Costumes

Accessories

Decorations

COSTUMING SUGGESTIONS:

• Try this link for Medieval Hairstyles

• Dress up an old dress by addding shimmering fabric, gold cord or even fake fur.

• Feeling regal? Get a piece of velvet material from the fabric store for a cape add some fake fur. Or spray paint a curtain rod gold for a staff.

• Change the color of a dress or outfit by spray painting it.

• Women, don't forget a headband!

• Make your own cress or coat of arms and add it to your outfit. (see some designs below) A cress can be easily made out of felt and attached with safety pins or velcro.

 

• Construct one long table for dinner-- Use a brightly colored piece of fabric for a runner.

• Make the peasantry and the Jester entertain the nobility-- It was common for the king and/or the nobles to demand their lower class comrades to "make them laugh" before they could continue on with their evening.

• Have the guests eat entirely with their hands. (Silverware? What is silverware?)

• Decorate by hanging plastic shields and swords on the walls (find some at a local party store).

• Drape brightly colored fabric on the walls like banners. (Purple and gold metallic for royalty!)

• Provide juggling and dancing as forms of entertainment between courses of the meal.

• Have a trumpet sound effect announce guests as they arrive.

• Make your own shields (see patterns above)

• Print all of the materials for the game on parchments to make them more "authentic".

• When the characters read the introduction, investigation report, evidence presentation & solution, have them presented on a scroll.

• Have an unfinished basement set up as the dungeon.

• Have candles flickering about.

• Hold the party in an old pub.

• Dig a moat around the venue (just kidding!)

• Create a backdrop and have your guests pose in front of it for pictures.

Serve a Medieval Feast-- Begin dinner with soup or broth, bread, & cheese. Follow with green vegetables, a meat dish of lean pork or chicken, or perhaps fish, accompanied with sauces, then move on to the heavier and fancier items, in smaller portions. End with sweets and spiced desserts. Serve wine and ale throughout the entire meal, or if the event is non-alcoholic, use apple cider, grape juice, lemonade, water, etc. Just don't let your guests go thirsty! Divide the various dishes among two or three courses, serving each course in its entirety and leaving time for talk, music, & entertainment for guests between courses.

Serve turkey legs or chicken on the bone-- Perfect for having your guests eat with their hands (as they did in the olden days).

Medieval Feasts-- Try some of these Medieval Recipes.

Misc. Fact: Origin of the Wedding Cake-"In medieval England, guests brought small cakes and piled them on the center of a table. The bride and groom then attempted to kiss over them. A baker from France conceived the idea of icing all the small cakes together in one large cake." (Aug/Sept issue of Modern Bride)

 

Musical selections from this time period are hard to suggest since there is little documented. Here are a few suggestions, though:

Instrumentals: There were many simple instruments that were used to entertain. Try finding some music from the harp, flute, pan flute, mandolin, organ or lute. Find it here.

Theatrical Soundtracks: Since little is known, try using soundtracks from movies from the time period. Braveheart, Camelot, or for some humor Monty Python's Search For The Holy Grail.

For Free Music-- Visit your local library for a number of compilations from the time

Provide an assortment of accessories to help your guests "get into character" include items such as: swords, shields, headbands, scarves, etc.