Here at Blackstock Country Estate, we love that we can allow our brides-and-grooms-to-be to have the perfect wedding day, tailored specifically to them. Complete freedom of choice is the key factor in the planning of a wedding here at Blackstock. However, the biggest wedding in the country (if not the world) this year is going to be that of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, a couple who, as royals, are a bit more limited in their choices when arranging their big day.
However, it’s no secret that Harry and Meghan are a little more on the untraditional side when it comes to their relationship, therefore it stands to reason that their wedding will be the same. We have already seen the couple spend Christmas together at Sandringham House, despite it being the norm for this to occur only once a couple is married – Kate didn’t spend Christmas 2010 with Prince William, despite announcing their engagement two months before that. Prince Harry, however, requested special permission to allow Meghan permission to spend Christmas with the royals, as she has no family in the UK.
In addition to this, while William and Kate have remained rather reserved when it comes to PDAs over the years – even making headlines with a pat on the knee last December – Harry and Meghan seem a lot less concerned, publicly holding hands and sharing a kiss at the Invictus Games in Toronto. Their entire marriage is untraditional in itself; Meghan is American and is also a divorcee – she ended her two-year marriage to talent agent Trevor Engelson in 2013. The last time a royal married an American divorcee, which was when King Edward VIII wed Wallis Simpson in 1937, he was compelled to abdicate. Meghan will also have to be baptised and confirmed before she and Harry tie the knot; although she attended a Catholic school in the US, her mother is Protestant and her father is Presbyterian. After their marriage, Meghan will also be applying for British citizenship.
What about the big day? Meghan Markle, a former actress and lifestyle blogger, is known for her signature style. Although many brides would be daunted by the idea of choosing a royal wedding dress, within weeks of the Prince’s proposal she had commissioned Israeli fashion guru Inbal Dror to create the gown. Although it had been speculated as to whether Meghan would opt for a British designer like Kate did, she once again showed that she is not following the rules… plus Meghan has decided to ditch traditions and give her own speech at her wedding. This is perhaps unsurprising given that she has already shown herself to be an advocate for women.
Westminster Abbey is the traditional venue for royal weddings but Harry and Meghan’s ceremony will be held at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, because of their fondness for this special place and their wish for minimal attention. The wedding will feature clean and simple décor with subtle touches of colour, in order to preserve the beauty of the Chapel. The food on the day will be less British than that seen at the wedding of Will and Kate (lamb, potatoes and veg), and Meghan will be avoiding British traditions when it comes to her bridal party, too – choosing a ‘Maid of Honour’ rather than the typical ‘Chief Bridesmaid’, and being walked down the aisle by her mother rather than her father. The wedding will not be a large affair, as for the royal couple, it is all about keeping the event personal.
Traditional or not, the ceremony is certain to be a beautiful one. Will you be taking inspiration from the royal couple for the planning of your own wedding?