Ringsted Medieval Festival

I am so thrilled, not only is my city hosting a medieval festival August 2012, but I am voulentering this year! Not sure what I'll be doing yet :) but I can't wait to get started. When the festival was last held in 2010 and Robert and I visited both days. The engagement rings was also bought there by one of the vendors with a 12-1400 inspired pattern:

Actually I have been talking to a woman who got married there a few years back. I have seen the pictures and I think it looked amasing.

Just wanted to share this amasing news with you :-) and drop off a few photos of the Ringsted medieval Festival if any Danish bride could be tempted to get married there. The great thing about this festival is that they take pride in not mixing thime periods, they even take care not to confuse late and early medieval clothing. There's not any fantasy vendors or renaissance clothing to confuse the guests. Somehow I really appreciate that, as much as I fancy fantasy myself.

Medieval Restaurants of the world

There actually are quite a few restaurants in the world that has a medieval experience to offer. I would like to share a list of them with you, and maybe you'll get lucky and one of them is near you.

Denmark:

Den Gyldne Svane - part of a museum and very serious about their food. Presently they are cooking like it's 1401 AD. It's a restaurant for everyone in the day time and only open for parties on request at night.

Sweden:

Sjätte Tunnan - The year is 1435 in Stockholm, open in the evening and they have a cool website. They do host parties I believe. The rooms are very cosy and sets the perfect mood. The menu also looks very good, all from goat cheese baked turnips to hog with rosemary.

Spain:

La Casa Grande - My spanish isn's sufficient to tell you what's on the menu, but I do know that they offer a medieval experience in a big banquet hall fit for queens and kings. If you can't afford the castle this is difinately an option. From what I can gather, it's a part of a museum.

Czech republic

Anno Domini 1471 - in Praque is not the huge royal hall but rather the small intimate medieval tavern, that in spite their modest appearence holds the possibility for an amasing wedding for the food range from royal to peasent. Like many of these specialised restaurants they only use ingrediences avaliable in the 15th century and base their menu on recipies of the time.

Italy:
Gallo Nero - I don't know any italien, but their website caught my eye.They have a medieval menu for a medieval couple and nice rustic surroundings with dark wooden tables and candlelight.

Belgium:
Restaurant Cosy - is situated near the castle Chateau Bouillon and also offers rooms for the night. They also have a very fine describtion of how a medieval banquet would unfold, the seriation of the courses and what medieval source they use for their recipes.

Estonia:
Olde Hansa - in Tallinn is a beautiful restaurant with a wide range of choices for your wedding banquet, such as Royal Hunting Feast or Merchant Guild's Saturday Feast. They also have a small shop and live medieval music from time to time.

Canda
L'Auberge du Dragon Rouge - yet another medieval restaurant with the facilities to hoist a wonderful medieval party. They offer 5 different banquets, but you better check out their website yourself :) my french isn't the best either.

Latvia
Rozengrâls - lies in the city of Riga and on their menu they have small explanations of where they got the recipe from. It's my impression that it's a big place that could easily acommodate a wedding party.


Please do write to me if you know of any restaurant that offers the same medieval magic in your country so I can add it to the list.

The medieval centre - our location revisited

Today we went down to visit our venue and try the food. We had a few questions for the manager as well so Robert and his sister with her boyfriend and I took the long drive there. It's only about a year now before the wedding so it was the perfect time to go and see our venue at the right time of the year and decide where the ceremony is going to happen.
We initially thought that we would be wed on the hill with the trebuchets overlooking the fjord, but when we took a walk around the centre a much more beautiful spot appeared to us by the lakeside near the Naust - where the boats reside in wintertime - and with a view of a bridge, a ship and the small town they've built. It's easier to just show you:

Robert is standing where we will be at the ceremony

The Medieval Centre is actually building a small replica of a medieval church right next to this spot, so we'll be married just outside the church as was custom at the time! Don't know if they'll get it done in time though. In case it rains the Naust can probably fit the wedding party so we are still able to get married "outside" if it's storming. :P:

The Naust

We also tasted the food at the restaurant "the Golden Swan"and it was goooood. I ordered the Grilled Smoked pork with stewed cabbage flavored with saffron. It's heavy food but really, I enjoyed it:

From our talk with the manager Allan we got an idea of how seriously they are about being historically correct. I love that, although it makes me feel like a bit of an amateur, which I am, of course. This blog is written on what information I can pick up everywhere. I try to be critical and selective and I just hope that what I pass on to you is usable.
A lot of things fell into place today and I feel relieved. Especially because the big day is getting more and more real and fantastic the closer I get. We saw a jousting tournament at their jousting arena too and I must say: I like that olde game.

Finally I got plenty of photos of the restaurant and although it's a bit dark in there my wonderful camera had no problems catching the light:

I really can't wait now. Robert and I are certain it's going to be a perfect wedding for us. I hope you can find a venue to match your expectations. :)

Location for the party

The location is always important in a theme party because if you find the right venue then half the work with setting the mood is done. I have disvocered that in Denmark it's far easier to find rooms from around 1700 than medieval times and I have seen some medieval couples settle for these locations. But the fact is that gold mirrors and traces of Roman/Greek architecture have nothing to do with the middle ages and it's a shame to have a lot of beautifully medieval dressed guests when they'll look awkward in the all too modern halls.
There are a variety of choices though fitting for the theme, some more expensive than others but all equally good.

The Castle:This is probably the most expensive solution but very convincing for your guests. Many old fortresses or castles will lend their rooms out for weddings, even those which are presently museums. The downside is that you rarely are allowed to bring with you your own drinks and food, so the owners of the castle will have you pick a menu from some fine restaurant they are working with. Usually this means very fine dining but not medieval meals. The castles also often allow you to sleep there with the entire wedding party for an extra payment. You really can't get closer to the knight like scenery than a fortress but this is mainly possible in a European context, I am not so sure about America. Just remember that not all castles are from medieval times, and some was renovated later.
Here is an example from Denmark. It's a fortress in Kolding, where you can rent the old halls.

Outside, in a big tent:The cheaper but also very wonderful option demands some attention to details that you will have to deal with yourself. You have to rent a tent, additional toilets and a kitchen tent and a generator for power (if you aren't near any of those facilities.) Depending on the time of year you may also need some heaters. The floor will also often be rented by itself and then of course you need table, chairs, personal, plates and so on. There is a lot to juggle but it is also a wonderful way to throw a medieval party. You are close to nature and can set it all up in any location you might choose (if only you remember to ask permission if the land is not yours). So you can dance the night away in beautiful landscapes/forests/fields. This may also fit a knight but peasant will also do nicely.

On a re-enactment medieval fair:All over the world people who are interested in medieval come together each year in markets where all dress according to the fashion of the time and sell items related to medieval. Often a wedding is welcomed, but you will probably have to deal with a lot of attention. It is possible to eat away from the crowd as the other participants usually have an area where the public won't enter. It is the ultimate way of setting the right move and if you aren't too shy you can get married in the middle of it all. Obviously it makes your wedding less private, but all locations have their disadvantages. It will probably not be very expensive and you can prepare a whole roast suckling pig on a grill (very easy and medieval-ish).

In a barn:Often old Manors have these huge barns that are a perfect setting. There can be difficulties finding one with proper kitchen facilities, but it is worth is. They have an air of the ancient halls of knights and with some torches and flower wreaths they can look just right. Sometimes the ones you rent it from will already have chairs and tables and maybe even a chef with at wedding menu. This will also fit both the rich and the less rich theme.

Medieval manors:There are also some old manors from the medieval who will rent out their rooms for weddings. This might not be as fancy as the castle, but definably also a choice to be considered. Sometimes they have their own restaurant and as with the castle they often have accommodations for sleeping guests. These manors often have these feast halls that make a great background for the reception or party.

Restaurants who specialize in medieval food:They are rare but they do exist. In Denmark we have one, which is a part of the Medieval Centre Museum on Lolland-Falster: the Golden Swan. I know of at least one other in Budapest called Sir Lancelot Medieval restaurant. This arrangement is the one that we chose as it had
1: the medieval environment, 2: the exact food they ate in medieval times 3: the experience with this sort of theme 4: The management has a lot of contacts in the re-enactment business and might help you with other details, such as clothing, 5: All is included as opposed to the tent solution where you have to get the facilities, the location, the food and much more by yourself.
We are also getting married on the sight as it is beautifully located by the ocean. The example is the Sir Lancelot medieval restaurant.

Museums:The last recommendation is medieval museums who likes to rebuild some houses like they appeared back then. Sometimes you can rent their biggest replica house, (if it's big enough to fit everyone). It won't always be written on their homepage if they rent out, so try calling or visiting to ask. Sometimes there will be a cafe or a restaurant who can provide the food, and on other occasions you will have to get a catering firm.