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Wedding Party Theme - Romeo and Juliet
My son's wedding was so unbelievably beautiful, I feel compelled
to share it.
My son, Ken and his fiancée, Phoebe chose Romeo and Juliet as
their wedding theme. The research they did into reducing the cost
while increasing the quality and enjoyment for their guests and
themselves really payed off. The first had a local wedding
coordinator sit down and help them plan not only what they
wanted in the wedding but how much it was likely to cost. She
showed them what had to be done right away and what could wait.
They never could have done it without her. Once Phoebe had it all
down on paper she began working on it right away.
The wedding was reasonably small, with approximately 100 guests
and everyone was involved with the preparations, which made the
experience a lot of fun.
The Invitations were really beautiful. Each was hand written on
parchment scrolls by a professional calligrapher and closed with
faux wax seals. They were sent to only about 100 guests.
To save time and money, the wedding and reception would take
place at the same location. The building was a replica of a
medieval manor house which had been used in a couple of movies.
Everyone was to come dressed in costume so Phoebe and Ken
gave us the address of a costume rental house that would supply all
of the costumes for the wedding party and guests, at a discounted
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rate. Makeup artists
The florists wove garlands of artificial cabbage rose blossoms and
flowering ivy all around the main hall and reception hall. They
brought scented candles to place in the wall sconces. The arbour
was decorated with purple and gold brocade ribbon, silk flowers
and realistic fake doves she bought at the party supply store.
Phoebe arrived at the site about two hours before the ceremony so
she could dress and have her hair and make-up done. She looked
stunning an exquisite scoop-necked gown, with its soft touch of
lace and gentle lavender colour which set off an exquisite
Medieval- inspired necklace. Phoebe's gown was mostly made of
ivory crushed velvet. The front of the gown was lavender crushed
velvet with an over layer of ethereal flowing silk chiffon. The
sleeves repeated the same pattern, having puffed chiffon over
lavender silk with the transparent chiffon caressing the rest of the
arm. There was a gorgeous lace ruffle around the edge of the
majestic train. The gown also had a graceful, slimming laced up
back. She wore a Medieval-style rolled headdress with a long
ivory, silk veil edged in lace matching her gown. The photographer
took pictures of her on the grounds and in the great hall. Though it
did seem a little of an anachronism to have a camera around.
The guests arrived in gorgeous medieval costumes and went into
the reception hall for snacks. I was glad this era did not require
corsets. There was breads, cheeses, slices of apple and pear as well
as meat tartlets. The food was very delicious. There was sparkling
apple cider, mead or white Sebastiani wine to drink. Everyone was
eating and chatting while a band played medieval chamber music.
A half hour later, the lute player set his instrument down and
picked up a heralding trumpet, put it to his lips and blew a half
dozen notes. He then announced that the ceremony was about to
begin and everyone filed outside and took seats in the chairs that
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had been set up behind the decorated arbour. A harpist in a
Medieval gown began playing a lovely piece of music selected by
the bride and groom. Each of Ken's groomsmen, wore swords on
their hips and were dressed sumptuously as Montagues in velvets
and satins. Each Capulet bridesmaid, was dressed in gorgeous
lavender and ivory satin Medieval gown and walked at the side of
the Montague groomsmen.
Phoebe looked radiant on her father's arm. He looked a little
uncomfortable in his gorgeous Medieval lord's costume. Ken
looked so handsome standing under the arbour in his Romeo
costume of gold and ivory brocade trimmed with red and gold
braid. Even the minister was dressed in Medieval priest robes. The
minister read the marriage preamble and then Phoebe and Ken
each read the Medieval-style vows they had prepared. Ken slipped
the wedding ring on Phoebe's finger. They both decided not be
absolutely authentic with the groom's kiss at the end of the
ceremony. It was not the fashion for the groom to kiss the bride in
public in Medieval times, but since this was the 21st century Ken
and Phoebe exchanged a passionate kiss beneath the arbour. Guests
were given a special type of designer rice shaped like little hearts
that doesn't hurt birds and crushes into a powder when it is stepped
on, to throw as the Bride & Groom left the ceremony.
While the groom, bride, wedding party and families had pictures
taken by the photographer the rest of the guests returned to the
reception hall for more snacks, drinks and music. I later heard the
band taught them some of the medieval round dances which
everyone enjoyed.
After all the pictures were done I went back inside and mingled
with the guests for a few minutes before the heralding trumpet
again sounded. The herald announced, "All welcome Lord
Kenneth of Jackson and Lady Phoebe Jackson."
A huge runner of ivory brocade decorated the centre of the table
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and a dozen custom made gift baskets filled with a variety of fruits
and nuts were lined up on centre of the table that also had freeze
dried rose petals tossed freely about. A white disposable camera
stood in front of each basket so the guests could take pictures. The
place cards were Sebastiani wine glass tags with the name of each
guest printed on it in lovely gold script.
Phoebe and Ken took their places in the middle section of the huge
table and the wedding party took the seats on either side. The
guests took their places at the two wings of the table which
extended nearly the length of the room. Each seat faced the centre
of the room. Waiters dressed as a servants filled everyone's goblet
with either Sebastiani wine or sparkling apple juice so everyone
could raise a toast to them. On each plate was a wedding favour
sachet of rosemary--an herb associated with remembrance.
Ken welcomed all of us to the gathering and thanked us for
witnessing this first meaningful event in their lives as husband and
wife. The servants brought out bowls of hearty barley and
vegetable soup. The best man gave his speech after everyone had
been served. Most of the speech was serious, but he ended it with
the words, "May I never have to wear tights again!" All of the
grooms men laughed and cheered. Between the soup course and
the main course Ken and Phoebe stepped onto the dance floor in
the centre of the three sided table for their first dance as husband
and wife. Only I knew they had been taking dancing lessons
rehearsing for this dance. They performed a perfect Medieval
dance while the band played a lively Medieval tune. They looked
so lovely I couldn't help crying. After the first song the herald
called the bride's father up to danced with her and me up to dance
with Ken. After he was announced, the best man cut in on Phoebe
and her father and then the entire wedding party came out on the
floor and danced.
The main course was more like a royal feast. They roasted many
Cornish game hens, legs of lamb which were served with honey
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glazed carrots, asparagus, creamed spinach (since potatoes or corn
had not been brought from the New World until ) and dozens of
loaves of bread. There was red and white Sebastiani wine, hard
cider as well as regular cider or fruit juice for those who did not
drink. The place settings were all period pewter plates. There was
only a knife and a spoon next to each plate since forks had not yet
been invented. Everyone had to eat with their fingers and chunks
of bread.
The meal was so delicious we stuffed ourselves until most of us
could barely move. There was more dancing then, Phoebe called
all of the single women to the edge of the dance floor for the
bouquet toss. She had a bunch of dried lavender in her hands.
When she tossed the bouquet, the dried blooms separated into a
dozen pieces, so there was more than one winner. After that, Ken
removed Phoebe's garter and instead of doing the traditional toss
he handed it to his younger brother, Robbie. I explained to the
guests who asked me, Robbie had been trying to work up the nerve
for months to ask his girlfriend to marry him. Later, Robbie
announced he had asked Missy and she said, "Yes!"
After more dancing Ken and Phoebe cut the beautiful wedding
cake using pearl handled serving set. The wedding cake had been
decorated to look like the famous balcony from "Romeo and
Juliet". A miniature Romeo stood below while Juliet stood on the
balcony. It was still a shame to see it cut even though everyone had
been taking pictures of it all evening. While the wedding cake was
being served more guests gave speeches and toasts to the
newlyweds, including my husband. Some of them were
particularly humorous because more than a few guests had drank
more than their share. Phoebe and Ken had made a pact before the
ceremony not to smash cake in each other's faces so their costumes
would not get messed. I'm so glad the photographer took a picture
of Ken's mischievous grin as he held the piece of wedding cake he
was about to feed Phoebe, but he kept his promise and Phoebe took
a bite without getting even so much as a crumb on her face.
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After everyone had finished their piece of wedding cake there was
more dancing. At midnight Ken and Phoebe left in a lovely horsedrawn carriage decorated with real rose and ivy garlands. Everyone
went home after seeing them off with confetti and wedding
bubbles.
The best pictures were enlarged, framed, and sent to every guest in
the picture. I helped Phoebe look through all of the pictures and
placed the best ones in an very Medieval looking wedding album
bound in ivory suede with brass fastenings. Even without the
pictures, there is no way any of us could forget such a fabulous
event. I'm getting teary-eyed, just thinking about it.
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