Maryland Themed Weddings
Themed Weddings- Bring Out Your Inner Style
By Jessica Lynne Gardner
Personalization has become a part of everyday life with our clothes, jewelry, hair, etc, and of course weddings! More couples are trying trendy locations, decorations and styles far from the traditional white dress and church setting. From harvest/Halloween themes to bright Asian style, we designed a theme guide for those who want a truly unique location, ceremony and reception or just need some inspiration. Relax and have fun with your theme!
Halloween - Candlelight, fall colors and dried flowers make a beautiful autumn event
Asian - If you have family or friends from the Far East or just love the warm colors and traditions; here are some ideas that will fulfill your yearning for exotic places here in Maryland!
Renaissance/Medieval - Lords and Ladies can attend your wedding in period attire complete with fairy wings, armor and a little magic…
New Wedding Trend: A Green Wedding
With talk of global warming and pollution, a substantial amount of people are recycling, eating organic produce and wearing earth-friendly clothes. This type is for those would be willing to sacrifice a little bit of style by being eco-conscious. Some easy earth-conscious steps include using paper decoration, recycling, wearing linen, cotton or other natural fabrics, and offering vegetarian/vegan meals using organic fruit and vegetables free of pesticides.
Themes:
Halloween
October with its colorful autumn leaves, pumpkins and trick-or-treaters is a playful and festive time of year. Whether you love the season or the holiday, there are many ways to approach a Halloween wedding. For a natural harvest feel, use tangerine, peach, gold or yellow for the main color and use tan or rust to compliment it. If you are going for a more gothic or vamp look, choose deep wines, purples, or crimson and accent with touches of black.
Candy Apples- Topped with yummy toppings or just dipped in red glaze, candy apples are a Halloween favorite and have a long history behind them. These sweet treats can be given to guests in pretty tissue paper tied with ribbons that match the color scheme.
Dried leaves- Collect colorful leaves and hang them from a string around the reception area to add a splash of color and a magical yet natural feel.
Bouquet- This is a sure attention grabber- use romantic black roses or black tulips (or a combination of both) in your bouquet. If this is too extreme for you another pretty option is dried red roses. To create a more vibrant bouquet but still stay in the autumn palette, use one or a combination of these: orange tiger lilies, sprigs of wheat, red or orange dahlias, or yellow Calendulas.
Attire- For the bride and bridesmaids, long flowing sleeves are a beautiful option for this time of year but if you have your heart set on strapless you can always wear a wrap, long gloves or shawl in the event of an outdoor ceremony. Ivory works well with warm autumn colors but the possibilities are endless. Don’t forget, if you find a white dress that you love but it clashes with your autumn color-scheme, there are places such as local dry-cleaners and bridal shops where you can have it died for a fee. The groom can wear a velvet cloak in black (or the same color as the bride’s gown) for a gothic wedding or a simple suit/tuxedo with an accessory to set it off like a hat, mask, or head wreath decorated with fall leaves for a harvest style event.
http://www.arcanelore.com/ - Gothic styles for him and her
http://www.vintagestyleclothing.com/catalog11.html
Ceremony/Reception Location- Small catholic churches, gothic mansions and woodsy courtyards are nice locations for this theme. For a more whimsical touch you can try to find nearby corn mazes. Anywhere outdoors should make a colorful and interesting setting with the changing leaves and cool weather.
Asian:
The Far East is well known for it’s exotic beauty, interesting culture and renowned traditions. You can experience a bit of Asian flavor in your Maryland wedding by using bright red and gold colors, decorations, food and location. There are many different ethnicities in the Far East; you can choose to pick a specific one or a blend of many kinds.
Paper lanterns- A beautiful and decorative lamp these colorful lanterns are generally red and gold with black Chinese or Japanese calligraphy and add a soft glow when lit.
Fans- From small to large, plain to ornate, fans are beautiful and traditional items in all Asian countries. Popular painted designs are floral, calligraphy, birds and dragons. These can be used for decoration or to hand out as favors.
Dragons- Chinese dragons are generally a sign of good luck and have long bodies and short arms. Decorations made with paper or wood are beautiful and meaningful.
Colors- Red and gold are the typical color schemes found in Chinese ceremonies. Red and white are used in Japanese weddings and are said to be the colors of happiness. Stylish black and red looks nice as well (using more red and small touches of black such as black laminated chopsticks for decoration).
Tea Ceremony- Among the Chinese, Tea is served to the groom’s parents as a sign of respect.
Flowers- Soft, simple flowers like white orchids, lilies and peonies fit beautifully with this theme and compliment oriental patterns.
Attire- For the bride, a white kimono for the ceremony followed with a colorful kimono for the reception is traditional Japanese dress. The Cheongsam with a red dragon & phoenix pattern is customary at the Chinese wedding, (the Dragon and Phoenix are symbolic of the balance of male and female). Bridesmaids can wear a simplified version of the bride’s dress in a different color for distinction. The groom traditionally wears black or gray silks or formal coat and dress pants in Chinese culture and a men's kimono called haoiri-hakama or a tuxedo is worn in Japanese customs.
Reception Location- Formal Chinese and Japanese restaurants can be a great setting for the reception and they already serve the food of choice! Just call ahead to make reservations.
Renaissance/Medieval:
If you love the romance and chivalry of the Renaissance or Medieval times, then this theme is for you. When planning a wedding of this type, it’s all about the details. The locations are usually not as difficult or costly since you can use a small church or courtyard for the ceremony and the reception. By saving budget with the location, you can spend on costumes, decorations and accessories. Make magic with the fairy wings, costumes and beautiful settings below:
Dried herbs and flower petals- Not only is this true to history but it makes the ceremony and receptions smell sweet! Traditionally these were strewn about the ground but if you have concerns over this than place them in decorative baskets on the table or hanging sachets.
Ribbons- There’s just something enchanting about satin ribbons dangling here and there! They are easy and cheap to make and are perfect for that last minute touch up if you want to add some color.
Theme Color-Traditionally there was a lot of white because it was a status symbol for wealth as well as a symbol of chastity. Other colors that would fit the theme if you want something less plain are dark purple (used by royalty in those days), pink and white for a princess look, or red and gold for a heraldic appearance.
Costumes - Relatively inexpensive compared to designer gowns and tuxedos, you will be saving without sacrificing style. Ranging from about $70 to as high as you please, website tailors offer custom designs and fits. The bride: Surprisingly, white was not used for wedding gowns until the Victorian era, so don’t feel limited with colors. The best fabrics to choose have rich jewel tones and are heavy: velvet, chiffon, and brocades. Bridesmaids can wear flower wreaths around their head and simple, flowing dresses. Fairy wings are a beautiful and whimsical addition. If you don’t want to buy a costume you can consider costume rentals for your wedding party. Some choices for the groom include vests and jackets, armor, cloaks or a full Elizabethan-style costume complete with tights.
Here are some sites for Renaissance attire:
Katrina Marie Designs - Beautiful wedding gowns and groom’s-wear
Enchanted Costumes - Fairy wings and costumes for her
Ceremony/Reception Location: Chase Court
Located in historic Mt. Vernon, Chase court is as beautiful outside as it is inside. With gothic architecture and an enchanting outdoor garden, it’s perfect for your Renaissance or Medieval wedding. Some of the many ceremony and reception options include: pewter plates and goblets, tenting the garden, horse and carriage as the bride and groom depart, and historical decorations.
David Egan
Chase Court
(410) 727-1112
david@chasecourt.com
http://www.chasecourt.com