Fairytale Wedding Ideas

For many women, the animated Walt Disney version of Cinderella is the fairytale of their dreams. If that is your inspiration, consider using the same pale blue and white color scheme with silver accents. For other women, the fairytale image is more identified with a historical period. For still others, the fairytale is a simpler "royalty" fantasy, a look for colors and fabrics that "say" royalty. Deep blues and purples or burgundy, gilt or fur accents, skirts with trains and overskirts, long or full sleeves, heavy fabrics like brocade, peau de soie and velvet all give a royal impression.

If you are going for the Cinderella look, to capture the mood of the event first sit down and either read the book, or watch a version of the movie. Write down ideas and be looking to add something unique or unusual. Think original, not what you have seen in other weddings. Remember this is your day...make it SPECIAL!

The key to pulling off a coordinated event: Evoke your theme throughout the affair. Whether that theme is as general as a season or a feeling, or as specific as a special flower, it should be the subtle thread that ties everything together. Your location, invitations, flowers, menu, cake, and favors should all cleverly reflect one common concept. Then, get as creative as you can!

Wedding Colors:

For a fairytale wedding use Ivory or White with pastel Blue, Pink, Lavender, Green, or Yellow. For a medieval or royalty wedding use deep blues, purples and burgundy.

Location:

Your venue can play a key roll in how much you will need to decorate. Choosing a venue that creates the atmosphere you want to convey in itself, like a Castle or a ballroom with beautiful chandeliers, will minimize your expenses. Other locations might include: Disneyland, Walt Disney World, a Cathedral, a Mansion, a Museum, a Garden, a Country Inn, or a Historic Home. If you are in our area an ideal location for your wedding might be the Texas Renaissance Festival in Plantersville, Texas or you may have a Renaissance Festival in your area.

Attire and Flowers:

Choose a wedding gown that resembles a beautiful ball gown or have a Renaissance gown made. Wear a tiara with or without attached veil. Although if you look at the Little Golden Books "Cinderella" Book, Cinderella had on a white floral headpiece with a veil. If you are going for a Renaissance look use a flower head wreath with ribbon streamers, a beautiful gold or silver tone circlet, a wedding French hood, a Flemish pill hat, or a headband fall. You may also want to braid hair.

When choosing flowers and bouquets, remember that in medieval times there would not have been florists and hot house flowers, so use theme appropriate flowers (e.g. Roses, Spray roses, Baby's Breath, Camellias, Gardenias, Hyacinth, Irises, Lilac, Lily of the Valley, Tulips, Ivy, Thistle, Wheat and Heather) that would have grown in a castle garden and have your florist design arrangements that look hand done.

Have bridesmaids braid their hair and wear floral head wreaths. They can carry a hand-tied bouquet in the same style as the brides, but smaller.

Dress your flower girl in a beautiful floor length gown, add a child's crown, and have her carry sheaves of wheat, a symbol of growth, fertility, and renewal or a scepter, glass slipper, posy, or a lovely basket.

Have your ring bearer carry a darling Cinderella Heart Shaped Pillow with Silver-embroidered Cinderella & Prince waltzing atop, trimmed with a white chiffon ruffle and chiffon bow or a "Dreams Do Come True" pillow, both available in the Cinderella Section at Carlson Craft.

Dress your Prince, groomsmen and ring bearer in doublets & jerkins, Renaissance shirts & breeches, cavalier hats, Tudor flat caps, or velvet berets. Use Royalty Items such as: cloak, scepter & crown.

Invitation & Accessories:

Consider fonts that reflect the style and motif of a Princess like Camelot or Calligraphy. Address the invitations using a Calligraphy style. Carry your theme throughout your planning even down to the old time wax seals and stamps.

Our Carlson Craft Disney Wedding section has a wonderful selection of Cinderella Wedding Invitations and in the Disney Cinderella Wedding Accessories section you will find Personalized Gold Carriage Seals, Personalized Cinderella and Prince Seals, Cinderella and Prince Gold Seals, as well as Cinderella Flutes, Candy Wrappers, Favor Cards, Ring Bearer Pillow, Favor Box, Knife & Server Set.

For a Medieval Wedding consider using Victorian Wedding Invitations which can be found in our Wedding Invitation Section. A scroll would also be a perfect touch!

Consider sprinkling some magical palace powder in the form of Sparkle Powder, inside the envelope to give guests a sneak preview of the regal fun that awaits them!

Decorating Ideas:

You have your reception hall reserved, and dozens of fantastic ideas running through your head. But just how do you pull it all together to make your wedding setting an unforgettable fairy tale land?

Flowers

As we mentioned earlier, when choosing flowers for your ceremony, bouquets and reception, remember that in medieval times there would not have been florists and hot house flowers, so have your florist design arrangements and bouquets that look hand done using theme appropriate flowers like : Roses, Spray roses, Baby's Breath, Camellias, Gardenias, Hyacinth, Irises, Lilac, Lily of the Valley, Tulips, Ivy, Thistle, Wheat, Heather or other flowers that would have been grown in a castle garden.

Also remember to use containers, vases, bowls, trays, candelabras, tankards, chalices, goblets that are theme appropriate. Only the wealthy lords and noblemen used goblets, chalices and plates and other containers made from gold, silver, pewter and crystal. The less important guests were served on wooden platters called trenchers or with wooden goblets. Silver or pewter would be most appropriate and lovely for your Royal fairy tale theme. Containers with an English Ivy, Fleur de Lis, or Trumpet Vine patterns could also be used.

Table Decorations

Remember the tops of the tables provide you with a very large surface area and covering them with a beautiful tablecloth is the easiest way to change the feel of a room.. It is also the most cost effective way to decorate. Ten tables covered with a specialty satin or damask linen will make a statement that no white tablecloth alone can make.

During medieval times lace was a sign of wealth. Use a Battenberg Lace overlay over a pastel blue tablecloth. Add Battenberg Lace napkins, with white satin or chiffon chair covers & chair ties. For a Royal look purple and silver are always good choices, try a silver striped overlay over a purple tablecloth with silver and white double napkins. Use a platinum satin chair cover with purple chair ties.

For your royal affair use white or ivory china with silver edging and silver flatware. Or choose china with a English Ivy, Fleur de Lis, or a Trumpet Vine pattern. Your wedding consultant will know where to rent these items.

Centerpieces

If it's an evening wedding go for candles everywhere. If your venue will not allow you to use open candle flames, there are now battery operated votives and tapers available.

If you are using 6ft or 8 ft banquet tables for guest tables, place silver chalices filled with clusters of flowers (use a different type of flower in each) like Lily of the Valley, Sweet Peas, Lisianthus and Roses down the length of the tables for a beautiful gleaming display that will pick up on the silverware of the place settings.

Between chalices set three arm crystal candelabras with taper candles or crystal candle lamps. Dot the tables with small votive holder too.

Our brides often choose this beautiful wrought iron Crystal Fountain Centerpiece to place on their guest tables. This stunning piece includes large and small gem crystals surrounded by four candle points at the center. Tapered crystals also surround each candle point. We purchased our candelabra from Victorian Keepsake Candles in Canada.

A mirror placed under your candelabra with crystal ice scattered on top will also add a touch of elegance.

Place Cinderella Flutes on the bridal table for the bride & groom and use blue stemmed flutes at each guest place setting.

Place clear glass vases on LED light bases to illuminate the vase or you can also use small lights that can be placed directly into the water. Tuck lights into the flowers to illuminate your flower arrangements. These lights are available in white and a variety of colors. Ask your florist about them.

Scatter crystal ice on table tops for a sparkling effect.

Have your linen rental company fold napkin in The Crown Napkin Fold or The Fleur de Lys Goblet Fold.

You could also personalized napkins and tie with ribbon. Napkins may be printed with your names, wedding date, choice of design (e.g. Castle Design would be nice) and imprinted with color foil or ink.

For an elegant accent to serving tables, set a Royal Crown and inexpensive jewel tiaras around serving platters that need a touch of royalty!

Room Decorations

Scene setters fill in gaps and round out the spaces in your room. These include floral arrangements, floor candelabras, trellises and arches adorned with flowers and greenery, a decorated gazebo, a canopy or Huppah, pew decorations, wreaths, garlands, and chair decorations.

White bridal lights, netting, tulle or gossamer add extra romance to any indoor or outdoor wedding. You can use gossamer, tulle & netting to drape around columns, tables and walls. Make lovely bows with it to decorate chair backs & etc.

Here is an ideas to make a Cinderella theme come alive! Paint a few pumpkins white and sprinkle some silver glitter on them for a magical touch. Set them in a bed of greenery. Place a few pictures (silver or pewter frames) of the bride and groom around the pumpkins as a reminder of how they got to this special day together. This makes an excellent display in your entryway.

An Ostrich plume pen works well for the guest registry table with a flower arrangement or candelabra setting next to the guest book and pen.

Accent a buffet table or serving table with a Glass Slipper or Carriage Ice Sculpture.

Use Silver or Pewter vases, glassware (tankards, chalices, goblets), bowls, pedestals and tiered platters.

Use satin ribbons, bows, pearls, bells, birds, coaches, castles, and roses.

Cinderella Pumpkin Carriage with four Horses

Victorian Keepsake Candles
509 Commissioners Road West
Suite 200
London Ontario, Canada N6J 1Y5
Tele:(519) 652 6055 or 1-800-568-6081
Fax (519) 652 9626

Our brides love placing this five foot long Pumpkin Carriage with four Horses on the gift table. Designed to hold gift envelopes, this authentic design with replications of hand painted merry-go-round horses and detachable wrought iron stands is sure to make a statement with all your guests. If you are in the Cypress, TX area, it can be rented through our wedding consultant at Cypressweddings.com

Wedding Cake Table

Use a pastel blue tablecloth with a Battenberg Lace overlay on your cake table or you could use a pastel blue under cloth and overlay it with white lights topped with white tulle, gossamer or netting.

Have your cake designer make a Castle Cake or use a Castle Cake Top. Set a small hand blown glass Cinderella coach next to the cake. Sprinkle rose petals all around the base of your cake.

There is also a Cinderella Carriage Cake Stand, Cinderella Pumpkin Cake Stand, and Crown Cake Stand available through Victorian Keepsake Candles.

Your dream day would not be complete without the royal gesture of a white carpet being rolled out for you! Use a Lacy Aisle Runner or a white linen-textured aisle runner or for a more inexpensive alternative try this white floral aisle runner.

Favors & Gifts Ideas

In the world of chivalry, a favor was often a lady's scarf or handkerchief, which she gave to her lover before he went into a battle or joust. At Renaissance faires, favors are small pendants, ribbons, rosettes, tassels, or other wearable trinkets often given by the nobility. These favors represent the esteem and affection of the giver for the recipient.

Lace was very valuable in Medieval Times. The more lace you could afford to give away, the wealthier you would be in those times...so lace makes a nice gift for guests. Anything trimmed with lace would be an excellent favor ( handkerchiefs or scarves).

Hand-made pomanders - Take a small citrus fruit (tangerine, perhaps), tie it up with appropriate ribbons, and, with a bow at the top, also make a wrist loop of ribbon so that guests can wear the pomander if they wish, then pierce the skin of the fruit that's still exposed between the ribbons with whole cloves to cover. The pomander should dry out over time to make a keepsake, and they smell wonderful fresh.

Quill Pens with a clever note attached

Parchment Scrolls - Printed with a favorite poem and tied with velvet ribbon or Scrolls can be rolled up and held together with fake gold/silver bands or rings that you can purchase at just about any craft store.

Miniature Wreaths - Made of dried flowers and herbs

Velvet Pouches filled with potpourri.

Glass Hand-Blown Unicorns or Figurines - For those more interested in fantasy stuff: glass hand-blown unicorns or other little figurines of glass.

Ribbon rosettes - I like the rosettes because they can be as simple or as ornate as you like, can be made pretty easily, and could be relatively inexpensive if you can catch sales at craft fabric stores. Try the "How To" section at offray.com for instructions on making ribbon roses.

Purchase large Jester Caps or for the sewing-machine set, you could make miniature (or full-sized) "jester's caps" out of parti-colored fabric. Jingle bells on the tips add a special touch.

Bags of confits - (hard candies popular among the Elizabethans) "Dining with William Shakespeare" discusses the Elizabethan fondness for these goodies. They were given out at the end of a feast or exchanged amongst friends.

Show your guests just how much you care by offering Personalized Napkins that complement your theme. Napkins can be laid out on a buffet table, or can be displayed at each place setting. Place napkins in the center of each place setting at an angle, or unfold them and place them in glasses for a tall dramatic look. The napkins can also be tied (and bundled with plastic cutlery) with a multitude of items to match your theme. Try Curling Ribbon, Gossamer Streamers, ric-rac or ribbon. You can imprint your napkins with a special design from our selection or for an additional charge, you can send us your own special design. Personalized Napkins are available in our Bridal Accessories Section at Carlson Craft.

Songs:

"A Dream is a Wish"
"So This is Love"
"Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful"
" A Lovely Night"
"Cinderella, Stay in My Arms"
"Cinderella's Fella"
"Somebody"

Activities

There are many activities that go along with a traditional wedding and reception that you may or may not wish to include in your Cinderella themed wedding. You can choose to be as traditional as you wish and it won't compete with this fairytale dream. Here are a couple of ideas that may make it a little bit more "dreamy"!

Instead of the garter tradition your prince charming could have you try on the slipper before your first dance...of course, you need a beautiful sweeping bell shape to your gown, and your first dance with your husband needs to be a happy, up-tempo waltz.

Use the soundtrack from Cinderella to start the dance floor off right.

Have a horse and carriage deliver the bride and groom to the reception and take them away at the end of the evening.

Instead of the bride throwing her bouquet, have her throw a plastic slipper!

"Ribbon pulling" is a lovely Victorian custom. The bride asks her baker to hide the charms in a special layer of the wedding cake with ribbons draped outward. Each bridesmaid pulls a ribbon and discovers the charm that tells her fortune (e.g. an anchor for adventure). Also a fun addition to a bridal shower. Our boxed set includes six silver-plated charms, ribbons and a card with the history of the custom. Click here, then on "Unique Products", Ribbon Pulling Charms will be located in this section.

Food Ideas

Feast like a King and Queen on a fire roasted turkey leg, melt-in-your-mouth pastries, juicy ripe fruit fresh from the King’s Orchards. Beverages include: The King’s Wine, The King’s Beer, and Honey Mead.

For a "princess" touch to your food, serve it on gold, silver or pewter platters. If you are using plastic metallic trays, glue a few faux jewels to the outside edge.

Garnish food with edible loose-leaf gold, and add a sprinkling of tiny edible gold balls to your cake. Edible loose-leaf gold is available at MisterArt.com, just do a search from their homepage for "edible gold leaf".

Recipes

Royal Punch

1 can Hawaiian Punch
1/2 gallon pineapple sherbet
20-02 liter bottle of ginger ale
Freeze a can of Hawaiian
Punch fruit juice until slushy.
Pour into a punch bowl. Add 1/2 gallon pineapple sherbet and two bottles of ginger ale.

Chicken Fingers

A medieval favorite!
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut crosswise into 1 1/2-inch strips

Heat oven to 425?F.
Melt butter in rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches, in oven.
Mix flour, paprika, salt and pepper. Coat chicken with flour mixture.
Toss with melted butter in pan. Bake uncovered 15 minutes. Turn chicken strips; bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until no longer pink in center.

Makes 6 servings

Mice Cookies

Hand out little chocolate mice for treats. You get The Keebler graham crackers that are coated in chocolate, then you dip a stemmed maraschino cherry in melted chocolate (using the stem as the mouse tail. While the chocolate is still soft put at Hershey kiss on the front of the cherry, the bottom of the Hershey kiss should be touching the front of the cherry so that the top of The Hershey kiss is the mouse nose. Place both on the graham cracker. Now you have your basic mouse. Take almond sliver and dip the end of those in the melted chocolate and place behind the Hershey kiss, but in front of the cherry. These are the ears. Take a small tipped tube of icing and put a red or pink nose on the end of the Hershey kiss. The guy that did ours put green eyes on his mice, but for your occasion I think blue eyes would be cute. You do the eyes the same way that you do the nose and apply them on the Hershey kiss. When you originally placed the Hershey kiss on the graham cracker, it should be laying on its side so the that the mouse tail and the mouse nose are directly opposite of each other.

Links:

joann.com - wedding craft supplies, fabrics and tulle.

Medieval Banners from Medieval Collectibles -This site also has clothing and many other medieval supplies.

Shop BuyCostumes.com - fulfill all your costume needs!

Wedding Favors & Bridal Gifts by HansonEllis - Do-It-Yourself wedding favor supplies.