Go gypsy at your wedding
Gypsies were nomadic ethnic groups that settled mainly across Europe, Turkey and North Africa. Although many scholars argue about their origin, it has been widely believed that Gypsies (or Romani) originated in Northern India about 1,000 years ago.
Their lifestyle of travelling from place to place, their love of colour and free-spirited nature have inspired couples to have gypsy-themed weddings, especially since 2011. Two of the reasons for this were: the launch of the popular British TV series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and the celebrity wedding of model Kate Moss which was infused with a great deal of gypsy “style.”
Here are some ways you can incorporate a gypsy “feel” to your wedding:
Fashion
Gypsies favoured Bohemian-styled long dresses with full skirts. Their gowns often incorporated lace. Scarves were worn on the head in place of veils. You can replicate this by having an off-the-shoulder styled gown made of vintage lace. Gypsy women also tended to wear jewelry in the hair, head bands, coin collar necklaces, chandelier earrings, copious amounts of bangles and metals with an antique look, eg, tarnished silver or gold. Many Gypsies also braided their hair, so perhaps a braided bridal hairdo would work well for this theme.
Entertainment
Many Gypsies became well-known for tarot card readings and fortune-telling. They were also renowned musicians and entertainers, particularly on the accordion, tambourine and the fiddle. To create an authentic gypsy vibe at your wedding, try to get some of this type of music or better yet, live musicians or fortune tellers.
Transportation
Traditionally, Gypsies moved around via caravans pulled by horses. Although a caravan will be hard to find, perhaps try staging some of your wedding photos on horseback or amongst horses.
Décor
Many Gypsies were skilled at metal work and basketry. To bring extra authenticity, you can perhaps incorporate these items into your centrepiece or give them as favours. Gypsies also favoured lanterns and bright colours such as turquoise, emerald green, pink, red and gold.
Venue
The gypsy lifestyle centred around the outdoors and they were also known for erecting tents out of mismatched fabrics and patterns. Therefore, if you’re having a gypsy wedding, the ideal venue would be somewhere outdoors, perhaps at a stable or large open air area that can be tented.
