I'm helping plan a Masquerade Wedding. It is taking the place in a castle and I'm looking for every unique and elegant wedding ideas. If you could help me out, I'd appreciate it!!!
Mandy
P.S. If you have helpful links or pictures of Masquerade weddings, please email them!
The bride to be has recently changed her mind and I've given up helping her because her wedding is less then six months away and she has nothing done. So I'd be more then happy to help you out. I spent a lot of time on the web trying to put together ideas and it is a shame to just throw the information away, so I'll share it with you.
For starters, I will put some of the things I have here but of course I can't put everything so if you want to know more or want some website addresses, feel free to email me at mtanger@examiner.org.
Wedding colors to be used throughout...dark purple, dark green, gold. During the reception you can also throw in deep reds and yellows, but you base colors should be the first three.
Wedding ceremony...dim the lights and use lots of candles giving the ceremony a magical feel, most churches or wedding sites have rules for using candles such as only dripless or covered candles...check it out first before you buy anything. You don't want the ceremony to be too exotic but you can ad small touches to coordinate with the rest of the wedding festivities such as using your colors for your gowns, vest/tuxes, flowers...
Wedding reception...throw in all the colors again, I have great ideas for flower centerpeices, email me if your interested. Dim the lights again and use lots of candles on your tables for the magical feel like the ceremony. Cover the tables in shimmery gold cloth, and tie gold ribbons on chairs. Use lots of greenery everywhere, that is a main color and it is basically inexpensive but makes a great filler, exspecially in a large reception site. We had thought about putting flower centerpeices on half of the tables and making the other centerpeices using tini masquerade masks. You can buy them everywhere, just check party stores on the internet or in your home town. They will bring a lot of color to the reception and incorperate your theme nicely without a ton of money.
Food...most cateres do a special buffet that cordinates with the masquerade theme it usually consists of the same things served in New Orleans, fried foods and rices...different things like that. I have information on it.
Party favors you can use during both the ceremony and reception...everyone needs a mask at a masquerade, don't make your guest bring them...provide them. There is so much potential for this. We looked into making them ourself thinking this would save us money...that is not the case this time, so I'm pre-warning you. Just buy them, it is less stressful and cheaper in this case if you don't do it yourself. You can buy them in bulk for pennies on the dollar at most party stores, I have web sites that you can order them from that are actually based in New Orleans...you and your groom will need special ones...cooler ones that completely differ from everyone elses. There are companies who make them that you can find on the internet, again, I have the email addresses. Or in this case you can make them yourself. Think about an all white feather one for you and an all black one or black and grey feather one for him. You can add pearls, sequens or rhinestones to make them looks even better. All of your guest can take them home with them after the reception, you can even hang cards from them thanking them for spending the day with you. You could also have the bridesmaids carry very elaborate masks (this also means expensive) during the ceremony instead of flowers, also you could by plain little plastic masks for the flower girl and ring bearer to wear when they are walking down the isle, one in white and one in black with the elastic string so they don't have to actually hold them in they hand. You can find these for about a dollor at Jo Ann Fabrics or other craft stores. The bride could also bring her down the isle covering her face instead of a veil. Just something to think about. I do recommend buying masks that have the sticks on the side that you hold up to your face rather then ones that stick to you head with the elastic band. Except for the children in the wedding party. Kids will break theirs easily so don't put a ton of money into them, but do think about buying extra plastic ones for the other children attending the wedding but that aren't in the wedding party...they will see the adults with masks and will want there own, just have the plastic ones for them.
There are tons of other ideas I have, anyone is welcome to email me for more ideas and the addresses of web sites, I don't have the addresses in front of me or I would give them to you right now.
Hi mandy,
I have read your posting and i tried to email you but my email was returned. First of all i apologize. I apologize for you having done all that research and the bride did not appreciate it enough to do her part. I totally understand. Just recently i planned an event that envolved activities, and the powers that be were unable to reserve the venue we needed. So i was kind of down about it. Anyway, if you don't could you please share some of your information with me? it will be greatly appreciated. I am hoping to have a truley unique wedding.
Luckily my wedding is still a little over a year away. I am planning a October 30th wedding; however I want to make it a masquerade wedding. Because this is my second wedding I am opting to not do the traditional white. I have chosen a very elegant gothic black and white with burgandy dress. After reading Mandy's message, I wondered if I should opt to change this. I would really like to get more information from Melody or anyone else who might have ideas on Masquerade Halloween Weddings. Thanks so much!!!
We started thinking we'd do 18th century meets 21st. But that was way too complicated. Now we're thinking that it may be better to simplify it (and control the results) by making it a dress-to-impress masquerade with the theme being "our wedding".
We're not doing the masks for the ceremony, however afterwards our guests will be ushered into the party hall, asked to don a mask and then begin the celebration.
We are working on getting wholesale prices on a couple hundred masks (favors). People will be encouraged to choose one, wear their own, switch up occasionally or whatever.
We were wondering what would actually keep people wearing their masks..... Maybe a couple of enthusiastic quests could assume the role of "masquerade police" - they could occasionally (with the dj's help) spotlight someone not wearing their mask; drag them out on the dance floor for a fun and slightly embarrasing ritual.
Our biggest problem now is the invitations - because everything kind of hinges on them
I was thinking the same, the ceremony will be in a church so the Masquerade theme won't come into play until the reception. I found a website - mardigrasoutlet.com that has some neat masks. We're not sure about the invitations yet, but we are going to create guest guides with a nice picture on the front to assist with details about the wedding and lodging information. We think we may just create these ourselves.
Candace, are you doing a "wedding" theme or a "marti gras" theme?? If you look around, there are much more interesting masks. Email some of the vendors on ebay - they are all too willing to help.
Hey there!
Couldn't help but notice the thread. I threw a masquerade wedding for my husband and myself. There are numerous examples of masks from our wedding, and tips on how to make them on my website at http://www.sorentaine.com
I saw your boards and I, too am planning a wedding for oct. 30,2004. Although I am doing more of a fall theme wedding I am throwing some Halloween and Masquerade touches in. The invitations I drew have a thorny rose with a mask. On the invite themselves we are going to put that masquerade type costumes are welcome. (We have had a lot of people asking if they get to dress up since they heard the date of our wedding.) For some of the centerpieces at the reception we are having pillar candles with a mask on them.
If you need help with finding costumes and wedding equipment email Dreammaiden1@hotmail.com. Rent your candelabras and chaircovers white with black sashes for October 2004 weddings at $2.79. Email to find out how you can get free shipping. Dreammaiden1@hotmail.com Special Halloween ensemble collection available.
I too am planning a wedding for october 31, 2004. I want fall to be the major theme with a tiny touch of elegant halloween incorporations. I am looking to purchase masquerade masks on a stick and wrap a label around the stick to make the mask the place card for my guests. I am desperatel seeking anyone with any other unique yet elegant ideas. I am also looking for a place to buy my masks...i would like to get a bulk rate by also choose a few different styles of maks...i will need approx 130! thanks for any help
My fiance and I are looking to do a renaissance style masquerade ball. We figure we could emphesize the masquerade bit all we want and maybe 5 people will show up with masks. So we plan to supply the masks as the party favors. Unfortunately all I can find are mardi gras colors. Great if we were doing a mardi gras theme, but we're not. Any ideas on where to get some decent looking masks for around $2/p? I also found some great tiny porcelain masks for really cheap , and I want to work them into the centerpeices, but I can't figure out how. We can't have big candles, and I don't want lots of flowers. We were thinking of doing floating candles for the tables but how to include the masks? Any ides (floating candles aren't needed)?
Also, anyone who has had a masquerade wedding, what works better, masks that tie on/elastic so people actually wear them (but messes up the women's hair) or masks on a stick which are more likely to be tossed aside, but everyone's hair remains pristine?
We did the masquerade wedding last year and we couldnt be happier with the results!
If i could offer any advice it would be our decision to make it a "formal" or a "dress to impress" theme. It kept it from being a marti gras party. We encouraged tuxes and old brides maids dresses.
And no sit down dinners! Do stations. It makes it much easier to negotiate a mask.
Well for my sweet sixteen, I am having a masquerade theme. I have ideas for invitations but for the favors, all i can think of is the masks, i needm roe help. Also, decorations are in need! please help me!!
