It’s a line of seduction from an old movie . . . “come to the Casbah. . .” and it had all the elements of seduction–beckoning with that forbidden-fruit kind of appeal; a starry, moonlit night; flickering candles reflecting off brass, mirrors, and mosaics; curtains of rich, beaded fabrics; and certainly mystery and a sense of the unknown: because how many people do you know, who actually know what a casbah IS?
A casbah, in northern African cities (most notably, to us westerners, in Morocco), is the “old quarter” of a city, rather like the French Quarter or Vieux Carré in New Orleans. Often these cities had grown out from being contained within a fortressed citadel, and as the city has spilled out around it, that walled-off citadel remained the heart of the city’s ethnic, cultural and historical center. So an invitation to the Casbah was to share an insider’s glimpse of its old, rich culture, generally somewhat sheltered from outsiders, with a vitality and rhythm all its own.
If you’d like to bring that sense of exotic intrigue to the beauty of your wedding . . . come to the Casbah.
Where would we begin, putting together a Casbah Wedding? First, you need to know in advance that while there are ways to economize (I’ll include them) in putting together this look, it involves a lot of “stuff”–and so it will not be your cheapest theme idea. Second, look over your reception room to be certain this theme will work for you; does it already have too much of a theme of its own, or a clashing color scheme? Ideally it will need to be somewhat neutral, or colors that won’t make the incoming palette look out of place. (If it’s mauve, you’re barking up the wrong tree.)
So, let’s think back to those rich, beaded fabrics and start with plenty of color–rich, darker jewel tones (think rubies, sapphires and emeralds) rather than brights, along with the accenting shimmer of metallics in gold, copper and brass.
The quickest way to add décor pizzazz is with the design of your centerpieces and tabletops–they are the bulk of what the eye will take in when looking over a room; and, up close, it’s where your guests will be seated as they visit and eat, so this décor will literally be in their faces. And so, for the most part, the elements of this theme will be focused on tabletop décor.
If your venue offers table linens of white or ivory, either will work as your “base” table covering for both dining tables and serving tables. If you need to rent your table linens, I personally would prefer ivory over white for this look, simply because it lends a slight feeling of antiquity that would be typical for a Casbah setting–but the truth is, the lights will be low, with flickering candles, so either will do just fine. (If you are renting, and have the budget for them, many rental shops have tablecloths in a pale gold crushed satin, and this too makes a fabulous “base” for this table design.)
At this point, you will need to sit down with your venue manager or wedding planner, and discuss how many tables you will need for your target number of guests; and whether you prefer round or rectangular tables, and how many of each. Sketch out a rough drawing of the reception area, experimenting with the layout for your tables (it’s easiest to make the sketch, then cut out colored pieces of round or rectangular paper so you can move them around until you’re satisfied, then tape them in place.) This will tell you how many tablecloths you need, and of what dimensions. If the venue is providing the dining tables, you will need to know what they have on hand, and how many of each size and shape, so that you can augment the total from a rental shop if necessary–provided that there is sufficient room. (You don’t want to end up with only one square yard for a dance floor.) Often if a venue only has “X” number of tables, it’s because that is what will seat the greatest number of guests that can be comfortably accommodated there; do be guided in this by the venue manager, since he/she will have set up far more weddings in this space than you have.
Once you have a listing of the tables you need, and their measurements, consider whether you want your tablecloths to be floor-length (the most elegant look, covering all table legs) or shorter. If you are working with what the venue has, so be it. But do have a plan for your “base” table material for every single table. Aside from the dining tables, you will need cloths for the bar (possibly 2–but usually the bar has only the “base tablecloths, with no table-toppers or further décor); the cake table; cake service table; the sweetheart table if the couple will be seated at a small table by themselves, or end-to-end rectangular cloths for a “head table”. Possible other cloths needed will be for a punch bowl table, if any; the guest book table (depending on the table–if it’s a nice, small table, it may need no cloth; the gift table; a table on which you may wish to display photos of the couple growing up, or other family photos (again, if this is a nice, finished table, it may need no cloth). And of course, if you are serving your meal buffet-style, you will need cloths to cover the long buffet tables, whether in the center of a space or against a wall.
If your venue has a large banquet table on which your meal will be served buffet-style, you may wish for this one table to go for a more colorful or texture-rich choice of tablecloth, from a party rental shop, with a runner down the center*, perhaps trimmed with beadwork. I have seen these in a variety of stores such as Ross or Tuesday Morning, but these stores must be shopped on a quick-trip basis fairly frequently when you’re seeking a particular type of item. They may also be found by Googling “beaded table runner”. For a centerpiece to this larger table, you might search thrift shops or eBay for a “miscellaneous” collection of brass pieces–vases, jars, taller candleholders, jugs with tall, narrow “necks”, etc.–with a brass tray for them to sit in, studded with dark-red tealights or arranged around an abundant tumbling display of fruits such as oranges, pears, and grapes, which would again imply the display of a bazaar marketplace. * The runner down the banquet table center is because sometimes the rented cloths are not large enough, and you will need to overlap them in the center; the runner covers this overlap.
To layer some color onto your tabletops (this will require being able to sew a straight, simple hem on the sewing machine), check fabric stores for sheer organza fabric in several tones to make table-toppers–rust, burgundy, olive, gold, bronze–the variety of colors will help to create a “bazaar” type of effect (what Casbah would be complete without its bazaar marketplace?), yet will still be subtle, because since the fabric is sheer, it will only give the tabletops a “wash” of color, not strong colors that might look a little too patchwork-y–while we do want color, we still want elegance. The fabric will usually come in a 45” width; sometimes 54”. For round tables, you will need square table toppers. Because you are limited by the width of your fabric, you will buy 45” or 54” (according to the width) for each round table, to give you squares. (Table toppers can also be rented; and are usually larger, so that they hang over the edges of the tables–but don’t worry about it.)
For longer tables, buy fabric the length of table plus 21” (after hemming, this gives you a 10” overhang at each end; whatever width you have on the table top will be fine; it doesn’t need to hang over on the sides, or can hang over only a little.) So measure all the tables, add up all the inches needed for each table and divide by 36 (36 inches per yard)–this is how many yards of fabric you will need, either all one color if you prefer, or divided into lots of 2 or 3 different colors (but count out each table, don’t simply divide the number of yards by the number of colors–you’re likely to come up short). (Note: most fabric store will balk at cutting, for example, 4 lengths of 54”, 2 lengths of 93”, etc.; some will accommodate you, depending on how busy they are, but expect to have to purchase “X” number of yards and cut the individual pieces later, yourself.)
Hem the cloths with matching thread, by sewing machine. Organza is a fabric that tends to ravel, so the best way to hem it is to “roll” an edge under with your fingers as you sew. If you haven’t sewn before, and this proves difficult for you (the trick is just not to go too fast), you can hem a small hem, then turn that hem in and stitch it down again. If you want to add embellishment to these simple table-toppers, you can–or not: 1”-wide, shiny-gold ribbon, machine-sewn on both edges, around the edges of the table-toppers adds a great deal of dramatic flash, but takes a lot of ribbon–however, this ribbon is just for show this one time, so you can freely use the most inexpensive (also, I would only use it on the table-toppers for round dining tables–rectangular simply uses too much ribbon); you might also check eBay and online shops for gold tassles–tassles are very expensive if you’re looking at the fancy ones in the upholstery department of a fabric shop; but less-expensive, smaller, simpler ones (such as might go on the corners of a small pillow) are available for much less–again, I wouldn’t bother to put them on the larger rectangular table cloths, as they won’t be seen enough for their expense to be worthwhile, but only on the 4 corners of each dining-table topper for round tables. Richness of embellishment, particularly with beading and metallics is very typical of Casbah décor. (Then again, you can simply leave them plain as a “wash” of color; there will be plenty of other décor "action" on the tables.)
For longer, rectangular serving tables:
For table-toppers for the cake table and other service tables, there are great organza fabrics (or net/tulle) that have lovely leaf (or vine, or other) designs in glitter right on the fabric, which might be considered, with the sparkle already built in. I would not use these on the dining tables, as the glitter is prickly on ladies’ arms, and some glitter does come loose, so on a table with people reaching back and forth, would likely end up with some glitter in the food.
Longer tables for a Casbah theme are also lovely in satiny fabrics with (thinnish) stripes in the colors you’re using: coppers and browns and golds; burgundy, beiges, light shades of olive green. Both stripes and satins are very comfortable within the Cashbah. Also, the opaque nature of the satin can be a nice contrast to the sheers of the dining table-toppers.
Economy note: for long tables, since you are using a “family” of colors here and are not tied only to one, sometimes it’s actually cheaper to drop into a Wal-Mart or K-Mart and check the drapery department for sheer window panels or (even more fabric for the dollar) window scarves–the scarves come in super-long lengths. You may come across a sale and pick up a lot for very little. (And they’re already hemmed!)
Centerpieces
For a centerpiece such as the one shown, you will need a gold (plastic is fine) charger plate or a 14” round mirror for the base. In the center is a Moroccan-style lantern. There’s a large variety of Moroccan-style lanterns available, usually in multiple quantities, on eBay–search for “Moroccan lantern”, at very reasonable prices. These often come in white, as did the ones pictured here, which we spray-painted with a copper shade of Rustoleum paint, which is formulated just for metal. They are lit from the inside by a battery-operated tealight, and surrounded by a circlet of craft-store beaded garland in shades of rust and burgundy.
To add to the exotic mood, instead of lighting the tabletops with plain tealight holders, we have presented our flickering candlelight using 3 differently-colored, gold-trimmed Moroccan tea glasses (from eBay and Amazon.com), spaced evenly around the centerpiece. Economy note: Moroccan tea glasses can occasionally be found on eBay at a reasonable price, but can otherwise be quite expensive, since you’ll need quite a few. A great alternative is plain dark-red votive or tealight holders; they give a rich garnet twinkle to your candles that fits in with the theme very well. Search for them online, and buy in bulk.
Wine-bottle covers
While not completely necessary, this is a touch that can make the look of your tables. Some venues will not allow you to serve wine from an open bottle on each table, but if not, you can use unopened bottles of inexpensive wines (re-labeled with address labels featuring your names and wedding date, on a pretty background, that you can print yourself at home)–or you can use clean, empty wine bottles filled with water for the refilling of water glasses, instead of pitchers. These bottle drapes can be found at the online shop www.alwayselegant.com–which also has many other lovely “Casbah” touches if money is no object. The proprietors are a dream to work with. By the time you add your place settings and glassware to the tables, they will be be rich, full, and glowing.
Small, final tabletop touches for each place setting will be whatever you have chosen as your wedding favor, embellished with coordinating ribbon (pick any of your colors; the ribbon can be printed with your names, or not) for each guest, and a colorful “advice” card for messages or words of advice from guests while they’re at your wedding--just notify your bridesmaids that they go in the “card box” on your gift table, if they would pick them up from the tables at the end of the evening. (Make sure you place a neutral-looking pen (gold-finished?) ballpoint pen on the table.) This not only adds to the décor theme, but gives the guests a moment of amusement–and you’ll have fun reading them when you return from your honeymoon. These can be printed on your home printer. A sample is shown below (correct scale would be 4” wide):
Other unifying touches:
Make the couple’s sweetheart table slightly different from the other dining tables: perhaps a small rectangular table among round dining tables, or vice-versa. And give it some coordinating but different touches, such as opulent beaded tassles (again, see www.alwayselegant.com) for the couples’ napkin rings, and for the handles of the champagne bucket, if one is being used. (If not, and their champagne is going to sit on the sweetheart table to be on hand for the best man’s/maid of honor’s toasts after the meal, choose a champagne in a narrower bottle, and be sure that it gets a beaded wine-bottle cover, even if you’re not using them on the guest tables.) For the couples’ place settings, perhaps upgrade to beaded or even glass charger plates under their dinner plates. And a pair of twinkling cut-crystal votive holders, or small beaded candle lamps. With the bride’s bouquet resting prominently on one front corner of the table, it should have a “special” cache all its own. If someone in the family has a smaller (perhaps 5-feet X 7-feet) oriental carpet, this would be a very special and appropriate touch underneath the sweetheart table.
If this leaves you with a room with too-bare, too-white walls, and your reception area has windows, turn again to the discount stores’ drapery departments and seek those super-long window scarves in one of the stronger shades of your palette, such as copper or burgundy. One 42” scarf, cut in half lengthwise and again across the middle, will yield 4 long pieces of fabric. You may hem the edges or not, since nobody will be close enough to see it well (I myself would do small sewing-machine hems on the raw edges just because the fabric ravels). Drape these narrow (about 25”) lengths of color around each corner of the existing window curtains (or, if no curtain, sneak a tack at each corner of the window frame, swag some fabric in a shallow arc across the top of the window, securing again at the opposite corner, and allow the fabric to hang down at each side. (It’s best to measure the width of the window, adding about 6” for the dip of the swag, subtract this from the length of the fabric, and divide by two, so that you know where you start to ensure that the sides hanging down will be even.) Below is an example of just how this relatively small touch of color enlivens the room and brings the theme together.
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The twinkle of lights against dark is a visual staple of a Casbah evening–stars punctuating the velvet midnight-blue of the sky. So if you think you’re going to have one or two dark corners in your venue (round dining tables tend to create dark corners), consider adding some sparkle with a couple of artifical fig (ficus) trees–you or a relative may have some at home as décor already, or you can rent them from a rental company fairly inexpensively, with white lights scattered among their boughs.
Finally, literally “tie” everything together with large puffy florist-type bows in a wide, sheer ribbon, preferably trimmed in gold. Costco and most craft shops are currently showing their best selection of ribbons now, at the end of September, for use throughout the holiday season. The larger “bulk” you can buy the ribbon in (bigger spools), the less expensive it will be per yard. Use wide ribbon with wire edges , so that if they become crushed they can easily be made fluffy again. Have a gals’ lunch or evening and make up a large box of bows. Directions are at http://www.save-on-crafts.com/howtomakperb.html. If desired, center a silk flower in the middle, and secure with wire. Use them as pew bows; to embellish banisters; wall sconces; corners of rectangular tables; and make smaller versions for the stems of the couples’ champagne glasses for their toast, and on their cake knife and server.
Florals
If you plan to have floral arrangements (other than bouquets, etc.), you’ll be able to keep your need for them pretty minimal with all of this other décor going on. I would recommend brass (or brass-colored plastic) containers, and the type of blooms that one thinks of as being somewhat Middle-Eastern: lilies, peonies, and roses mixed accessorized with small-leafed trailing ivy; or, if your cake is to be embellished with flowers, these are the types of flowers you might consider to keep your theme intact–either fresh or silk will work equally well. You may also want to incorporate these types of flowers in your wedding bouquet and bridesmaids’ bouquets.
A Casbah wedding is a visual delight of candlelight, color and romance, and works just as well as a warm, inviting atmosphere during the cold months as on warm summer nights reminiscent of its native climate. For a touch of fun, be sure to have the D.J. add “Midnight at the Oasis” as one of the first songs on your playlist for general dancing.
