the pumpkin carriage being the vase for the floweres. Any suggestions where to look for ideas and items for this?
Candice,
* cinderella centerpieces
* pumpkin wedding centerpieces
* white pumpkin wedding cps
Candice, Check out the glitter pumpkin. Love it.
Had to show you this…beyond fantastically creative!!!! Not to mention elegant and easy to get the items at any lfea market or thrift store!! Love it!!!
Candace,
Look at this cake!!! This is more awesomeness! Found the pics on Disneys Ever After Blog.
What about Snow White???
I got engaged at Disney’s Halloween Party as Snow White & he was dressed as Prince Charming. I want my wedding to have a Snow White theme to it…Everything is about Cinderella…which is pretty but not the same.
mercy on me!!!!
I’m having a problem to find a perfect sample of combining navy-blue, pink and a green for the theme which my sister is pushing me to work on something miraculous…. and by the way, my sister is no 20′s,… she’s 40flat!!!! and have a wonderful 4 children. damn this wed.
Zurq,
* real wedding
* blue bm dresses, blush pink, and green so beautiful!!
* just gorgeous! great money saving ideas here such as wine glasses of food dye tinted water accented by blush and green florals
Zurq,
* very nice and simple elegance
Brides,
Okay, made a board with one of the hottest trends…rustic. Pair it with fairytale and voila! Rustic Cinderella!
Hi!
I am also having a dilemma. I love hot pink and decided to have my girls wear hot pink bridesmaid dresses. However, I want to go with a fairytale theme, and I have been told by several people that hot pink and fairytale does not match. Do you have any suggestion for me?!
Thank you so much!
Shantille,
Hot pink is a gorgeous color for a fairytale wedding!
* look at all this gorgeousness!
* or this beauty
* another wedding
Shantille,
* more pink
* so pretty
* check out nateah and chris
Thank you soo much Stacey! These links have really helped me! I am in love with Nateah and Chris’ wedding!
Brides, a couple of new boards
Hey! I love these pictures! I’m getting married this may. I know I want light pinks and white maybe silver and a very romantic fairytale feel to it. but I’m on a budget and have no idea how to pull the look together. I love idea of candles and I love peonies. I have no clue what kind of favors to do either! I would love Any ideas or advice:)!!!
Leighann,
I would visit my florist with printouts of the two boards, so they will have a solid idea of what you want. They can help you with seasonal flower choices that wont break the pocketbook. It may not be peonies but they will have a gorgeous substitute, with fillers etc. For candles consider lots of votives or even cylinders ( dollartree.com) for a buck each and floating candles. For favors something traditional would be nice like jordan almonds. Or something you both love like a certain candy that you both love, single type of flowers in a single color ( such as only pink roses everywhere) look more lush.
* search ideas here by color
also rose petals provide a lush look.
Leighann,
* the knot has lots of pics
If I could get a look at your venue I coudl see what areas need decor.
Hey my venue can be viewed at http://www.doublehead.com under the weddings. Its a lodge and the wedding will be outside on the deck over looking the water. I’m going with a rustic cinderella theme. And was thinking about using mason jats in my decor.any suggestions? Thanks stacey!!
Leighann,
Love the mason jar ideas. Also you could mix in grapevine with the florals. Add votives. Make the script you use on your programs, invites etc. fairytale like. use the silver in silverware, containers, votive holders, etc.
* idea one
* wedding 2
Leighann,
*wedding 3
* wedding 4