Credits: Wedding Fanatic, Medieval Bridal Fashions, Lisa Lefkowitz, Raya Carlisle Photography, Ariel Yve, Rivendell Bridal, AprilHilerDesign (on Etsy), Dia Rao, A Fanciful Twist, A Bryan Photography, Blue Moon Events
Wedding Theme: Midsummer Dream
After viewing the beautiful faerie wedding photoshoot from Kiss The Groom.com (which I featured a while back), I thought it was inspiration for a very natural and earthy faerie wedding. Using the same basic idea, I have created this “Midsummer Dream” wedding theme for all those faerie lovers out there. Additionally, I have noticed many non-traditional couples are opting for more alternative options for receptions such as not having any dancing, cake cutting, sit down diner, garter tossing, etc. This theme may suit these growing trends…
A “Midsummer Dream” theme is intended to be an outdoor affair, so the best places for venues would be public gardens or forests, the grounds of a historical mansion or even your own backyard. As the name implies, it is also intended to be for summer weddings. Outdoor weddings, in any season, always present the worry of rain, so make sure to keep track of the weather and consider renting tarps, just in case.
Pulling something like this off requires cutting corners in some areas, and splurging in others. It will also require time to find the right location and a willingness to do a lot of your own projects (especially if you want to save money).
The ceremony can take place in the middle of your own enchanted glade, perhaps inside a homemade “faerie ring”. A “faerie ring” is a naturally occurring ring of mushrooms said to be a gateway to the faerie, spiriting away any mortal who steps foot inside. A real faerie ring may be hard to find, so consider buying or making prop mushrooms and setting them in a circle for you and your beloved to perform your vows in. Instead of church pews, set up fallen logs, but be kind to your guests’ tushies by covering them with blankets or pillows.
Setting the stage, is important to draw in your guests. Line the pathway to the site with lanterns to guide your guests to the glade. You can also do what I did, and hire a local dance school to have little dancers dress as faeries and lead your guests while tossing faerie dust on them. It’s a great way to set the tone.
Afterwards, instead of a traditional reception, lay out lush blankets of brocade and velvet along with tons of plush pillows strewn across the forest floor. Though this depends on your guest list. If you are inviting any elderly people or anyone with disabilities, be sensitive to their needs and try to have a picnic table available for them to rest. Hang lanterns, fairy lights, wind chimes and drapes of white chiffon from the trees to create the perfect evening faerie picnic.
Instead of a sit down diner or buffet, consider having a lighter fare of fruits, cheeses, hor d’oeuvres, and wine. These cocktail receptions are becoming increasing popular and can save quite a lot of money. Make sure to note that it will be a cocktail reception on the invitation as most evening weddings have dinner receptions. You’ll want to give your guests the heads up so they can eat a meal beforehand. You don’t want to send them home hungry, do you?
While a cocktail dinner can be a frugal choice, spend more time and money into the detail of the presentation itself by finding a good caterer and florist who can create a spread that captures the mood. On the caterer’s end, make sure to request foods that fit the theme – berries, creams, cheeses, wine, vegetables. Light, delicate foods you would imagine Titania and Oberon dining on. Likewise, a good florist may be needed. If you plan to have a picnic style reception on pillows and blankets, you’ll only need floral decorations for the tables of food and the wedding party. Again, this can save money because flowers can get very expensive when you need a center piece for every table. But if you choice picnic benches over blankets and pillows, there are plenty of decorating you can do yourself to save money. For the florist, request displays of moss, ferns, wildflowers, and herbs like lavender and rosemary. You want a natural look, so make sure to avoid anything looking too manicured. If you want to use tables but don’t have time money to spend on a florist, try your hand at making moss terrariums for display pieces (there are plenty of how-to guides online for making these). You can also place lanterns, rocks and faerie dust on the table as well, or fill mason jars with local wildflowers. Get different shaped glass bottles from a local craft store and fill them with wine, juice, and honey milk. Tie the little labels to the bottles with twine and set them around the tables as different faerie potions with names like “faerie nectar”, “love potion”, or “midsummer elixir”. You can also make some purely decorative concoctions, if you’d rather not have drinkable ones and place things like sparkling stones, fake butterflies, and dried flowers inside with labels like “Wishes” and “Daydreams” instead. Similarly, you could also set out small birdcages with faerie figurines “captured” inside. A whimsical apothecary of wonder.
Having a nighttime outdoor wedding in the middle of a forest glade will make it very hard to have a DJ. However, you’ll probably still want music. This is will be an area to splurge in – Hire musicians. You don’t have to go all out for a 4 string orchestral quartet (though it could be very lovely). Try looking into your local SCA group or Renn Faire. There are usually a number of talented musicians specializing in medieval instruments that are used to playing long sets. You may want to hire a group or several individuals to take turns. Just think how enchanting it would be to have the sound of harps and pan flutes fill your faerie glade!
Lastly, if you aren’t having any dancing you may want to provide your guests with some entertainment. Lounging on pillows lost in talk can be lovely, but if you want a little something more, then think about hiring professional entertainers, or asking talented friends to help out. Jugglers, dancers and singers could provide a lot of fun. While this is definitely an added (and optional) expense, little details like these can make a very memorable experience for you and your guests.
