For girls and ladies only! - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Folwren · 12-08-2006, 12:39 PM

Hello, fellow ladies.

Due to recent discussions with my two sisters about what we would like our wedding dresses to look like, I am led to ask this question -

What do you suppose Eowyn and Arwen and other women and elven females would be married in? What sort of dresses? What designs? What sort of sleeves? How wide or how fancy a skirt? A train? What about hobbits? A simpler more country like dress?

I would like to see responses on this. I hope this thread is appropriate. I would be terribly embarrassed if it were not.

You see, I am interested in the answers I get here because my dress I intend to be very elven/fantasy like, light materiel, flowing, but simple. I dislike modern, off shoulders/no shoulder (practically no top) wedding dresses. I think the big, round, heavy satin skirts are pretty, but I don't like them for myself.

I am going to be married in an oak wood in late spring or early summer when that tender green is out...
Not this up coming spring or summer, you understand (unless, of course, God sends around the right man this winter), these are just my hopes and dreams for my wedding.

-- Folwren

Valier · 12-08-2006, 12:45 PM

Oh my godness Folwren!! You give the same reasoning and description of a similar dress style I would like for myself. Soft and flowing with just the neck and shoulders showing perhaps. Very Elven I think. I will try and post some pictures of similar gowns that I have found.

I would love to be married in the spring as well when evrything is so fresh and vibrant, but I like the idea of an Autumn wedding as well. What about colour? Do you go all white or more softer with creams or pastels for the gown?

Folwren · 12-08-2006, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valier

Oh my godness Folwren!! You give the same reasoning and description of a similar dress style I would like for myself. Soft and flowing with just the neck and shoulders showing perhaps. Very Elven I think. I will try and post some pictures of similar gowns that I have found.

Neck and shoulders is gorgeous, though too low on the shoulder's isn't. What is more, Mom would never approve of off shoulders for me. I would do a wide boatneck, I think, which is very elegant.

Quote:

I would love to be married in the spring as well when evrything is so fresh and vibrant, but I like the idea of an Autumn wedding as well. What about colour? Do you go all white or more softer with creams or pastels for the gown?

I am going to go with white for myself, with perhaps some light blue embroidery around the neck. My bride's maids are going to be in white dresses with a very, very thin (extremely thin) green chiffon covering it that will give it a suggestion of a green tint.

But that brings to mind another question - were brides in ME married in white? Or did they have other colors? Blue? Cream?

-- Folwren

shieldmaiden4xsword · 12-08-2006, 12:56 PM

I'd go white... I don't like those backless, topless, strapless, etc dresses at all! LOL

I'd like something short sleeved and not that low necked. But i don't think my taste is very elven. Folwren, that sounds gorgeous!!!

Rikae · 12-08-2006, 12:59 PM

Hmm...I guess I imagine an elven gown would be flowing and not too wide; made of light fabric, maybe with sheer, draped overlay-ish things and really delicate, intricate embroidery in white-on-white or silver (leaves, vines etc) and a twig/vinelike tiara? Probably a simple "scoop" neckline with embroidered trim or maybe an underlayer, like a chemise, and long, maybe sheer, sleeves that would come to a point or bell out. Something really graceful & ethereal.
Hobbits? Yes, something more country-ish, in a warmer tone of white, maybe sort of a renaissance type thing with a lace up overdress over an underdress & a fuller skirt, and maybe with other colors incorporated ... maybe some golden yellow? And of course, a garland of fresh flowers!
What about dwarven brides? Beribboned beards?

shieldmaiden4xsword · 12-08-2006, 01:03 PM

do dwarven brides wear dresses?

I guess mine would have short sleeves, not too full, scoop neckline, white.

What about jewelry?

I remember one of Eowyn's neckalaces that just went around her neck. Not too tight and not too big. I like neckalaces like that.

mark12_30 · 12-09-2006, 04:30 AM

I think Arwen's coronation dress (in the movie) is pretty good. And I love that headpeice, the silver butterfly thing.
My own wedding dress was very classic because I knew that's what my huband liked: sweetheart neckline, puffy shoulders, long fitted sleeves, low v-waist, modest train.

But if I were to plan an elvish wedding, I guess I'd be heavily influenced by the "visions" (yes, in the movie) of elves heading for the Grey Havens. Sea-colors. Soft greens and blues for the bridesmaids. Lots of soft, shommering and flowing fabric that moves well.
--Helen

Bêthberry · 12-10-2006, 01:15 AM

Interesting question, but I guess we would first have to ask what kind of marrigae rites the elves and the men have before discussing wedding apparel. I believe there was a rather heated debate on the old Lonely Star RPG discussion thread about the nature of elven troth. And, given the absence of other aspects of religious life such as churches and sacred holydays and rituals, one might consider if wedding practices in the sub-created world would mimic those of the Primary World.

Would there, for instance, be any examples of the dowery system? Droit du seigneur? Would any of the species--elven, dwarven, human or hobbit--have hens and stags or, as some times occurs in North America, stag and does? Before planning the wedding dress, shouldn't we first determine whether there would be weddings per se or not?

I'm not trying to shred your lovely ideas of gowns and dresses, just putting in some Middle-earth context.

12-08-2006, 12:39 PM	#1
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	For girls and ladies only! Hello, fellow ladies. Due to recent discussions with my two sisters about what we would like our wedding dresses to look like, I am led to ask this question - What do you suppose Eowyn and Arwen and other women and elven females would be married in? What sort of dresses? What designs? What sort of sleeves? How wide or how fancy a skirt? A train? What about hobbits? A simpler more country like dress? I would like to see responses on this. I hope this thread is appropriate. I would be terribly embarrassed if it were not. You see, I am interested in the answers I get here because my dress I intend to be very elven/fantasy like, light materiel, flowing, but simple. I dislike modern, off shoulders/no shoulder (practically no top) wedding dresses. I think the big, round, heavy satin skirts are pretty, but I don't like them for myself. I am going to be married in an oak wood in late spring or early summer when that tender green is out... Not this up coming spring or summer, you understand (unless, of course, God sends around the right man this winter), these are just my hopes and dreams for my wedding. -- Folwren __________________ A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. - C.S. Lewis

12-08-2006, 12:45 PM	#2
Valier Twisted Taleswapper Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: somewhere between sanity and insanity Posts: 1,706	Oh my godness Folwren!! You give the same reasoning and description of a similar dress style I would like for myself. Soft and flowing with just the neck and shoulders showing perhaps. Very Elven I think. I will try and post some pictures of similar gowns that I have found. I would love to be married in the spring as well when evrything is so fresh and vibrant, but I like the idea of an Autumn wedding as well. What about colour? Do you go all white or more softer with creams or pastels for the gown? __________________ grand return?........

12-08-2006, 12:56 PM	#4
shieldmaiden4xsword Wight Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: where people stick out their tongues at their youth pastor.... Posts: 183	I'd go white... I don't like those backless, topless, strapless, etc dresses at all! LOL I'd like something short sleeved and not that low necked. But i don't think my taste is very elven. Folwren, that sounds gorgeous!!! __________________ Sometimes the peril is not in what is around us, what enemies or trials that may come, but what is in our own hearts.

12-08-2006, 01:03 PM	#6
shieldmaiden4xsword Wight Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: where people stick out their tongues at their youth pastor.... Posts: 183	do dwarven brides wear dresses? I guess mine would have short sleeves, not too full, scoop neckline, white. What about jewelry? I remember one of Eowyn's neckalaces that just went around her neck. Not too tight and not too big. I like neckalaces like that. __________________ Sometimes the peril is not in what is around us, what enemies or trials that may come, but what is in our own hearts.

12-09-2006, 04:30 AM	#7
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	I think Arwen's coronation dress (in the movie) is pretty good. And I love that headpeice, the silver butterfly thing. My own wedding dress was very classic because I knew that's what my huband liked: sweetheart neckline, puffy shoulders, long fitted sleeves, low v-waist, modest train. But if I were to plan an elvish wedding, I guess I'd be heavily influenced by the "visions" (yes, in the movie) of elves heading for the Grey Havens. Sea-colors. Soft greens and blues for the bridesmaids. Lots of soft, shommering and flowing fabric that moves well. --Helen __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

12-08-2006, 12:59 PM	#5
Rikae Mellifluous Maia Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A glade open to the stars, deep in Nan Elmoth Posts: 3,489	Hmm...I guess I imagine an elven gown would be flowing and not too wide; made of light fabric, maybe with sheer, draped overlay-ish things and really delicate, intricate embroidery in white-on-white or silver (leaves, vines etc) and a twig/vinelike tiara? Probably a simple "scoop" neckline with embroidered trim or maybe an underlayer, like a chemise, and long, maybe sheer, sleeves that would come to a point or bell out. Something really graceful & ethereal. Hobbits? Yes, something more country-ish, in a warmer tone of white, maybe sort of a renaissance type thing with a lace up overdress over an underdress & a fuller skirt, and maybe with other colors incorporated ... maybe some golden yellow? And of course, a garland of fresh flowers! What about dwarven brides? Beribboned beards?

12-10-2006, 01:15 AM	#8
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	Interesting question, but I guess we would first have to ask what kind of marrigae rites the elves and the men have before discussing wedding apparel. I believe there was a rather heated debate on the old Lonely Star RPG discussion thread about the nature of elven troth. And, given the absence of other aspects of religious life such as churches and sacred holydays and rituals, one might consider if wedding practices in the sub-created world would mimic those of the Primary World. Would there, for instance, be any examples of the dowery system? Droit du seigneur? Would any of the species--elven, dwarven, human or hobbit--have hens and stags or, as some times occurs in North America, stag and does? Before planning the wedding dress, shouldn't we first determine whether there would be weddings per se or not? I'm not trying to shred your lovely ideas of gowns and dresses, just putting in some Middle-earth context. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.