Gypsy wedding reception ideas

It's interesting:
"What about the bride then, ladies and gentlemen? How wonderful she looks today. And Paul has scrubbed up quite nicely too – it’s amazing what a flannel and a bar of soap can do. But it’s a bit rude of him to have copied my outfit eh!"

Themed weddings receptions allow you to express your creative side and make an already momentous day even more special. Because the culture evolved over hundreds of years as their nomadic nature carried them across different countries, a Gypsy theme offers several options for a wedding reception. Using traditional and modern elements of the Gypsy culture, you can design a theme for your reception that not only pleases you and your guests, but creates a scene you'll remember fondly for years to come.

1. Setting

   • If the weather permits, consider holding your reception outdoors with a bonfire or a fire pit as the focal point. Depending on the size of your guest list, a tent may be another option. Traditional Gypsies carried their tents with them as they traveled in their "-vardos,"- or horse-drawn wagons. If you’-re holding your reception indoors, look for a setting with windows that offer a pleasant view of nature and allow in plenty of sunlight.

   Food

   • Traditional Gypsy food includes readily available items, such as leafy plants, berries, fruits, vegetables and small animals. For your wedding reception, try a thick vegetable stew or meat roasted over a fire on a spit. Serve side dishes of unleavened breads, fruits and berries, as well as beverages such as coffee, flavored teas, wine, beer and spirits. Create place-settings with colorful, mismatched flatware and silverware, reflecting the barter-and-trade lifestyle of the Gypsy.

   Music

   • Traditional Gypsy music heavily features violins, acoustic guitars and pan flutes, but through the years the musical style and flavor took on different elements, based on the areas to which the nomadic Gypsies traveled. Some Gypsy tribes incorporated the brass and wind instruments of the Balkans into their own style, while others incorporated the Spaniards’- flamenco music. Modern Gypsy music typically combines a wide range of traditional European folk music. For your wedding reception, seek bands that can reproduce folk music of European origin, or hire a disc jockey with a well-rounded selection of instrumental folk music.

   Dé-cor

   • Bright colors, flowing fabrics and flashy jewelry are mainstays of the Gypsy culture. Create glowing centerpieces with brightly colored candles, or make terrariums in bottles to display on each table. Cover your tables with colorful tablecloths, and drape jewel-colored scarves or scraps of fabric over chairs, on wall sconces or around centerpieces, taking care to avoid areas that may pose fire hazards, such as candles or light fixtures. Sprinkle jewels, beads and charms on tabletops and scatter gold or silver bangles around centerpieces.

   Party Favors

   • Fortune-telling has long been associated with Gypsies. Capitalize on this history by including tarot cards as party favors, as well as small crystal balls or individual tea bags for tea leaf readings. Consider hiring a party entertainer who gives palm readings or interprets tarot cards and tea leaves for your wedding guests.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: wedding reception, folk music, your reception, your wedding, your wedding reception, around centerpieces