Beautiful Baroque:Music for Weddings
and Special Moments
From the producers of Harmonia: a collection of timeless baroque wedding music, also great for other ceremonies and special occasions.
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This collection of classical wedding music is available from CD Baby and individual tracks are available for download from iTunes.
Baroque Wedding Traditions
Food and Drink | Clothing | Location and Decor | Links
Food & Drink
After the ceremony at the church, the wedding party returned home for the celebratory feast. Oftentimes, and among the wealthier classes, the dinner was elaborate and expensive, lasting up to 7 hours!
Pietro Brueghel (c.1525-1569): Peasant Wedding, c.1568
Kunthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Food served at baroque wedding feasts typically included meats and fish, such as mutton (lamb), venison, eel, boar, squab (pigeon), peacock, quail, and pheasant. Fowl was popular at feasts, and the goal was to try to get the bird to look as life-like as possible. Cooks would put all the feathers and head back on the bird in order to recreate how the bird would have looked when it was alive.
Bread, eggs, and cheese were also served, along with fruits and vegetables, such as braised lettuces, leeks, shallots, parsnips, turnips, apples, and plums.
Wooden boards with a central hollow for the meat and gravy and a small side hollow for the salt were frequently used as tableware. But as glass and porcelain factories were flourishing during this time, items such as tureens, sauceboats, and wine glasses were becoming commonplace at important meals – so don’t feel constricted by tableware.
Caravaggio (1573-1610): Supper at Emmaus, c.1600-1601
National Gallery, London
Common spices and herbs used for seasoning were pepper, cinnamon, cloves, mace, saffron, ginger, anise, nutmeg, parsley, basil, galingale, rosemary, and thyme. The basic drinks until the 17th century were water, beer, ale, wine, mead (a thick, fermented beverage made of honey, malt, and yeast.), and milk. In fifteenth and sixteenth century France, the wedding couple would drink wine or eat a piece of fruit "in the name of marriage" to seal their marriage.
In the 16th century, sugar was becoming increasingly popular, so sweetmeat (small treats such as candied fruits or nuts) and sweet seasonings would have been common among members of the aristocracy. Almonds were revered as fertility charms and blessing for marriages, in Italy, almonds were distributed to foster a fruitful union.
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Clothing
During the Baroque era, wedding dresses were elaborate versions of the styles of the day, and could be any color, as the white wedding dress is a tradition that did not start until the 1800’s. Red was often worn as a symbol of fertility, and rich dress colors such as black and purple were a status symbol, as only the upper classes could afford these expensive dyes. Bell or trumpet sleeves and elaborate bodices were common. Gem or fur trimmings often accented the dress, and wedding dresses were typically made up of as much fabric and lace as possible, to create a full skirt.
Ball at the Court of Henry III of France
from: Boucher, "20,000 Years of Fashion"
The groom could wear a tunic or luxurious coat, and if he does not feel comfortable wearing the authentic tights or leggings with his outfit, tighter-fit pants will suffice. To find your outfits, begin by borrowing some books from the library, or searching the internet for a style similar to what you and your partner might like to wear.
François Clouet (c.1505-1572): King Charles IX of France (1569)
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Baroque wedding attire, depending on social standing and country, could be simple and unadorned, or fancy and elaborate. Once you have a few sketches, pictures, or photos of what you would like your dress to look like, you can choose to have a well-referenced seamstress specializing in Medieval, Renaissance, or Baroque garb make your outfit, or buy it from a period costume retailer or website. Members of the wedding party can choose to rent their costumes if that is a more convenient or cost-effective option.
Hair was often worn loose and flowing, with a garland of flowers and herbs covering the head. One of the most prevalent garlands was made of rosemary and roses, orange blossoms and wheat were commonly used to symbolize fertility and prosperity, and garlic was sometimes woven in to ward off bad spirits! In England in the late 1500s, brides would often carry marigolds dipped in rosewater during the ceremony, and eat them afterwards, as they were thought to be an aphrodisiac.
Alessandro Allori (1535-1607): Maria de Medici (1540-1557)
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
As time progressed, hairstyles became more elaborate. Braiding sections of the hair from the temples, or creating a bun high on the forehead, was sometimes used for a bridal hairstyle during the late 17th century.
If you’re going for more of a high class, late-period Classic look (such as Marie Antoinette), big hair, beauty marks, and accessories such as fans and gloves are essential. If you would rather channel the late-Renaissance look, go with loose hair, simple, earthy accessories such as flowers, and soft make-up.
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Where to Wed & Decorations
As far as a wedding venue, you have endless options available. Many places of worship have the grandeur of a Baroque-style wedding, and a reception or banquet hall could also work well. Or you might seek out a venue with a Medieval or Gothic look, with stained glass, stone, and dark wood adornment. For the reception, a wonderful way to have an authentic Baroque feel would be to have a long table for the dinner, with the groom and bride seated in ornate chairs, and a large area for dancing and speeches.
Diego Velázquez (1599-1660): Las Meninas, 1656-57
Museo del Prado, Madrid
Outdoor weddings are also well-suited to a Baroque theme. Choose a well-wooded area, or use a tent to create intimacy. If you want to go all out, consider hosting your wedding at a Renaissance faire or Medieval dinner theater. You’ll have an Olde Time vibe, and you and your guests will enjoy the entertainment after the ceremony. Having your wedding at a Renaissance faire ranges from $500 - $5,000, and often includes food.
Adorn your wedding site with banners in dark red, emerald, or gold, with the names of the bride and groom, family crests, or the wedding date. Use flowers such as lilies, roses, and orange blossoms as decoration, and accent with ivy, grapevine, or ribbons for an authentic feel.
Food and Drink | Clothing | Location and Decor | Links
Links and Resources
Food & Drink
- Medieval and Renaissance Wedding Customs
- Renaissance Trivia
- Medieval and Renaissance Food
- 17th Century English Recipes
- Medieval and Renaissance Wedding Feasts
Clothing
- Early Modern Fashion
- 1650-1700 in Fashion
- Dress in 17th Century Europe
- Fashion Through History
- Female Baroque Costumes
- Female Baroque Hairstyles
- A Chronological Look Through Fashion History
- 17th Century Costumes
- Flowers for a Period Wedding
Where to Wed & General
- Renaissance Wedding: Finding a Ceremony Site
- How to Plan a Medieval or Renaissance Wedding
- Renaissance Wedding Ceremonies
Food and Drink | Clothing | Location and Decor | Links
Assistance Provided by Josephine McRobbie
Photos Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons