Once Upon A Time…
A little girl dreams of meeting prince charming, being whisked away on a white horse (or unicorn), and having the perfect fairy tale wedding. As she grows older, the reality of adult life can make her more cynical about these golden fantasies. Fortunately, with careful consideration, a healthy dose of planning, and a sprinkle of fairy dust, the bride-to-be can still have the fairy tale wedding that she deserves…
What Does Magic Mean to You?
When we think of fairy tale weddings, perhaps the first image that comes to mind is of a Disney prince and princess being wed in a grandiose castle. That’s all well and good; however, people of royalty aren’t the only characters in Disney films to get married. Consider Robin Hood & Maid Marian in Robin Hood, Carl & Ellie in Up, Mulan & Shang in Mulan, or even Pongo & Perdita in One Hundred and One Dalmatians. The point is: you don’t need to come from a royal family, or possess kingly amounts of wealth, to have a fairy tale wedding.
The concept of a fairy tale wedding was to the world by Disney films, where we also find talking furniture, singing animals, and impromptu musicals. This concept has since gone on to make crazy amounts of money for the wedding industry. So, you have to ask, what does it mean to you to have a fairy tale wedding?
It’s not so much the surface level things that make your big day magical; its how you feel about everything that’s important, which is determined by the people who help you celebrate this momentous occasion, and the vibe you create, whatever your budget is. Forget about what someone else’s vision of a fairy tale wedding is – what’s yours? What would make your day magical?
Identify what would truly make for a fulfilling wedding, and then you can plan your perfect day accordingly, whether that’s with white horses and a multi-tiered cake in a castle, or a disco and a BBQ in your back garden.
Castles in the Sky
Not everyone can afford to hire a castle or a palace to get married in. However, there are plenty of more affordable venues, like stately homes, hotels, or ballrooms that can just as powerfully evoke your inner princess. Ballrooms tend to possess impressive architecture, complete with chandeliers and beautiful curtains.
Then there’s the option of foregoing buildings altogether; how about getting married in a forest? Outdoor weddings can be a beautiful alternative, and tying the knot in a natural landscape full of trees creates a different kind of fairy tale magic. This can be coupled with large marquees for the wedding reception and portable food stalls for the catering to create a unique and memorable alfresco wedding experience.
You can also save money by booking cheap or free venues for your wedding reception, such as having it at the house of a relative or close friend, in a local park, or on the beach.
An Invitation to the Magic
With personalised you can ensure the magic begins long before your guests reach the venue. Entice guests into your fairy tale fantasy with a beautiful design that reflects your unique style and gives them an insight into the kind of vibe to expect on the day. Just imagine how delighted you’d be to receive such a lovely invitation delivered through your letterbox.
Sprinkle a Little Magic
Wherever the ceremony is held, it’s the small details that can transform your normal wedding venue into a fairy tale-come-true, as if by magic. Using inexpensive fabrics as drapery is a beautiful way to decorate your venue, and can be used to cover tables, walls, and any other surface that feels too bare. The use of ribbons is another great way to add a visual touch of class.
The lighting is also important. Having the place decorated in fairy lights looks beautiful and doesn’t cost much. When night falls, using candles in candelabras is a classier alternative to electronic lighting and creates a more romantic atmosphere. Then you have the centrepieces on the tables, which can be elaborate and beautiful without breaking the bank.
Fairy Tale Flowers
Of course, flower arrangements are an absolute must, and add a touch of natural magic to any room. Typical fairy tale flowers are roses, peonies or hydrangeas, which can be arranged in colourful bouquets. Alternatively, using just one kind and colour of flower can be visually striking, and white flowers in particular evoke a sense of purity and magic. Using trees to adorn the aisle adds a sense of the fantastical as the bride walks among them on her way to tie the knot.
Dressed for the Part
No fairy tale wedding would be complete without the dress. What constitutes a magical look will of course differ between each bride-to-be. It could be an incredibly sparkly and attention-grabbing affair, along with velvet gloves and loud jewellery, or something much more understated, perhaps adorned with a tiara and a choker. It all depends on your tastes.
Once the bride’s outfit has been meticulously designed, then all the royal subjects need to look the part too. The outfits of your bridesmaids and pageboys all deserve careful consideration, and the style of their clothing should complement the style of the overall event.
Here Comes the Bride
One of the most important parts of the whole day that should be injected with fairy tale magic is the bride’s entrance. There are many ways you can make it stand out; the use of dramatic music, or even better, live music, can make this special moment all the more emotional, as well as having bridesmaids scatter rose petals around the bride as she enters.
And They Lived Happily Ever After…
A fairy tale wedding may seem like something that’s exclusive to your most cherished dreams, but with planning and action, you can turn those dreams a beautiful reality.