Valiant F.A.Q.

1. What do you offer?

We offer ladies’ and men’s historic attire in several themes, including the Age of Chivalry (heraldry, knights, etc.), Robin Hood (forest theme), Celtic (Irish, Scots, Danish, Spanish, German, Icelandic, Norse, etc.,) American Indian, Tropical Island, and others. We also specialize in a historically themed “white wedding,” where the bride is in white, the groom is in black or other darks, and the décor is ivory, gold, sheer, and more appealing to the traditional eye. We offer décor for all these weddings, in tune with the couple’s preferences of color and theme, and we can decorate large areas both indoors and out. We have a huge Round Table for the bridal party, or a long serpentine Harvest Table, which come with full-sized thrones decorated in the appropriate theme, table coverings to match, and background and tabletop décor.

We have a large selection of themed music on tape and CD, or can arrange for live musicians in keeping with the chosen theme. We also have castle guardsmen, swordsmen, bagpipers, dancers, actors, horses, and many other offerings in our extensive talent network.

Valiant provides historic wedding consultation and management services, so you will have help designing your wedding and making sure the chosen themes fit well together. You may have a Hispanic fiancé, but you want a Celtic wedding. How do you blend the two? We know how. We also help stage and manage your wedding, as part of our goal to relieve stress for the people who should be having the most fun, not the least!


2. Can I buy costumes or décor from you?

No. Valiant is not a store. We are all rental. The good part about this is that you and your wedding party and guests can wear superior historic attire without the high expense. You can wear patola organzas, ecclesiastical brocades, exotic trims and zoomorphics, weaponry, headwear and designerwear without bearing the expense or time of research, gathering materials, designing and making these complex outfits, or having to buy them and all the pieces that fill them out. Ladies especially like this, because they can be in someone’s wedding at much less expense than buying a bridesmaid’s gown that will likely never be worn again. Men enjoy carrying shields, weaponry, and the other historic gear we have available, without spending more than a tux rental.

3.    Do you do parts of some weddings?

Yes, we’ll do any part of your wedding that fits our abilities. Often we will dress just the ladies, or just the men, or provide only the Round Table or reception décor. Everything at Valiant is “a la carte,” meaning each item and service is separately priced. This way you’re not paying for anything you don’t use.

4.    Do the men wear tights?

No! There were no tights in the Middle Ages and there aren’t any at Valiant! We take pride in making men comfortable with their historic attire. No one is made to feel awkward or goofy looking. We will work with every individual to be certain everyone is at ease with the historic theme. With our Medieval wear, men have theatrical black boots, dashing vests or knights’ surcotes with coats of arms, and on their legs they wear stretch or loose fitting leggings, or just their own trousers, as long as the pants fit into our boots. We can work with a person’s own wardrobe to be sure everyone is comfortable and proud.

5.    Will this wedding look weird or silly, like a show or festival?

Valiant is a specialized historic wedding service, not a costume shop. We focus on weddings, therefore all our attire is matched and coordinated so the bridal party looks like an elegant wedding, not a bunch of folks clomping off to a Renaissance festival in their historic street clothes. We shop all over the world for the finest historic fabrics and trims, and we design all our attire ourselves, to look flattering on everyone, to be comfortable, and to be elegant in person and in photographs.

We can bend toward specific colors of the couple’s choice; for instance, an all red, black and gold wedding, all gold and white, silver and purple, forest green and gold, autumn colors, spring colors, and so on, or even a more “modern” ivory and black wedding in historic style. Each wedding is personally designed to the tastes of the individual couple.

6.    Do you have wedding gowns?

Though brides often prefer to own their wedding gowns, most married women will tell you that they haven’t seen their gown since their wedding day. This is a huge expense that can be avoided. Valiant has several exclusive wedding gowns for rental, and they are unique and lovely, often with exquisite fabrics which would cost a great deal if you were to buy the gowns. You can wear a $1200 gown, but pay only a $200 rental price.

Or you can wear your own gown, enhanced by one of Valiant’s beautiful Medieval robes, capes, or cloaks in the color or theme of your historic wedding. This is a wonderful option, and allows for a kind of “unveiling” later.

White wedding gowns are something that only came about a few centuries ago. Actually, it is historically accurate for brides to wear their favorite colors. In history, brides wore their best gowns, not necessarily white gowns. Some Valiant brides choose to wear their own favorite colors instead of a white or ivory gown. One bride and groom even chose to wear our majestic black and gold ecclesiastical brocades. Since Valiant handles the rentals of costuming to the bridal party and even to the guests, we made sure no one else looked like the bride and groom.

However, if a white or ivory gown is your dream, you should have it, and we have several selections which can be worn on their own, or enhanced with our other beautiful accessories.

7. What sizes do you carry? How large is too large for you to fit?

There is no “too large” or “too small” at Valiant. We design and make all our attire. Everything is geared to fit almost everyone, of any size. We dress everyone from child sizes to very, very large or tall adults, and everyone looks great. We embrace the challenge of making everyone, of any size, proud and elegantly dressed for the duration of our events.

8. Do we have to pick up and deliver the items we rent?

If you only rent costuming, you have to pick them up and return them. You do not have to do any cleaning. If you also rent décor, such as the Table, banners, tablecoverings, thrones, murals, etc., then Valiant comes with our cargo trailer and motorhome, our managers and assistants. We set up all your décor, then wait until your party is over and strike the set ourselves. You don’t have to be responsible for setting up or taking down any of our décor. We can also pick up costuming after the party. Guests and even bridal party member often bring their own clothes to the wedding and change out of the wedding attire, thereby avoiding having to deliver anything to Valiant later. It’s convenient for all concerned.

9. How far do you travel?

We haven’t yet turned down a job in Michigan, Illinois, or Indiana. We do charge a certain milage fee outside of a one-hour radius, but it is nominal.

10. How early to we have to book your services?

Like any wedding service, the sooner, the better. Valiant only does one wedding at a time, so it is first-come first-served for any given wedding date. Once we have signed contracts and the downpayment is made, we are “locked in” to your wedding for that date, and we will turn down any other weddings that ask for that date. However, we have had occasion to set up weddings with as little as one week’s notice! We specialize in last-minute affairs, but if you don’t book early, there is always the risk that our services and possessions are already rented. The Midwest has a fairly narrow wedding season for good weather, so the May-to-October period can be competitive. Late fall, winter and early spring are usually quite free, but we prefer to book early, to make sure we have everything clean and ready, and have the assistants we need to have your event come off without a hitch.

11. Do you do catering?

No.

12. Do you help us find and book a location?

We do have ideas and some experience, and can make suggestions for certain areas, but we do not act as intermediaries for churches, halls or other locations. You are responsible for arranging for your wedding and reception locations. You find, we decorate.

13. Do you have brochures?

No. There is too much to see. The website is the best first glance into Valiant’s huge storehouse of costuming, décor and services. Your best option is a personal wedding consultation meeting at our headquarters in Owosso, Michigan. We meet by appointment only, at your convenience, day, evening or weekends. When you are here, you get our exclusive attention and we design a wedding to your specific whims, dream, desires, needs, and budget. We specialize in bringing people together to a single elegant vision that makes everyone comfortable and happy, and doesn’t break the bank.

14. About how much does a Valiant wedding cost?

That depends upon what you rent and how many people are in your wedding party. Each wedding is designed with a budget in mind, and of course, as with any wedding, your wedding party and guests agree to pay for their own attire rentals. This helps Valiant make a decent profit, but does not cost you anything. It does, however, affect the cost of other rental items. For instance, if you have more people standing up at your wedding and you help encourage your guests to rent from us, we consider that when charging rental fees for other services.

There is no too large or too small wedding. We have done weddings as small as 7 people, total, and as large as 450. As with any wedding, the cost depends upon which services and items are rented. However, Valiant weddings tend to cost less than a typical American “white” wedding, the average of which now runs nearly $20,000. Valiant weddings usually run between $1000 and $7000 for Valiant’s part in the event. Of course, we’re always willing to do more!

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