Although we like to watch American weddings in movies, it would be a pity if beautiful Polish wedding traditions, of which we still have a lot, are lost in the meantime. A folk wedding allows you to draw on this heritage to varying degrees, even in a completely refreshed edition.
Folk wedding - the name can be confusing. Is it about a party where the Brathans and the Goth Brothers' hits will be played? That too, but it's not the most important thing about a folk wedding (which, incidentally, may shy away from such hits, yet they are played at almost every traditional wedding event anyway).
Folk wedding allows you to draw on the Polish traditions and history of the region. Not everyone sees the charm in driving up to a wedding hall that looks like the home of the Kardashians in a white Rollse-Royce. Dancing barefoot on the grass and familiar local food may be more appealing. Remember that the most famous Polish weddings often included elements of idyll and folk. Katarzyna Figura travelled by carriage to her wedding in a wooden church in the Chocholowska Valley, while Lara Gessler got married in a grove. The wedding was kept in a rustic atmosphere. Her famous mum described it as „like from Pan Tadeusz” and the media wrote that she looked „like a Switezian”. All this already gives you an idea of what a folk wedding can look like. Read more below.
Folk wedding - where did this idea come from?
Processions, braids, eating cakes – old Polish wedding it contained many beautiful elements that are now a thing of the past. They are replaced by weddings with great pomp, in the style of Hollywood. Sometimes, however, the photos show that neither the groom nor the guests feel at home in the glamor style.
Particularly today, moderation, what is local and natural is on trend. For many years, newlyweds have had to shy away from convention and numerous requirements, while the folk wedding is unpretentious and conducive to casual fun. This does not mean that its organisation is any easier than a regular wedding. The simple field flower decorations, as if freshly plucked from a meadow, which look so striking on Instagram, are sometimes the result of the meticulous work of the best florists.
Organization of a folk wedding - what should you remember?
Above all, remember that guests do not have to sit on hay bales or sleep in huts. Everything can be decorated with taste and all the comforts, but with a theme that refers to ancient traditions and symbols. Folk style wedding is an extremely graceful theme that allows you to buy everything at a low cost and locally: flowers, decorations or small gifts for your guests. This helps to create an unpretentious atmosphere in which everyone will feel at ease.
Interestingly, often folk wedding makes a colossal impression on guests from abroad. Bored with clichéd „international” style ceremonies, they leave the event enchanted by the richness of Polish culture. If one of the spouses is not from Poland, instead of a registry office in the city, it is worth persuading him or her to get married in a forest glade or at the Korona Karkonosze manor house. A folk wedding can bring the generations together, as grandpa will be happy to play the harmonium with his band, and grandma can be moved to tears by references to traditions from her youth.
Traditional menu for a folk wedding
Organizing folk wedding, It is worth taking care to provide an appropriate menu to emphasise the character of the celebration. Traditional regional dishes, such as pierogi, bigos or żurek (sour rye soup), will fit in perfectly with the atmosphere of the folk wedding. You should also consider serving homemade baked goods, such as yeast cakes or knot cakes, which will add to the charm of the folk wedding. In order to ensure the comfort of the participants, it is advisable to organise wedding with overnight stay in the mountains, which will allow you to fully immerse yourself in the regional atmosphere. If you're after a unique location, consider wedding in a tent, which will bring an even more special atmosphere.
Music and attractions for a folk wedding
Music plays a key role in creating the atmosphere at the folk wedding. Hiring a folk band to play traditional tunes will encourage guests to have fun and dance together. It is also worth organising the learning of regional dances, which will become an unforgettable attraction. folk wedding. In addition, handicraft workshops can be prepared, such as weaving garlands or making cut-outs, which will put participants in the mood for folk weddings. To emphasise the authenticity of the event, consider choosing a suitable venue, such as a wedding hall in the mountains, which, with its design and surroundings, complements the whole. If you are planning folk wedding in southern Poland, pay attention to a wedding venue in Lower Silesia, where traditional ambience meets modern solutions. It may also be an interesting idea to consider weddings with overnight stays, which will keep guests comfortable and allow for a longer celebration.
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Ideas for decorations for a folk style wedding
Folk wedding offers so many possibilities that it is impossible to list them all here. You can decorate them in style:
- Zalipia - inspired by a colorful, painted cottage,
- Łowicza - with cutouts,
- highlander,
- Kashubian,
- Slavic,
- ethno – with a band like Kapela Ze Wsi Warszawa or the so-called "dancing on boards"
and many, many others. Where to get inspiration from? A good wedding planner can help. You can also draw on your own traditions and ask your grandmother or parents what region the family is connected with. Such a party can also be inspired by the beauty of the local nature, as happens to couples who come to the Krkonoše Mountains for the first time.
Folk wedding - Bride and Groom's outfit
Equally rich are the possibilities when it comes to the Bride's folk costume. Some go all out and get married in Slavic costumes referring to old patterns. Others are inspired by literature - "Peasants", "Pan Tadeusz" or "Wesele". There are also women who choose a simple dress, but add to it a fragment referring to folk, such as a lace from Koniaków or a highlander's padanica.
For some, a discreet reference to the folk atmosphere in the accessories is enough. Above all, a bouquet of field flowers and discreet jewellery or a headband sets the mood. There is nothing more idyllic and girly than a garland on the bride's head. In fact, this is probably how our grandmothers looked on their wedding day. As you can see, a folk wedding as a theme is a bottomless mine when it comes to ideas for how the ballroom, the bride and groom's attire or the menu will look.
