A Masquerade Wedding: Guide To Planning Your Magical Ball

Planning a wedding can be a stressful task, but incorporating a theme like a masquerade ball can make the process more enjoyable. A masquerade wedding is a unique and whimsical theme characterised by ornate masks, costumes, and an air of mystery and intrigue. The couple and their guests typically wear elaborate masks decorated with feathers, lace, crystals, beads, and other intricate details. Here are some tips to help you plan your dream masquerade wedding:

- Choose a venue that complements the theme: Consider historic mansions, ballrooms, or chateaus that evoke a sense of individuality and grandeur.

- Set the mood with lighting and decor: Opt for dim, ambient lighting like chandeliers and candles to create a romantic and mysterious atmosphere. Decorate with opulent and luxurious items such as drapes, feathers, and velvet.

- Select the right masks: Choose masks that match your wedding colours and theme. You can opt for monochrome masks or coloured masks to match your bridesmaids' dresses. Consider adding feathers, crystals, or other embellishments to make them stand out.

- Incorporate the theme into your attire: As the bride, you can choose a dress that aligns with the formal and luxurious atmosphere. Rich fabrics like satin, lace, or velvet in deep colours such as ivory or champagne, or even bold hues like deep red or black can be a stunning choice. The groom can opt for a classic black, navy, or burgundy tuxedo or suit, with a subtle or elaborate mask to match.

- Offer masks to your guests: Provide masks for your guests, either as favours or by displaying them near the entrance for guests to wear throughout the event.

- Create a masquerade-themed menu: Offer bite-sized appetizers, elegant hors d'oeuvres, or a refined three-course meal. Spice things up with dramatic cocktails like red velvet martinis or dark and stormy cocktails.

- Entertainment and music: Hire entertainers like masked performers, dancers, or a live band to enhance the masquerade ambiance. Play around with the music, from classical waltz to modern EDM and hip-hop.

- Send invitations that set the tone: Create elegant invitations with a clear theme and dress code. You can include silk, feathers, and glitter, or go for a more mysterious approach with a silk-covered invitation box containing a mask.

Invites: Silk-covered invite boxes or DIY invitations with feathers and glitter

If you're looking to host a masquerade-themed wedding, the invitations are a crucial part of setting the mood and giving your guests a glimpse into what to expect. Here are some ideas to consider for your invites:

Silk-covered invite boxes

Add a touch of luxury and elegance to your invitations by presenting them in custom silk-covered boxes. You can choose from a variety of fabrics such as Thai silk, suede, brocade silk, velvet, embroidered lace, or even paper. These boxes can be customised with monogram embroideries, foil-stamped crests, or silk-screen printed artworks. Include a mask inside each box for an extra touch of mystery.

DIY invitations with feathers and glitter

If you're feeling crafty, create your own invitations adorned with feathers and glitter. Opt for moody colours such as deep plum or dark grey, or go for classic black invites with silver or gold writing and an embellished printed mask. Feathers, rhinestones, crystals, and pearls are all perfect embellishments to capture the essence of a masquerade ball.

Other ideas

• Embellish your invitations with brooches, silk-screen printed artworks, or foil stamping.
• Consider using gatefold or hinged lid designs for your invitations, adding a touch of sophistication and surprise.
• If you're feeling adventurous, host a surprise masquerade wedding on Halloween, where guests will already be in the spirit of dressing up.
• Carry the masquerade theme throughout the entire event, from the invitations to the ceremony, using consistent colours, styles, and formality.

Dress code: Full costumes or just masks? Black-tie or casual?

Masquerade weddings are a unique and whimsical theme, and as such, they offer a lot of room for customisation. The dress code is an important aspect of your wedding, and there are a few things to consider when it comes to a masquerade ball.

Firstly, decide whether you want your guests to wear full costumes or just masks. This is an important distinction to make in your invitations, as it will help your guests prepare and know what to expect. If you opt for full costumes, you can provide links to costume rental shops or online stores where they can purchase their outfits.

If you decide to go for just masks, you can still make it a fun and interactive experience for your guests. Provide a variety of masks in different colours and styles, so they can choose one that suits their personality and outfit. You can also offer masks with sticks, which are perfect for photo opportunities and dances.

Regarding the level of formality, masquerade weddings are typically black-tie events. This means that guests are expected to dress formally, with men wearing tuxedos or suits and women in long, full-length dresses. The colour palette for a masquerade wedding usually includes dark, rich colours such as black, navy, burgundy, and jewel tones.

However, you can also put a unique twist on the dress code by incorporating specific themes or colours that match your wedding's aesthetic. For example, you could suggest that guests wear masks with feathers, rhinestones, crystals, or pearls.

For the happy couple, the dress code can be even more creative. The bride can opt for a sophisticated and mysterious theme, with a dress made of luxurious fabrics like satin, lace, or velvet in deep, bold colours. The groom can also join in on the fun with a classic tuxedo or suit, with velvet or satin lapels adding a touch of luxury. Their masks can be as subtle or as elaborate as they like, with the groom donning a sleek Venetian-style mask or something more extravagant.

Ultimately, the dress code for your masquerade wedding is up to you. Whether you choose full costumes or just masks, black-tie or casual, your guests will surely create a magical and memorable atmosphere as they celebrate your special day.

Music: Rousing classical music or modern music like hip-hop and techno?

Music is an important part of setting the mood for your masquerade wedding. If you want to go down the traditional route, a suspenseful waltz or other rousing classical pieces can add to the theatricality of the event. The waltz from Aram Khachaturian's incidental music for a production of Mikhail Lermontov's play, "Masquerade", is widely considered one of the finest and most popular pieces of classical music.

However, modern music works just as well for a masquerade wedding. Many modern masquerade wedding playlists include hip-hop, techno, and other popular music. If you're looking to keep things simple and budget-friendly, a playlist with plenty of Mozart will do the trick.

If you can accommodate a band, nothing says "masquerade wedding" quite like waltzing to the live music of a well-trained string quartet.

Decor: Opulent and luxurious, with feathers, crystals, and candles

The decor for your masquerade wedding should be opulent and luxurious, with feathers, crystals, and candles to create a romantic, mysterious atmosphere. Here are some ideas to achieve this:

• Drapery: Drape the walls of your venue with velvet fabrics in deep, rich colours such as burgundy, dark green, or dark blue. This will create a luxurious and intimate atmosphere.
• Candles: Use candles to create a soft, romantic glow. Place them on tables, and use them to guide your guests inside, with candles lighting their way through dimly lit doorways. For safety, you may want to opt for LED candles.
• Fairy lights: Add charm and mystery with unique LED garlands featuring paper elements such as flowers or butterflies.
• Flowers and Greenery: Large foliage and greenery can fill empty spaces with pops of colour. Consider using oversized peacock feathers to line the aisle or guide you down the aisle, creating a unique aesthetic.
• Crystals: Drape crystals around centrepieces, chairs, or floral arrangements to add a touch of glamour.
• Feathers: Use feathers in your decor to add to the extravagant mystery of the masquerade. Incorporate them into your centrepieces, or hang them from the ceiling.
• Table Decorations: Create monochrome table decorations by filling glass vases with sparkling crystals and decorative pearls in a single colour or a combination of colours. Add ostrich feathers (white, black, or pink) and illuminate with a thin flashlight or mini LED garland.
• Centrepieces: For a show-stopping centrepiece, consider a large mirrored piece with beads hanging from it, reflecting the mirror base. Alternatively, you could opt for tall candles with beads hanging down and feathers around the base.
• Lighting: Opt for dim lighting, ideally from chandeliers, to create an intimate and mysterious atmosphere.
• Colours: Choose a colour palette that reflects the elegance and sophistication of your masquerade theme. Consider the classic combination of black and white or deep, moody hues such as red, deep plum, and mauve.

Food and drink: Dark-coloured cocktails and elegant finger food

When it comes to food and drink, a masquerade wedding is an opportunity to get creative and lean into the mystery and intrigue of the occasion. Here are some ideas to help you plan a memorable spread for your big day:

Cocktails

Dark-coloured cocktails will add to the allure of your masquerade ball. Here are some cocktail ideas that fit the theme:

• Champagne or Prosecco with a twist of orange
• Dark rum and ginger beer
• Campari and orange juice
• Gin and dry vermouth, garnished with a green olive
• Bourbon with simple syrup, Angostura bitters, and a lemon twist

For a masquerade wedding, consider incorporating spirits and flavour profiles from a bygone era to create a signature cocktail. Flute-style glassware filled with bubbles and a hint of blackberry liqueur, or dark and stormy cocktails, are also popular choices. Don't forget to include non-alcoholic options as well, such as mocktails, for guests who prefer them.

Elegant Finger Food

The best masquerade ball food is elegant finger food that is easy to eat while socialising and dancing. Here are some ideas to inspire your menu:

• Hors d'oeuvres: elaborate and tasty finger foods such as mini muffaletta sandwiches, shrimp skewers, or party sandwiches.
• Sweet treats: cream cheese king cake, a Mardi Gras tradition, or chocolate mousse.
• Medieval-inspired foods: rolls, twice-stuffed potatoes with sour cream, corn on the cob, and chicken legs.
• Vegetarian options: party sandwiches filled with chickpea salad, served with a fresh veggie platter, and dairy-free chocolate mousse.
• Beauty and the Beast-themed: a gourmet cheese board, tortilla pinwheels, and chocolate mousse ("the grey stuff").

To keep things simple and elegant, you can serve contemporary food on vintage or antique-inspired plates, such as gold vessels, adding a touch of glamour to the evening. Passed hors d'oeuvres during cocktail hour will perfectly set the tone for the evening, and you can never go wrong with classic main courses like filet mignon or pork loin, served with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables.

Frequently asked questions