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.
Hey..We have a BEAUTIFUL Cinderella Pumpkin carriage that we pull with BEAUTIFUL Percheron draft horses. Go to our website and check out the photo gallery
http://www.ridingdownmemorylane.com . We will travel almost anywhere you need us to. Give us a call!!661-589-4435.
I live near St. Louis and I have ideas for decorations if you are having a Cinderella themed wedding. I have made centerpieces using carvable fake pumpkins that everyone I work with have been going wild over.
Where I can find a cinderella carriage full size for decoration in a room.
im looking for a castle guestbook and flutes im getting married in april and were doing the fairy tale theme and if any one has any suguestions please help:((
My wedding is in June of 2008. There were no castles around my area in St Louis Mo, so we rented a building that has a carousel in it. It’s a beautiful place. For those of you who know the area it’s called Faust Park. But i could use some advice on decorations and stuff like that.
For anyone looking for Princess Props, Pumpkin Cake, Sign-in Carriage and even a roll-in Princess Carriage for that “Super Presentation” go to http://www.aliltlz.com
Let me knowif anyone has any questions.
Thanks,
Frances
[Admin note: This company is in Texas.]
hi im looking 4 a wonderful cinderella wedding cake if anyone can help i would greatly appriciate the help
thanks
My friend is getting married in Utica, NY and is looking for a carriage and horse to carry her and her groom. Her theme is cinderella/fairytale and she would really love this final touch to her perfect day. The wedding is in June 07′. Does anyone know of any places in the NY area that would have a horse and carriage?
If anyone is looking for a more creative touch for a “fairytale” wedding, I am getting married August 24, 2008 and we are having a literal fairytale wedding. Each table at our reception will have a different fairytale theme(Beauty and the Beast, Frog Prince, etc.). They will have beautifully illustrated copies of these books displayed on each of the tables as centerpieces and the favors will match each other the separate tables.
I think it’s absolutely wonderful for all the ladies on here to do a Cinderella themed wedding. I myself am not doing one. However, I do plan on using “So This Is Love” from the movie as my first dance with my husband. I am having the toughest time finding out the length of the song. Any provided help would be outstanding. Thanks and good luck to all the princesses out there!
please help me the party in july 16 2006 i need the carriage stand cake,guest book stand and the chair carriage help me somebody o make for me :((:((:-?
I handcraft customized castle cake toppers if anyone is interested. Check me out on ebay under the search: Cinderella Castle Wedding.
I am looking for a castle or carriage prop for a sweet sixteen . willing to purchase
Looking for a cinderella pumpkin carriage stationary for a quinceanera in the Los Angeles/Orange County Area. Can someone help?
We have a one of a kind horse drawn Cinderella’s Carriage available in New England and the surrounding areas. http://www.magicalaffairs.com
I’m getting married April 2008 and I am looking for a Cinderella Carriage. I found a perfect place to have the wedding reception which had a carriage for the cake and a carriage that brought the bride and groom out in. I went to look at the place and wasn’t very impressed. To Las Vegas for me. I have a ways to go till my wedding, but I wanted to start looking now for a carriage. Thanks
im looking for a cinderella theme horse and carriage in arizona
I remember now, it was http://www.poshtots.com Expensive but would be worth it for my daughter if I was rich and had a bigger home. Maybe someone else can make one instead. Good luck! I’m trying to find some favors based on Cinderella for my daughter’s birthday for the guest to have for a keepstake. She’ll be four next month. Anyways, good luck finding what you need to find.
If you are looking for a carriage design bed for your children there is a site on it. I’ll have to remember the site. My e-mail is tinytacey@yahoo.com It’s very expensive and also beautiful. I’d love to buy one for my daughter. Maybe when I get me a bigger house LOL. Later.
Tacey
Hi
I live in los angeles and my daughter is having a bat mitzvah and i was hoping someone could let me know where i could find a carriage? something great for her ‘entrance” or a wonderful large prop that really would look great in this fantasylike room were creating..
would love to hear any other ideas as well — Please help with any ideas!!much thanks
we are looking for a cinderella themed horse and carriage for a special event can you help us?:P
Anita, – I have one in NJ that is available.
cinderella pumpkin carriage — magicalaffairs.com
Did you ever find the full size carriage for decoration in a room? Need one for January 7, 2006. Would love to have one for prop. Or even a small size castle prop. If anyone can help on the carriage, Mrsrodeovw@aol.com
Do you have pictures of all the lovely ideas you have made?…thank you soo much!!
Cinderella Carriage: What state do you live in?
Where I can find cinderella carriage full size for decoration in a room.
looking for a cinderella pumpking wedding card holder. thank you
Cookies in the shape of castles or pumpkin carriage make really cute favors. Everyone loves chocolate, too, and you can easily find molds in shapes like castles, pumpkins, glass slippers. The glass slipper filled with mints or chocolates and tied up in tulle is an oldie but a goodie.
I just want to say Cherise….your wedding looked like it was very beautiful. I felt myself awwing and oooooing. your set up was so so pretty and when you and your husband was kissing I said ooh that is so lovely I was just in amazed but I have one more thing to say. Do you still have that carriage that was on the stage. Can I buy that from you please. Please get in contact with me asap. My e-mail is tangra1diva@yahoo.com