Harry And Meghan's Wedding: A Look Back

Yes, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married on Saturday 19 May 2018 in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom. The wedding was a combination of British pageantry and modern style, with Markle wearing a dress by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The ceremony was officiated by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and included a passionate address by The Most Rev. Michael Curry, who emphasised the redemptive power of love. The couple's first kiss as husband and wife took place on the steps of St George's Chapel, after which they rode through the town of Windsor in a horse-drawn carriage.

The wedding ceremony

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The groom is a member of the British royal family, and the bride is American.

The wedding service was conducted according to the Christian liturgy for Holy Matrimony as set out in Common Worship of the Church of England, the mother Church of the Anglican Communion. The Dean of Windsor, David Conner, conducted the service with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, performing the marriage ceremony. The sermon was delivered by Michael Curry, the presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church (the American member church of the Anglican Communion). Curry's 14-minute address, which quoted Martin Luther King Jr., emphasised the redemptive property of love.

Chaplain to the Queen, Rose Hudson-Wilkin, and Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, Anba Angaelos, offered prayers. The marriage vows were those published in Common Worship and included the promise "to love and to cherish" each other. This was sealed by the exchange of rings. The wedding rings were created by Cleave and Company, with Markle's ring being fashioned from Welsh gold and the Prince's ring made of platinum.

Hymns sung at the wedding included "Lord of All Hopefulness" and "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer". Prince Harry was seen wiping away a tear during the congregational singing of the latter, which was a favourite of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, and was also sung at her funeral in 1997. It was also the opening hymn at William's wedding in 2011.

Two choirs, an orchestra, the chapel organ, played by Luke Bond, and fanfare trumpeters provided music for the service. The orchestra was made up of musicians from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the English Chamber Orchestra, and the Philharmonia Orchestra. In addition to the Choir of St George's Chapel, the Kingdom Choir, a gospel group led by Karen Gibson, sang "Stand By Me" while the couple was sitting down. The State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry, who played a fanfare, included Kate Sandford, the first female state trumpeter at a British royal wedding. The music was under the overall direction of James Vivian, the chapel's Organist and Director of Music, and the orchestra was conducted by Christopher Warren-Green.

The bride walked down the aisle to "Eternal source of light divine" (from Handel's Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne), sung by soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, with the trumpet obbligato performed by David Blackadder. Other music during the service included the motet "If Ye Love Me" by Thomas Tallis; the song "Stand by Me" by Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, and Ben E. King, arranged for choir by Mark Delisser; and "The Lord bless you and keep you" by John Rutter. During the signing of the register, 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and the orchestra played Sicilienne, attributed to Maria Theresia von Paradis, Fauré's Après un rêve, and an arrangement for cello and orchestra of Schubert's "Ave Maria". For the procession, the musicians performed the Allegro from the Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major by William Boyce and "This Little Light of Mine" by Etta James, Jester Hairston, and Harry Dixon Loes.

The wedding outfits

Meghan Markle's Wedding Dress

Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller under the Givenchy label. The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady with a boat neckline, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train made of triple silk organza. The dress was inspired by Markle's affinity for Audrey Hepburn and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy's wedding dress. It was estimated to cost about $265,000, and the process required 3,900 hours of design for the veil, eight fittings, and five months of collaboration between the bride and the design team.

Meghan Markle's Veil

Markle's 16.5-foot silk tulle veil featured embroidered flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as Wintersweet and the California Poppy, which symbolised her home state. The veil was secured by the Queen Mary Bandeau Tiara, a diamond bandeau tiara made in 1932 with a centre brooch dating back to 1893.

Meghan Markle's Wedding Day Accessories

For her walk down the aisle, Meghan paired her veil with the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara, a Cartier bracelet, and a pair of earrings. Her hair was styled by Serge Normant, and her makeup was done by Dior make-up artist Daniel Martin, who described the look as "a soft brown eyeshadow" with minimal makeup on the face. Her nails were painted in a neutral pink-y beige.

Meghan Markle's Reception Dress

For the evening reception, Markle wore a custom Stella McCartney halter-neck sheath gown with a high halter neckline and a Slinky silhouette. The designer, who is known for her eco-friendly and sustainable fashion, was chosen by Markle because she wanted to represent British design.

Prince Harry's Wedding Outfit

Prince Harry and his best man, Prince William, wore the frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals, with Harry wearing the rank of major. Harry received special permission from the Queen to keep his beard, as beards were only permitted under exceptional circumstances in the British Army at the time. Harry's uniform included the star of the Royal Victorian Order, the ribbons of the Royal Victorian Order, the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and Army Air Corps wings.

The wedding reception

The reception was attended by approximately 600 guests, including notable figures such as Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams, David Beckham, and Priyanka Chopra. The guests were entertained by a performance from Sir Elton John, who was introduced by Prince Harry with the playful question, "Does anyone here know how to play the piano?". Meghan's mother, Doria, was spotted dancing to Elton John's performance, with Meghan sharing that she "couldn't find [her] mom because she had beelined to the stage to watch Elton sing."

The wedding cake, a lemon and elderflower cake decorated with peonies, was cut by the couple using a sword. The cake was designed by baker Claire Ptak, who was chosen in March 2018. The reception also featured heartfelt toasts, with both Prince Harry and his father, Prince Charles, giving speeches. The newlyweds then waved to their guests from a balcony before sharing a kiss.

The second reception, hosted by Prince Charles, took place later in the evening at Frogmore House. The event was a more intimate gathering for family and close friends, with around 200 guests in attendance. The evening reception featured a performance by DJ Idris Elba, who notably played "Still D.R.E." at Meghan's request. The Duchess of Sussex also broke with tradition by giving a speech at the event, and the couple shared their first dance to "Land of 1000 Dances" by Wilson Pickett. The celebrations continued late into the night, with fireworks displayed above Frogmore House to conclude the magical day.

The wedding cake

The cake was made up of multiple cakes, including one two-tiered cake and two single-tiered cakes, displayed on ornate gold stands from the royal family's collection. The cakes were covered in a swiss meringue buttercream and adorned with 150 fresh flowers, including British peonies and roses.

The cake was estimated to cost around $70,000, with the high cost attributed to the top-end ingredients, such as the specialty Amalfi lemons. The cake was not only a delicious treat but also a stunning display that added to the beauty and uniqueness of the royal wedding.

The cake designer, Claire Ptak, was chosen for her shared values with the couple regarding food provenance, sustainability, and seasonality. She and her team utilised the kitchens at Buckingham Palace to create this magnificent cake, which was then assembled at Windsor Castle on the morning of the wedding.

The wedding flowers

The flowers in the bridal bouquet were replicated in the flower crowns worn by the bridesmaids, including Princess Charlotte. The crowns were made of "spray flowers, lily of the valley, lisianthus and cuscus". However, lily of the valley is a highly poisonous woodland flowering plant, and ingestion could be deadly, especially for children.

Craddock also used "branches of beech, birch and hornbeam, along with white garden roses, peonies and foxgloves" in her arrangements for the wedding celebration.

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