Ancient Roman Wedding Theme Celebration

Break out the togas! Invite your guests to an ancient roman wedding celebration ceremony and feast with this historical period wedding idea.

Wedding Colors

The Romans were fond of purples, reds, gold, and white.

Ancient Roman Wedding Attire

The Roman's wore more elaborate and richly adorned clothing than the Greeks. They also began wearing the "new" fabrics of cotton and silk (although silk was frowned upon). Jewelry was very popular as well and worn extensively. Toga's were oval in shape and measured 18 feet long x 5 1/2 feet wide.

• Bride:
  
Select a floor length, sleeveless, toga-style dress, either in pure white or trimmed in purple, gold or red. Wrap gold braided cord to criss-cross the front of the bodice and wrap around waist like a belt. Allow the tied ends to hang down over one hip. Attach a sheer train to the back of the dress at the waist. Finish off with gold-colored ankle-strapped flat sandals and a gold laurel wreath as a headpiece. Carry a bouquet of Lilies, Orchids, a single Italian Crocus or herbs (the herbs were believed to ward off evil spirits).


• Groom:
  
The groom should wear a floor-length tunic or toga, trimmed in gold, purple or red. Add Roman sandals or leather boots for footwear and a laurel wreath for a headpiece. You could also add a Paludementum cape - a floor-length cape cut in a half-circle and richly decorated.


• Bridesmaids:
  
Dress is very similar to the bride's. Floor length, white tunic with no trim. Braided cord sash wrapped at waist (you may want to also do the criss-cross over the bodice). Ankle-strapped sandals and a dried flower wreath headpiece.


• Groomsmen:
  
Knee length tunics with short sleeves. Add a sleeveless over-tunic in a leather-like material and a short cotton cape. Calf-high leather boots or sandals and Roman style helmets to complete their outfits.

• Color photocopy a world map focused on Italy and make your own invitations using the map copy.
  
  
• Cut your invitation into the boot shape of Italy.
  
  
• Use postcards of Rome instead of regular invitations.
  
  
• Print your invitations on parchment-like paper and roll into a scroll. Seal with wax. Mail these invitations in small round tubes so they don't get crushed.
  
  

• Give small bottles of Caesar salad dressing with personal labels attached.
  
  
• Present your guests with embroidered table napkins. It was the custom for wedding guests to bring their own cloth napkins to weddings and other large events. Once the event was finished, guests would fill their napkins to take home any leftover food. You could add a small card that explains this custom.
  
  
• Hand out small bottles of red or white wine with personalized labels.
  
  
• The Roman's love scented baths, so give your guests small glass bottles filled with bath oils or salts.
  
  

• Cover tables in white linens and drape a decorative cloth over the top gold lame.
  
  
• Large bowls of fruit make perfect centerpieces: apples, pears, grapes, etc.
  
  
• Another centerpiece idea would be to use gold-colored birdcages with a pair of love-birds inside. (Stuffed, craft birds, not real ones).
  
  
• Use tall pottery vases filled with wheat stalks as centerpieces.
  
  
• Scatter rose petals around the center of the tables.
  
  

• Tall Roman columns which you could rent if possible, or create yourself from large cardboard tubes (try checking carpet stores or local hardware stores). Wrap ivy down the columns and place urns with flowers on top.
  
  
• Drape garlands of ivy or myrtle in front of tables, across doorways, etc.
  
  
• Use large pottery urns and bowls for serving food and drinks.
  
  
• Other items that Romans often used were sundials, bird baths, reflecting pools, marble garden benches, large pillows and comfortable reclining couches.
  
  

• Jugglers, magicians, acrobats, poets and minstrels were popular entertainment choices during this period.
  
  
• For music, the most popular instrument was the lyre. Other instruments used were the lute, organ, kithara (a type of guitar), flutes, tympani (tambourine), trumpets, panpipes, harp and drums. Try to hire musicians that can play these instruments. They could stroll around during dinner, and would also be appropriate for playing music before and after the wedding ceremony.
  
  
• You could also hire a masseuse to give short foot and shoulder rubs to your guests.
  
  
• The Romans also like to play many board games and ball related games. You can read more about the variety of games played at Roman Board Games and Roman Ball Games
  
  

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