Wedding Guide: Plan a Unique Moroccan Theme Wedding Reception
Many brides go to extreme lengths to create a unique experience for wedding guests at the wedding reception. If you aren’t looking to blow your wedding budget on over-the-top flower arrangements and expensive live entertainment but still want to create a memorable event, think about wowing your guests with a Moroccan theme reception. By incorporating Moroccan details into your reception décor, menu, and entertainment, you’ll have your guests feeling like they’ve just landed in Casablanca, Fez, or Marrakech.
Getting Started
Before you do anything else, you need to select your wedding colors. Think about using rich colors that are reminiscent of a spice market. Some great color combinations could be burgundy/gold/purple, magenta/purple/gold, orange/red/yellow, and magenta/red/gold. If you don’t like warm colors, you can opt to use cool shade combinations like blue/yellow/silver, navy/tan/blue, or teal/blue/tan. The great thing about a Moroccan theme is that you can make just about any color combination work. If you select one color you really want and pair it with a similar shade and an accent color, you’ll find it hard to go wrong. Search the Internet for pictures of Morocco to help you get an idea of how to put together a great color scheme if you are unsure.
The Invitations
Give your guests an idea of what will be in store for them at the reception by sending out Moroccan theme invitations. You’ll want to find something that corresponds to your wedding colors. Invites with intricate knot designs or tile motifs will work well. You could also opt for scroll invitations. A beautiful gold scroll invitation would be sure to pique your guests’ interest. If you can’t find the perfect invitation in your local area, search online. There are several companies that offer unique designs perfect for a Moroccan theme.
The best way to get ideas for décor is to look at pictures of Morocco. Make sure you incorporate various colors and textures into your décor. Use fabric that has geometric patterns to recreate the look of Moroccan rugs. Position beaded table runners in the center of the tables. Place Moroccan tea light lanterns on your tables as centerpieces. You could also use mirror tiled hurricane candle holders that match your wedding colors as centerpieces. Set up a children’s table that sits low to the floor. Use floor pillows for seats instead of chairs for the children. They will get a kick out of sitting on the floor, and you will have created an authentic looking Moroccan table.
The Menu
No Moroccan themed event would be complete without mint tea and couscous. Moroccan food uses a tasty mix of spices such as cumin, saffron, coriander, and cinnamon. A great Moroccan menu would include an appetizer, main dish, dessert (aside from your wedding cake), and drinks. For your appetizer, think about serving harira. This is a rich soup made from chickpeas and lentils. For the main course you can serve a bed of couscous with your favorite meat. Finish off dinner with mint tea and Arabic coffee served alongside Kab-el-ghzal. This is a crescent-shaped pastry that is stuffed with almond paste. Inquire about creating your own Moroccan dishes with local caterers and find the one that will give you the best bang for your buck. Also, do make sure to sample the dishes before you hire the caterer. You also will want to be sure to offer an American dish for all courses to please your less adventurous guests.
A geometric or tile pattern will be a perfect design for the surface of your cake. Think about making each cake tier a different shape to create geometric interest. You might also like to incorporate intricate scrollwork on your cake to give it a Moroccan inspired look. Draw up some sketches or print off a picture of what you want and give it to your baker to ensure the design turns out how you want it.
Favors
Thank your guests for being a part of your wedding and send them home with a special gift. Colorful Arabesque tea glasses filled with candies and wrapped in tulle would make gorgeous favors. Spicy incense would also be a wonderful favor. You could also fill colorful beaded organza bags with your favorite candies as favor for your guests.
Entertainment
If your wedding budget allows, think about hiring a belly dancer to entertain your guests. Another great idea would be to set up a henna station where a henna artist will adorn your guests’ hands with intricate designs. Be sure to have your DJ play a few Middle Eastern tunes to put everyone in a Moroccan mood.
A unique Moroccan theme wedding reception is something that your guests will surely remember long after the night has come to an end.
