Old World European Wedding

We love the blue colours seen in this Old World European wedding. They are exquisite – the gown is spectacular – and truly give an authentic vibe to the setting. Take your venue and transform it into a European dream wedding!

Details for an Old World European Wedding

The Old World European wedding is one that infers elegance in a fairytale setting. This theme is timeless and romantic. Some brides will add a whimsical detail along with a bit of a modern vibe. The feel of an Old World European wedding is one of decadence, sophistication, as well as a vintage setting. The setting typically offers flowy linens, ornate details, and old stonework.

Invitations and any signage will be in swirling calligraphy. Floral arrangements are plentiful and often elaborate. The venue will seem as if one has stepped into Italy or England of a few centuries ago.

Wedding Invitations for an Old World European Wedding

One of the best ways to inform your wedding guests of the wedding theme is the invitation. For an Old World wedding invitation, elegant, flowing calligraphy is a must. The invitation itself is usually in a colour from a neutral palette such as beige or ivory, and any artwork may be reminiscent of a stone wall. Brides typically add gold leafing or gilded designs for a romantic feel.

You’ll want to be somewhat traditional with the enclosures of the Old World European wedding invitation. Be sure to include the RSVP and a response card for items such as menu choices. Any information regarding attire should also be included in the personal details included in the invitation.

What to Look for in a Venue for an Old European Wedding

For an Old World European wedding theme, the venue can provide much of the decor for your big day. Look for a venue with vintage character – antique stone or brick masonry and distressed walls. Bonus points for a venue that offers European architecture – Tudor, Baroque, or Greek Revival are all great examples of such. Keep in mind that a venue that offers this won’t need much in the way of decor or you could detract from the overall image itself.

For an outdoor venue, look for an established garden with sculptures, topiaries, and lush flowers across the landscape. A garden beside a body of water is also a perfect venue for an Old World European wedding.

Food for an Old World European Wedding

Weddings in Old World Europe often called for huge feasts with multiple courses during the meal and spicy, rich foods. Meat was a part of multiple courses of the meal, and in some time periods, between the courses, sweets and nuts were served.

Set up the reception area with long tables for an Old World European wedding theme. Offer multiple courses (this can be anything from soup to a salad), then offer a filling meal of roast pork or roasted chicken for the main course. Vegetables didn’t often have a large role in the Old World European meals, but potatoes were often served if veggies were desired.

Be sure to offer multiple pastries such as scones or tarts for a true Old World European feel.

Reception Decor for an Old World European Wedding

The reception area decor will depend somewhat on the venue. As one would when decorating the ceremonial venue, adding too much decor to a venue that already has the Old World European look will actually take away from the theme. Focus on the tables, the linens, and the centrepieces instead.

The long tables are only one part of the Old World European look at a reception venue. You’ll want to add benches rather than chairs, and the linens themselves will look a little different from traditional ones. They should be light and airy fabrics that will easily cascade down the sides of the table. Some decorators will layer these fabrics on top of one another for a romantic look.

Table Setting for an Old World European Wedding

Elaborate details are key when setting the table for an Old World European wedding theme. In fact, when it comes to the plates and flatware, items with gold leafing are perfect for an Old World European table setting. (Ironically, people in Old World Europe often didn’t use utensils, but, in keeping with adding a modern touch to your nuptials, be certain to offer them.)

Some brides will offer a menu for their guests as well as name cards. Try to keep these in the same motif as the invitations, typically ivory or beige parchment with gold calligraphy. If the menu and the name cards appear to have worn edges, all the better. Be sure to use traditional napkins.

Ceremonial Decor for an Old World European Wedding

Remember, if your venue is one that already exudes an Old World European feeling, then decor should be kept to a minimum. However, there are a few things that immediately evoke the style of the Old World.

Imagine a Tuscan garden in Italy – the green vines trickling down old stone walls are the epitome of an Old World European wedding. You can aid in evoking this feeling by using cascading floral arrangements throughout the ceremonial area.

One of the most important pieces of decor for an Old World European wedding is the candle – lots of candles, actually. Long tapered candles are the best ones for evoking an Old World European feel, and they should be in tall candelabras. However, thick pillar candles in vintage wooden holders are also acceptable.

Wedding Dresses and Accessories for an Old World European Wedding

Old World European wedding dresses were often made from romantic lace and layers of ruffles. These often possessed an opulent neckline, but also covered most of the body. So, long, layers of lacy ruffles flowing to the floor are the perfect example of an Old World European wedding dress.

Brides who are looking for a more traditional wedding dress may choose one with an A-neckline, lacy sleeves, and ruffled beading. Brides who desire a train can choose a dress with a chapel train for the big day.

As for accessories, some brides add flowers to their hair for the ceremony while other brides wear a long, lacy veil.

Wedding Cake Ideas for an Old World European Wedding

Brides will definitely want to choose a cake with multiple tiers; in fact, the taller the cake, the better! These cakes were often elaborately decorated with icing.

Some cakes may offer a more traditional three tiered cake covered with jewelled decorations and flowers as a cake topper. Your baker may be able to make sugar flowers or use fondant to make the topper. Other brides will opt for a cake that is decorated with buttercream icing and intricate scrollwork. This scrollwork can even be manipulated so that it appears to be lace covering the cake.

Menswear for an Old World European Wedding  

The men in the wedding party have a few neat options when it comes to clothing for the big day. Some grooms and their attendants will wear a vest matching the bridesmaid’s dresses or one that looks as if it is cut from very ornate cloth. They’ll pair this vest with a white button-down shirt and suit pants.

Some grooms and their attendants will opt for a more formal tuxedo jacket that is fitted at the waist and falls just below the hips in length. Grooms and the members of their party may also choose a more traditional suit in navy or charcoal gray for the nuptials.

Old World European Romance-Themed Wedding

From Ivy & Stone Photography – “For this wedding, editorial shoot Fuse Weddings and Events & ourselves drew from European inspiration, using various hues of dreamy blue and creamy neutrals as our colour palette. We wanted this wedding to feel like you walked into a beautiful old French château, with ivy covered walls and ornate detailing!”

From Ivy & Stone Photography – “Plum Pretty Sugar’s bridal robe was a perfect fit to start off any girl’s wedding day! The white silk robe was the perfect touch of feminine and pretty. We paired the robe with a tulle veil from Twigs and Honey. The veil was shoulder length and has different types of textures, which creates a depth to the piece.

The invitation suite was all hand written calligraphy by Karli Noel Calligraphy. It was done in gold lettering with accents of gold leaves. The envelope was a powder blue and had vintage stamps placed on it.

Our beautiful model is Michelle Money, formerly on the bachelor. She was a perfect fit for our romantic shoot!”

From Ivy & Stone Photography – “We used a misty blue gown from Anne Barge. The gown was absolutely amazing! We even discovered, towards the end of the shoot, that it had pockets. The hair styling was also French-inspired with intricate twists, making up the back of the hair. The style was enhanced by a beautiful piece provided by Myra Callan of Twigs and Honey.

We choose a vintage engagement ring by Trumpet and Horn. It was a Victorian-aged blue stone and matched perfectly with the dress.

The table-scape was amazing! Covered with blue and cream floral linen and fine china, it felt like you were whisked away to a beautiful European retreat! We choose to use a cream settee garnished with simple draping greens. We also had hand-painted Bride and Groom signs to add a personal touch. For the centrepiece we used fresh garden roses in hues of citrus and lavender. The bouquet was of similar design, tied together with beautiful Silk and Willow ribbon.

Credits: Photography: Ivy & Stone Photography // Event Planning: Fuse Weddings And Events // Floral Design: Flower Afternoon // Wedding Dress: Anne Barge // Cake: Flour and Flourish // Invitations: Karli Noel Calligraphy // Ring: Trumpet and Horn // Hair and Makeup: Versa Artistry // Headpiece: twigs and honey // Linens: La Tavola // Model: Michelle Money // Ribbon: Silk and Willow // Robe: Plum Pretty Sugar // Veil: twigs and honey // Vintage Rentals: Refined Vintage Events // Wedding Venue: La Caille in Utah.