RENAISSANCE BETROTHAL FEAST

 Theme Concept: A shower or  engagement party fit for a king & queen.   

Guest of Honor Profile:  For a romantic pair with a sense of history, appreciation forclassic literature, or, a bawdy lot of wenches and knaves.            

Invitations: “Here Ye” Scroll.  Many stationary stores have preprinted paper that resembles a scroll or you can use parchment paper.  Print information on paper, roll up paper, and tie a ribbon around the center.  For an extra touch affix a tassle to the ribbon.  Mail in a cardboard cylinder.  If your budget allows purchase custom designed scrolls.

Invitation Verse: Here Ye, Here Ye! Announcing the Betrothal of Scott & Ann    (print shower information)

Décor: Ask guests to come in costume.  Give them references and movies to watch such as Robin Hood if you think it necessary.  If an annual Renaissance fair occurs in your area, call the city office or chamber of commerce and find a contact person for the fair.  The contact may have access to costumes, or props such as a maypole or stockade.  Create miniature maypole centerpieces for the tables.  Purchase 1-inch diameter, plastic PVC pipe from a hardware store and ask them to cut the pipe into 1 foot lengths. Place a floral oasis in an 8-inch diameter, lined, ceramic flower pot.  Insert plastic pipe in middle of oasis.  Insert flowers and green filler into oasis around pipe.  Wrap ribbon up pipe, similar to look of a barber pole.  Cut different colored ribbons into 1 foot lengths, gather ribbons at 1 end and knot.  Insert knot into top of pipe and secure with tape.  Insert small bunch of flowers into top of pipe as finishing touch.  Twist each ribbon like a corkscrew and affix ends to rim around ceramic pot with a dab of super glue.   

 Menu:  Roasted turkey legs, Stuffed Cornish Game Hen Beef stew, Beer in pewter mugs. 

Cake Décor: Decorate a rectangular cake to resemble a scroll with a saucy congratulatory message on top.  Purchase cake decorator’s gold dust along with regal colors such as purple, burgundy, and hunter green from a cake supply store. Mix the dust with vodka (see Cake Decorating page xxx) and paint fleur de lis symbols and curly lines on the cake sides.  Paint a border on the cake top and script words inside the border.  

Games / Activities:  Engagement parties do not generally have organized games but a theme such as this can easily have an activity.  Ask the outgoing and comedic friends of the engaged couple to prepare a skit, ala Fairy Tale style.  The tale should be set to music and tell of their first meeting, the courtship, and, the marriage proposal.  Ask close friends for their input, and, act out different versions of the events from both the bride & groom’s perspective.      

 Music: Instrumental music from the Renaissance period, or soundtracks from Robin Hood or Camelot.

Party Favors: Give all women a flower wreath (see CRAFTS) to be worn around their head when they arrive.  Give all men a small cloth pouch with miniature liquor bottle inside.

  Theme Substitutions 

THEME TITLE	THEME CONCEPT	PARTY TYPE
Renaissance Wedding	Same only the couple is married.