If you’re searching for a theme wedding that people will be discussing for years to come, it would be hard to come up with a more colorful, unusual wedding than one styled on the theme of Robin Hood.
You’ll be staging your wedding against the backdrop of one of the most colorful and exciting periods in world history: the Age of Chivalry.
And because Robin Hood has always been seen as a lovable, fun-loving rogue, you’ll add an extra air of delight to the proceedings.
I don’t know about you but I’d find it hard to be too serious or gloomy in such a cheerful, fantastic setting.
Once you’ve decided on your Robin Hood wedding, you’ll need to track down the costumes for the bride and groom, the wedding party, and of course a monk’s robe and sandals for the clergyman or justice of the peace who’s going to be impersonating Friar Tuck.
Robin Hood costumes for the groom and groomsmen will probably be the easiest to find, while the bridal gown, if it’s going to be appropriate and authentic, may take a little extra work.
For your bridal gown you can probably go one of two ways, either rent an appropriate costume, or make your own.
If you make your own, it still won’t be cheap.
Gowns from this time period are fairly elaborate and detailed, so it will probably take several weeks to make.
It’s a good idea to see if there is a Renaissance Fair coming to your area or if there are is community of Renaissance Hobbyists in your area.
If you have some Renaissance re-enacters in your town, get in touch with them.
They can either help you create your own custom Maid Marian’s bridal dress, or they know someone who can.
Of course, you can always go on the Internet and find this style of dress there, but that’s a little impersonal for my tastes.
For your Robin Hood wedding I think it’s imperative to stage it outdoors, near a forest.
You can rent tents to help create the proper atmosphere, seat everyone at long tables with benches, and then serve up a wedding reception dinner that would make Robin Hood proud.
Venison makes an excellent, tasty, low-fat entrée, or you could go for roast suckling pigs or whole roast chickens, seasoned with herbs and wine and served on big platters.
Fresh fruit is always a good choice, and for sweets, you could serve cakes sweetened with honey, assorted nuts, or candied violets.
Add some mulled wine, good ales and stouts, and you have an epic feast that would make the Sheriff of Nottingham green with envy that he was not invited.
