It was Cate Blanchett who, with her outing on the big screen in Shekhar Kapur’s 1998 film Elizabeth, the story of England’s great Queen Elizabeth I, reignited our passion for all things Tudor. Of course in recent years we have seen the successful TV show The Tudors which again fuelled the flames of a Tudor revival and the film The Other Boleyn Girl. Our love for this historical period of love, passion and excitement has certainly not waned as the years have gone by.
So, if you’re looking to stage a Tudor-themed wedding, Leez Priory is the ultimate venue. This beautiful mansion with its distinct red brick (a big part of the Tudor aesthetic), is set in a whopping 40-acres of parkland, which includes lakes, lawns and a grand driveway – perfect if you’re looking to have a wonderful stately entrance, befitting a Tudor queen.
The mansion itself is home to 15 bedrooms and a Great Hall, which can seat up to 74 guests, as well as other rooms. There’s also a newly refurbished Coach House, ideal if you wish to have a more rustic setting for your wedding reception. With this gem of historical magnificence at your disposal, there’s so much you can do to create a Tudor themed affair that will blow everyone away.
With a Tudor wedding, it’s good to mix a bit of the old with a bit of the new. There’s no need to go exactly to accurate details, unless you want to that is, but a bodice and flowers in your hair would not go a miss. The Wedding World Blogger wrote a marvellous post on the fashions of the time, which will give you a good start on piecing together ideas for your outfit. Starting with the head wear: “Head wear, until recently in our society, was vital for a proper woman. In Tudor times it was still expected that most women would have their hair covered, or mostly covered, at all times. If a woman went with her head uncovered it was considered improper and immodest. One of the most iconic head wear from this time period is the Hood.”
A Little Less Ordinary
With this theme there’s so much out of the ordinary you can do in terms of activities and decor, such as exchanging the crystal glassware for pewter mugs and plates, having church candles centred in a helmet from an antique suit of armour, the Great Hall has ample room for you to think big for decor. In terms of activities, having your guests practice some archery by the lake is a novel idea or a bit of Tudor dancing to a lute solo in the Great Hall. Much like this couple featured in Offbeat Bride, who “went seriously all out” writes Catherine Clarke “with birds of prey, archery, pumpkin carving, and guests dressed in Tudor garb. The bride and her crew created a lot of the historical decor including wands, floral decor, and all of the boys and bridesmaids outfits.”
For floral decorations this is a time to go for those colours that conjure up images of regal splendour. As Weddings and Flowers puts it: “Colours should be rich and strong, draw inspiration from jewels – ruby red, emerald green, amber, topaz. Think of textures – tapestries, velvet, hessian and heavy silks.”
By delving into the history books and with an added pinch of imagination, you will be able to create the most spectacular Tudor wedding at Leez Priory. Please get in contact for more information.
