Love the horses? "Then you are off to a good start if you are
thinking about a
Kentucky Derby themed wedding." Held on the first Saturday of
every May, you can plan early because you always know what day it will
be held. You can hold your wedding and
reception at "THE" Kentucky Derby Mueseum or in your own home
town. It's all about the decorations.
Key points to include for a fabulous party/reception, include:
Mint Juleps
Bluegrass Music
Roses,
Lucky Horse shoes.
Bourbon Bar
Country Setting or at the Kentucky Derby Itself
Let the men wear seersucker and the ladies wear fabulous
hats.
Invoke the southern style of the Derby and be sure to have Bourbon on
hand.
First things first. Decide where you will have the wedding/reception:
Venues that can be used:
If you want to "stay in town" and can rent or know someone who owns a farm;
choose the country setting. Decorate with an upscale country
motif. Remember, the Derby is a very classy event where everyone
dresses up. You can get
married between the barn doors (which will act as curtains); and decorate with
roses and/or country inspired floral arrangements. A tent can be
used for the reception area where you can decorate with copper kettles full of flowers;
or even crystal decor. If possible, include chandelier or candle
lighting.
If possible saddle up the wedding party and
guests and make a mad dash for Kentucky's Churchill Downs.
Situated at Gate One of the world-famous racetrack is the just-renovated
Kentucky
Derby Museum., which offers two options for wedding receptions. The great hall, an oval space, smacks of
an indoor racing track and is surrounded by a 360-degree screen (great
for video and slide-show presentations), and the walls are graced with
equestrian imagery. The Carl F. Pollard Gallery exists for smaller
receptions, and affords views of the Churchill Downs entrance from five
arched windows. In fact, professional guided tours of the track can be
arranged for your guests. Throughout the event, guests will have access
to all museum exhibits, and may even want to stop by the stables to look at the horses housed there.
From elegant outdoor ceremonies to fun and memorable
receptions, their onsite wedding coordinator will guide you through the
planning process. And remember, the week prior to the Derby is
full of festivals and acitivites .
Maxium guest capacities:Great Hall: 300; Carl F. Pollard
Gallery: 120. T Kentucky
Derby Museum., (502) 637-1111; 704 Central
Avenue, Louisville. For
rental
information you can also Click Here.
Another grand choice is the
World Peace Bell Exhibit
Center, where the beautiful sound of ringing wedding bells follows the
conclusion of many nuptial ceremonies.
Many couples choose to marry on the bridge leading out to the bell --
it's housed in an etched glass and steel pavilion that recalls L'Arc de
Triomphe in Paris. The World Peace Bell will ring at the close of your
ceremony, and then guests can move into the exhibit building for a
small-ish reception (maximum capacity 100) on the second floor. You'll
work from a list of preferred caterers including the Syndicate, a
popular banquet facility right across the street that also offers a
convenient post ceremony setting for larger, more formal parties. World
Peace Bell Exhibit Center, (859) 655-9500; 425 York Street, Newport.
Don' forget to also check out
Wedding Mapper;
a new online community that connects engaged couples and wedding professionals in local
markets around the worl
d where you can read actual recommendations
from people who have had their weddings at the Kentucky Derby.
The Invitations
Theme your invitations with a clipart photo of horses or roses. Below are a few that we found:
Colorful Horseshoe
You're a lucky pair! Announce your good fortune to family and friends with this
ecru z-fold invitation featuring your first names, wedding date and a colorful
horseshoe and sunflower design on the front. A verse of your choice is printed
on the middle panel. Your wording appears on the right panel. Matching
enclosures complete the ensemble.
Lucky Pair When you've been lucky in love, this is your invitation! A pair of horseshoes and "Lucky in Love" accent the top of the ecru Tea Length invitation card, which is printed with your wording. The card slips inside a deep brown pocket for a great presentation. Tie with jute cord (sold separately) for a finishing touch. The horseshoe design is also printed on enclosure cards. The design and all wording are printed in the same ink color. Assembly required.(Size: 4" x 9 1/4")Lined inner envelopes are not available for this invitation.
Kentucky Derby Invitations
available at: finestationery.comFine Stationary.com
Food can be anything, just think Southern …fried chicken fingers, crab cakes, black-eyed pea relish, hush puppies, pork rinds, country ham on a biscuit;
pecan tarts and cocktails. The Mint Julep is the traditional (adult) beverage of choice for the Derby. There are many recipes for this drink….here's just one to get you started: Boil 2 cups sugar, 2 cups water for five minutes and pour over 8-10 sprigs of fresh mint. Cover and refrigerate overnight. To make the juleps, pour equal amounts of bourbon and mint syrup over cracked ice. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint. This drink is traditionally served in an iced silver cup, but if you don't have plenty of these on hand, it tastes just fine in a plastic cup. For a non-alcoholic Julep, try pouring ginger ale and a tablespoon or two of mint syrup over ice
(remember, if there are children at the wedding, they will want to be included.) Garnish with a fresh mint sprig.
And, if you really want to impress your guests, serve
SeaBiscuits™ for dessert
and/or as a favor.
SeaBiscuits™ are peanut butter filled milk chocolates embossed with a racing image of the great Sea Biscuit. They are large (2" long x 1-1/2" wide, like a cookie) and incredibly delicious.
The Decor
Stick with the racing theme. Include horse shoes in their various
forms, roses, perhaps a racehorse or jockey ice sculpture; or a chocolate horse poured from an antique mold.
Make sure you have a big screened T.V. placed somewhere so that your guests
can actually watch the big race. Get the actual list of starters from that
day's paper or online sports source. Prominently display the actual list of
starters.
The Derby is known as "The Run for the Roses," so be sure to display a big
bouquet or roses. And/or incorporate roses and horse shoes into your
table centerpieces. The shoes on the right can be purchased by the dozen
at a very reasonable price.
APPAREL & ACCESSORIES ... "BLING IT ON!"
Traditionally women wear big hats on Derby Day; the bigger
and more embellished ... the better. To add
some real spice to the fun, be sure to include hats as suggested attire for
the ladies in your invitation. You can also suggest white gloves, hand fans and
any other girly upscale dress up items you can think of. The men:
Hats, Ties, Dress Coats. Seersucker is a great treat to see as well.
As far as dress code.
Summery spring colors are perfect. Dressing up is a must. You can
use horsey themed brooches on scarves (Check out:
INDIGO HORSES SILK SCARF);
shoes or boots with a western theme; such as: Anne Michelle by Journee Western Peep Toe PumpsPeep toe pumps from Anne Michelle are fun and fashionable Horseshoe buckles and croc print accents make these stiletto heels ideal for dress or casual wear Women's shoes feature a patent leather upper with metal studs Heel measures 3.5 inches high Available in black, red and white color optionsClick here to view our women's shoe sizing guide Patent leather upper Man-made sole Model number FLARE-35X-1Imported
Peep toe pumps from Anne Michelle are fun and fashionable
Horseshoe buckles and croc print accents make these stiletto heels ideal for dress or casual wear
Women's shoes feature a patent leather upper with metal studs
As far as the bride and bridesmaids, dress the way you want. Again,
spring and summer colors are best. One dress that we just love is the "Shelley
George Lulu Dress" It's feminine and ruffly which screams of spring, summer
and femininity!
Jewelry should also be horse themed: Here are a few of our
picks. You want something beautiful ... not cheesy.
1/2 Carat Diamond 14K White Gold Horseshoe Pendant w/Chain1/2 Carat Diamond 14K White Gold Horseshoe Pendant w/Chain Free Shipping on orders over $150. Without a doubt, the most commonly encountered lucky charm in modern North America is the horseshoe. Your jewelry collection will not be complete without this piece. Crafted in lustrous white gold this pendant is studded with bright diamonds and hangs on dainty chain. ICE
10K Two-Tone Gold Diamond Accent Interlocking Horseshoe Pendant10K Two-Tone Gold Diamond Accent Interlocking Horseshoe Pendant This 10K two-tone gold pendant features two interlocking horseshoes with prong-set round diamonds. The pendant's 18.0 inch rope chain has a spring-ring clasp. This item is only available online
Good Luck Charm Pendant in 10K Gold with Diamond AccentsGood Luck Charm Pendant in 10K Gold with Diamond Accents With this collection of charms, you are sure to have luck follow you all through the day. The charmed life awaits with this 10K gold pendant of a four leaf clover, horseshoe and wishbone all bedecked with radiant diamond accents. The style is triple the luck. The rope chain is 18.0 inches in length with a spring-ring clasp. This item is only available online.
Juicy Couture Horseshoe Wish Necklace Polished gold metal Jewel-encrusted horseshoe pendant; logo-engraving at back Lobster clasp with signature "J" engraving and crown-etched accessory Chain length adjusts to 18" Packaged in a Juicy Couture gift box
And, don't forget the Groom.
Paul Smith Good Luck Cufflinks
Polished silver metal and enamel One cufflink is an enameled four-leaf clover;
the other is a horseshoe Packaged in a black Paul Smith presentation box with a
striped grosgrain ribbon lid pull.
You
can also incorporate a rose necklace to keep the rose theme going. This
handmade creation is offered in partnership with NOVICA, in association with
National Geographic.Product. This is a stunning natural rose necklace
Preserved and displayed on a sliding necklace, the flower is a declaration of
love.
If you can afford a somewhat expensive favor of around
$10.00 ... these make great reusable gifts and souvenirs.
Mint Julep Cup - 10 fl oz This nickel plated mint julep cup will keep your favorite derby drinks nice and frosty, you can bet on that. Enjoy an authentic Kentucky Derby mint julep the way it was intended in with this 10-ounce mint julep cup. With an easy to engrave face, it is simple to personalize it with the name of your favorite Southern Belle or a true Kentucky Gentleman. Sip on this: Each year, almost 120,000 mint juleps are served over the two-day period of the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby. A feat that requires over 10,000 bottles of Mint Julep Ready-to-Serve Cocktail, 1,000 pounds of freshly harvested mint and 60,000 pounds of ice.In stock and ready to ship.FeaturesEasy for almost any jeweler to engrave if desired.Frosts on the outside for best possible taste. SpecsMade of polished nickel over brass.Dimensions: 3 1/2”W x 4 1/4”HCapacity: 10 fl oz
Last but not least, below are a few items you can use as your
bridal accessories. The pen set, ring bearer pillow and garter. All
of course with the lucky horse shoe theme.
Love the horses? "Then you are off to a good start if you are
thinking about a
Kentucky Derby themed wedding." Held on the first Saturday of
every May, you can plan early because you always know what day it will
be held. You can hold your wedding and
reception at "THE" Kentucky Derby Mueseum or in your own home
town. It's all about the decorations. 
