Victorian Wedding?

NewBride59

I was just curious if anyone is having a Victorian wedding. My fiance and I are planning our reception in a Victorian home - we are only having 50 guests. We happen to be fans of the Victorian era (well, FH is in to steampunk, so I guess that counts). I don't want it to feel kitschy or like a bad halloween party, so I was wondering what other people are doing to keep their vintage theme modern.

graysquirrel

We had a Victorian wedding! We had it in an historic courthouse building from the 1860s. I tried to put in as many Victorian elements as I could without overthemeing. Here is a modge podge list of some of our stuff...

I gave my modern dress a Victorian flair by adding a huge bustle on the back. We had the guys all in cutaway coats and H wore a top hat. I made cameo necklaces for the BMs and gave them parasols. Our ceremony and dinner music was all period appropriate.

Our female guests all received a sandalwood fan with Victorain flirtation instructions as one of our favors. Our cake had a cameo theme and was made to look like Wedgwood porceline. Each guest's piece of cake had a candy cameo on it that we made. Our cake cutting song was a ragtime piece. We had a photobooth that we made to look like a wall with cutouts where paintings would be. We framed the cutouts and gave people mustaches on sticks, boas, and hats to wear for props. Our venue included a victorian jail tour as well.

Our centerpieces were flowers in grecian urns surrounded by candles. Table numbers were framed silhouettes of Victorian couples (ex-- one was a couple on a bike for 2).

Let me know if you want to bounce ideas around or to see any of our pics or anything. Welcome to the board!

harpsdesire

That sounds uncannily like the wedding I'm planning... 0.o  Well, I'm not going quite as carefully themed, but still.... I just ordered the mold to make candy cameos to go on the cake plates (Planning a white on white cameo themed cake, rather than blue).

My 'Maids and men are dressing more classic than period, and we aren't planning on period music for dinner, just the ceremony.

Some victorian touches I'm including are oil lamps in the table decor, roses, a victorian 'valentine' themed STD (making it myself) and having the reception in an old house which has been converted to a reception venue.

Magdala9

I've been a guest at a steampunk wedding where the guests were invited to get dressed up in steampunk style.  It was great fun.  If you choose to go that route, get the word out early so that people can have time to search for great pieces.  Most of the guests that I know mixed some pieces that they already owned with some new pieces with some DIY pieces.   We had great fun. 

mizutamababy

I'm not sure.. but have you tried getting some inspiration from gothic lolita/lolita fashion?

Altough it's a Japanese fashion it borrows a lot of Victorian elements.  Despite the name it has nothing to do with ageplay even though Google might give some results for that... :S

Maybe have traditional ballroom-dancing type atmosphere or a venue with a big chandelier.  If you plan on having a signature drink... why not make it from an old Victorian cocktail/drink recipe?  Or punch for that matter?