A Medieval/ Renaissance-themed wedding may be one
of the greatest excuses for a good time your guests will ever know.
When else can you bring in jugglers and harpists, put your mother
in a headpiece and draft your father as the "town crier"?
Favors for this gala event are fairly easy to
come by (or make), and often inexpensive. Here are several ideas:
Anything
in a Velvet Pouch
The velvet pouch is the world's most satisfying
sewing project. If you can cut a square, you can make a beautiful,
authentic-looking pouch in about five minutes. Dress it up with
tassels, or dress it down with a simple drawstring.
Or if you'd rather, buy a bulk
lot of velvet pouches inexpensively on eBay. Fill each pouch
with any kind of goody that appeals to you. Common choices are:
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Pink Ribbon Plantable Favor (Set of 12)
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"Baby is Blooming!" Plantable Wildflower Favors (Set of 12)
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Honey
Jars from the Lady of the Manor
Buy a large quantity of
good, rich honey (or honeycombs) from your local health food store or beekeeper.
Pour into small glass hexagonal jars. (Specialty Bottle is an
affordable source
...) Print out custom labels and affix. For extra flair, top off
the jar with small silk
roses, or tuck it all in tulle bag and tie
it with ribbon. Include
a silly saying:
Two Shall Bee as One. Meant to Bee. This favor has an
authentic medieval feel!
Plantable Seed Cards
These
beautiful cards (made of homemade paper) contain living wildflower
seeds. You can purchase them inexpensively, or make them yourself
for virtually nothing (try here for a simple and fun
paper
recipe. You can add all kinds of imaginative things to your
homemade paper, including flower petals! The trick for this project
to add flower seeds at the last minute, so they don't get too wet).
Once dry, cut your paper into pretty shapes. Use specialty scissors
that cut scalloped edges, for example.
Seed cards can double as place-holders, and can
be made even more beautiful with a little calligraphy.
Celtic Soap or Molded Chocolates
Molds can be found in stores like Joanne's or Michaels (do
your budget a favor — look for the 40% off coupons at Michaels
that appear in the paper), or online at
GetSuckered,
and the results are stunning. Tuck the resultant beauties into small
velvet bags.
Herbal Bags or Sachets
This inexpensive favor has a luxurious feel. Choose
an herb that suits your wedding (Rosemary "for remembrance"
is a solid choice, but the options are endless — and lavender is associated with important dreams, like those about your future husband). Buy it in bulk
at a local warehouse or buy online (
MountainRoseHerbs
has an abundance of certified-organic herbs, with quantity discounts).
Tie up in tulle or organza, and include a note about the herb and
its history and meaning.
A variation on the theme: the herbs-and-recipe favor. Pick out a recipe for a crowd-pleasing medieval treat (such as mulled wine, gingerbread or spice
cake). Wrap up the appropriate spices and attach the recipe.
Medieval Springerle Cookies
This authentic and gorgeous treat can be made with
medieval
springerle cookie molds. You can paint the results or adorn
them with
gold leaf. Your guests will rave about them for months
after.
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Spring Wildflower Save the Date Cards
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Books of Love Poems
Compilations of poetic classics, many from Ye Olde England,
can sometimes be found for $2 apiece or less. Check online or at
your local bookseller's next clearance sale.
Finally, don't even think about having a Medieval/Renaissance wedding
without consulting this authoritative
site for ideas on food, music, ceremony and more!
May 8th, 2008 at 11:29 am
I loved looking through you web page, it had loads of ideas for my wedding, ( medevial/renaissance ) which was very helpful,thanks
March 20th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
I have met the man of my dreams and we want a kind of midevil
courting experience. I do not know much about favors. My boyfriend had first told me about them. He says the favor he would like from me is something i make by hand. life a peice of cloth with my emblem on it. Do you have any ideas for me? I am new at this and i need help.
January 7th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Hello we are having a medieval wedding an having some trouble coming up with ideas and where to find decorations and flowers.. can any one help with this.. we are getting married in nov and would like to make as much as we can we are on a tight budget.
October 24th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Does anyone know where I could find some shepherd’s hooks that hold hanging lanterns?? I want to do that to line my isle, but I don’t know where to find them. Thanks!
July 20th, 2007 at 7:31 am
Hi all,
I’m getting married in march and am having problems with picking out wedding colors for a midevil wedding
July 18th, 2007 at 8:19 am
hi, im having a medieval wedding this coming december, i cant seem to find songs for the theme… please help thank you
February 24th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
February 20th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Hi Kat, here are a few ideas for you. Hopefully you’ll get more!
First of all, we don’t associate medieval times with sunscreen and beach balls, but we certainly do with ships … and mermaids, and pirates, even. You have a very rich set of colors that should look beautiful. If money’s no object, it would be fun to actually have your wedding on a yacht, which would be perfect for blending the two themes. Otherwise, try decorating with a few rows of shepherds’ hooks. Tie on long satin ribbons in those rich colors, the ends barely touching the ground so they’ll blow in the breeze and include a hanging lantern on each one, but make sure the glass is tight and they’re wind-proof. Or use battery-powered tealights.
If you have a wedding arch, try hanging long curtains of organza in your wedding colors from the sides and back, along with more satin ribbon, and a coat of arms from a dowel you’ve attached to the top/back of the arch so it’s behind your heads.
Long, curling locks and pretty flowers for the hair are something beach and medieval brides have in common.
Then, if you’re having a reception on the beach too, consider mini-treasure chests as centerpieces, filled with chocolate gold coins if weather permits. Lanterns look lovely on the tables (surround with sea glass). Try very rich table linens, such as a sage base, with a second layer or runner in eggplant with a metallic sheen. Use green raffia to tie off favor boxes or glass vases, since it resembles seaweed. Try to stick to wood, pottery and metal for your tableware: pewter steins to drink from — for example — and serve mostly finger food. Large wooden barrels make great holders for modern kegs.
The easiest way to set a medieval mood is through music, and since you need live music (as opposed to a DJ) for the beach anyway, a medieval quartet would take everyone back a few centuries while charming their socks off. Even a guitarist with some renaissance-style tunes under his belt would be terrific.
February 18th, 2007 at 9:19 am
We’re planning a beach wedding in FL toward the end of this year. We want something simple but pretty. Any ideas on decorating simply, it’s my 2nd wedding and his first. It’s going to be small around 25 ppl. He bought me a bodice with butterflies on it because he knows I love them , so our colors will be dark purple(eggplant), dark green, sage, cream, and mauves…helppppppppppppppp!!!
Those aren’t exactly beach colors but I fell in love with the bodice… Any help on meshing beach with medieval would be greatly appreciated!!! THANKS!
February 1st, 2007 at 8:25 pm
For the person seeking wedding locations around Alabama: Try the Society for Creative Anachronists (SCA). Also, look online for renaissance fairs.
October 20th, 2006 at 6:44 pm
What about locations anyone know locations for this style of wedding in Alabama?some good old churches or something ?
December 30th, 2005 at 10:14 pm
www.camiasdesigns.com/circlets.htm for wedding headpieces
December 30th, 2005 at 10:14 pm
I absolutely adore the velvet bag with chocolat coins idea!
December 30th, 2005 at 10:13 pm
There are some very cute ideas and inexpensive ways to create that Renissance atmosphere for your reception
December 30th, 2005 at 10:13 pm
I got some great renaissance wedding favor ideasfrom this site. THANK-YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!
December 30th, 2005 at 10:13 pm
I LOVE this page it has been difficult finding ideas for my wedding but this sight was just what I needed!