Dressing for a medieval wedding can be very difficult. The majority of people who choose to have their wedding in medieval styles are those who have a lot of interest in medieval re-enactment. This means that the clothing will probably be extremely nice quality and make.
Steps
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Ask the bride and groom what period and nationality of costuming they're going for, and how strict they're being. Medieval can be anything from 900 (kilts and loose gowns) to 1600 (neck high corsets and hoop skirts). If you show up in an Elizabethan gown and everyone else is sporting basic tunics and pants, it will look silly.
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Once you ascertain what sort of costuming period you need, do a little research. Find out if it will be cheaper to make it (if you have the skills for that) or cheaper to buy it online.Advertisement
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If you are making costuming for you and your family, look into patterns that will let you make an outfit out of the same cloth. Then you can buy in bulk, cheaper. Also, you'll be able to spot your family easily in the crowd despite strange clothing you're not used to.
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Look at clothing from that time period and region, and pick something you're COMFORTABLE wearing. A man who hates the notion of wearing tights will be embarrassed and uncomfortable for the whole wedding. A woman who would never display her cleavage shouldn't wear a corset.
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If you're purchasing, talk to online vendors, and explain what you're looking for. Offer to put them in touch with anyone else going to the wedding - often for a large order, they'll let you get things at a lower rate.
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Hunt around for good prices. If you mention to a vendor that another place is willing to make a bulk deal, you could get better rates - but do *not* lie to them. A lot of those people work together at the same fairs, and have good friendly relationships.
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If you're able to get a decent costume at a decent price from someone online, recommend them to others going to the wedding, even if they weren't part of the original 'bulk' order. The more people dressed by the same company, the more classy the wedding will look - and the less you'll stick out.
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Once you have your costume, look up articles online about how to wear it. Men: Don't tuck in your shirt, strap a belt across it. And wear the belt under your belly, if you have a belly. It just looks silly when someone tries to girdle in their gut with a leather strap. It should go where your pants belt goes. Ask someone who does medieval re-enactment or a friend who is a history buff to help you try on the clothing. Some things that look like they go on easily don't. Corsets lace in the back, belts wrap around you twice, and men look very silly if they tuck in their shirt, since the shirt has a billowy loose bottom.
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Look reasonably at whether you can wear the costume in the car, or if you should change. Find out if the venue has somewhere you can change, or at worst, wear some of the costume and put on the parts you can't wear in the car (corset, belt, etc) once you get there.
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Wear comfortable shoes. One of the best parts of medieval clothing is that you can wear loose pants or skirts that hide your shoes entirely, and medieval clothing never, ever had high heels until well after the Victorian era. Do not, under any circumstances, wear a traditional gown with heels. You'll be very off balance, more likely to fall, and look ridiculous.
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Have a change of clothing when you leave. By the end of the day you might be relieved to put on a pair of jeans and a sweater. Being stuck in something you're not used to wearing might be frustrating or even embarrassing if you're pulled over or have to stop for food. People who wear that kind of clothing all the time for fairs or re-enactments are used to being looked at funny in the 7-Eleven, but it might be pretty humiliating if you aren't.
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Keep your costume if you like it - it'll make a great easy Halloween costume! Otherwise, sell it on Etsy or eBay. You can make a decent penny back on your investment that way, and if you have a set of family costumes, you might even help another family going to a wedding!Advertisement
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Tips
- If you need to bulk up your skirts or feel like you're wearing too little clothing, toss a long loose skirt underneath your gown. Especially in the winter, layers add warmth.Thanks
- Wear only light makeup. Few medieval periods indulged in makeup except for the highest classes.Thanks
- You can often find cheap garb on eBay or etsy, but make sure to do your research and talk to people about how to wear it correctly. In five hundred years, I could see someone thinking we all wear our T-shirts backwards. It would be an honest mistake if they had no photographic evidence.Thanks
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Warnings
- Women: Never, ever wear a corset with no shirt underneath. It's kind of like wearing a fall jacket and being naked under it. You look like you're wearing lingerie, and to those who do medieval re-enactment, it looks incredibly trashy and gauche.Thanks
- If you're female and you've never worn a bodice or corset, avoid them. They are not comfortable for more than an hour or two when you first start wearing them, and can actually cause damage to your ribs and belly if you don't gradually build up how much time you spend in one. They are also very difficult to wear correctly.Thanks
- Do not under any circumstances buy your costume at a costume shop, like the saucy wench costumes or sexy pirate wear. You will look like a stripper next to people wearing classy medieval clothing.Thanks
- Communicate with the bride (or the maid of honor) about what you/your family are planning to wear. If she's not wearing white, but instead wearing light green, your costumes could get awkward fast.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Flat shoes
- A belt and a pouch to go on it (most medieval wear has no pockets)
- A fan if it's summer, a cloak in the winter
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