Medieval Costumes for a Renaissance Wedding

Medieval clothing was usually simple in construction.

Renaissance festivals are celebrations in which participants can dress in historical clothing, typically Renaissance or Medieval, and enjoy plays, music, food and shopping along with other historically-themed activities. It is not uncommon to get married at a Renaissance festival, as the entertainment is readily available and the atmosphere is enjoyable for a wedding. However, your guests might be unsure of what they should wear if you have a Medieval-themed wedding and want your guests to dress the part.

Medieval Men

Fabric in Medieval times was expensive, so only nobility wore excessive amounts of fabric. A peasant or a lower class man of Medieval society would have worn a short, loose shirt belted around the waist, short wool trousers and boots. If it was cold or raining, a short cloak and a simple leather cap might have been worn. Noble men would have worn similar clothing, but shirts, coats and trousers would have been longer or layered and would have been made from fine cloth decorated with fur and embroidery. The groom, best man and groomsmen will most likely want to wear clothing that resembles that of nobility.

Medieval Women

Like lower class men, women would have worn simple clothing with little excess cloth. Plain dresses belted at the waist or hips and sleeveless tunics were the normal attire for peasant women. A peasant woman might cover her head with a type of cap called a wimple and wear a shawl in the cold. Noble women wore simple but close-fitting dresses with very long, luxurious trains. Large, hanging sleeves with heavy embroidery or fringe were also in fashion. Noble women often wore elaborate hats and jewelry as well. The bride, maid of honor and bridesmaids will most likely want to wear clothing resembling that of noble ladies.

Colors and Fabrics

Wool, linen and leather were the materials available to Medieval peasants. A guest dressing in peasant clothing might want to choose muslin or broadcloth for his or her costume. Nobles had access to finer fabrics. Silk, satin and brocade are appropriate for a guest dressing in noble clothes. As a general rule, peasants wore colors that were much duller than those of nobility, both because they could not afford more expensive and effective dyes and because the clothing became worn much more quickly than that of nobility. While white is a traditional color for brides in modern weddings, brides in the past wore many colors. However, if the bride wants to stay with modern tradition, cream, off-white, pearl gray and pale blue are good choices, as Renaissance festivals are often quite dusty.

Finding Costumes

There are many ways for you and your guests to find costumes. Sewing machines and complex sewing techniques were not available in Medieval times, so sewing your own costume is not very difficult and there are many patterns available. You can also hire someone to sew a costume for you or order one online. This option is particularly suitable for the bride, groom and bridesmaids, who will most likely want a more high-quality costume. For guests, Renaissance festivals often have several vendors who will rent them a costume for the day. This is a very simple option for your guests to participate in the theme of the wedding.

References

• BBC: Wintertime Survival in a Medieval Sherwood Forest; Richard Rutherford-Moore; December 2002
• Medieval Life and Times: Medieval Peasant Clothing
• Medieval Life and Times: Medieval Noble's Clothing
• Medieval Life and Times: Peasant Dresses
• Medieval Life and Times: Medieval Clothing
• Annenberg Learner: The Middle Ages -- Clothing