Steampunk Weddings

First of all apologies as this week's update is a little late! First of all there were hassles with my web host (hosting the www.the-elegant-wedding.com) and then the Easter Bunny arrived, with the holidays she brings (not to mention the Easter eggs!) however we're here to talk about weddings of course, so without further ado...

This week I thought I'd write about the steampunk theme. What is steampunk? For those who don't know or have never heard of this theme before, think Victorian era meets science fiction...think Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Terry Pratchett, the latest incarnation of Sherlock Holmes in the movie theatres with Robert Downey Jr... It's Victorian dress crossed with technology and industrial machinery like steam trains and flying machines, lots of brass, copper and metal offset by velvet and lace - what a combo! And, it has a huge following. So, for couples out there who want a Steampunk-themed wedding, there are some great resources out there online for you to find, however I've tried to gather up a few for you right here to save you some trouble. :)

The dress code for the wedding party is purely Victorian. I came across a terrific place called the Steampunk Emporium which has a great range of costumes for sale. I especially love the women's Victorian outfits. It says on their website you can buy entire outfits if you like, or just separate pieces to mix and match, which I think is a better idea as it gives you more flexibility. OR, an alternative, if you are someone (or you know of someone) who is handy with a sewing machine, you could probably whip some of these costumes up yourself - but make sure you give yourself enough time to do it! I also came across this, Steampunk Your Wardrobe: Easy Projects to Add Victorian Flair to Everyday Fashions (Design Originals) which has some great ideas to adapt the clothes already sitting in your wardrobe into steampunk clothing.

My very first Steampunk themed wedding invitation...what do you think?

...and this is the back.

The venue? Well, anything that is already old, or can be converted to temporarily give it the Victorian theme necessary for the look. Any historical setting for hire such as old restored brick warehouses and historical mansions, museums and halls, Victorian or Edwardian-themed restaurants.

Don't forget, steampunk always includes transport of some kind, so what about an old railway carriage, trams or even hiring an entire railway station or platform? There are historical railway societies all over the globe, and there may very well be such a group in your local area too. For instance, here in Melbourne there is the wonderful Puffing Billy historical steam train that offers a train ride to an old country hall beside the railway tracks. In Melbourne we also have the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant, which has a lovely Victorian feel and would be great for more intimate wedding parties. For the truly adventurous, there's always hot air ballooning! Flying machines are always featured in steampunk stories, so what could be more ideal than to either get married in one, or right next to one? And of course there are steamships, although of course, it mightn't be very easy to find a steamship at short notice! I did a little research however, and did come up these finds:

* Isles of Shoals Wedding Ceremonies & Receptions . (If you are fortunate enough to be in the vicinity of New Hampshire).

* Loch Lomond Steamship Company in Scotland;

* For Seattle brides there is the wonderful Steamer Virginia V

And finally, if you have a friend or know someone who has a boat of any kind, if you have your heart set on taking to the high seas, a little imagination and some steampunk decorating can take you a long way!

Below are some more great ideas and inspiration for your Steampunk wedding. Have a great one!! :)