Harry's Wedding: A Global Celebration

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a grand affair, with the couple exchanging vows in front of a room full of family and friends on 19 May 2018 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, England. The ceremony was steeped in tradition, with a fairytale-like quality that captivated the world. The nuptials were also a significant cultural moment, marking the first time a person of mixed-race heritage married into the British royal family.

The royal wedding was a cause for celebration not just for the couple and their guests but also for people across the globe. From themed brunches and cocktails to watching parties and special menus, many joined in the festivities leading up to and on the big day. Here are some ways people celebrated Prince Harry's wedding:

- Royal-themed parties: London, in particular, was buzzing with excitement, hosting various events like Royal Wedding-themed brunches, cocktails, and late-night parties.

- Food and drinks: Bars and restaurants created special menus and cocktails inspired by the royal couple, such as the Meghan Sparkles cocktail and a southern velvet cake as a nod to Meghan's American heritage.

- Watching parties: Many venues, including former churches and rooftop terraces, organised viewings of the wedding, accompanied by food and drinks.

- Fashion and style: Meghan's wedding dress and style choices, such as her natural makeup look, inspired brides-to-be and fashion enthusiasts.

- Music and entertainment: People enjoyed music and entertainment inspired by the royal couple, with some venues even hosting burlesque shows retelling Harry and Meghan's love story.

Royal-themed food and drink

For those celebrating at home, there were plenty of royal-themed treats to indulge in. Fortnum and Mason served a special afternoon tea throughout May, with a southern velvet cake as a nod to Meghan's American heritage, and a lemon and elderflower cake mirroring the couple's wedding choice. The Savoy also served a special afternoon tea, accompanied by a Royal Welcome cocktail crafted by the award-winning American Bar, featuring Italicus Rosolio di bergamot, gin, yuzu, and English sparkling wine.

For those wanting something stronger, London bars served up Royal Wedding-themed cocktails. Manetta's Bar at Flemings Mayfair offered a Windsor Fizz, made with bourbon and hibiscus, infused with English Breakfast, and garnished with 24k gold. Rules, London's oldest restaurant, put a Meghan Markle-inspired floral twist on its Royal 19 cocktail, using Maker's Mark whiskey, champagne, violet liqueur, and cherry bitters. Drake & Morgan restaurants served a fruity mix of elderflower, peach, and blackberry, mixed with Ketel One vodka, and topped with prosecco, aptly named the Meghan Sparkles.

For those wanting to celebrate with a meal, Aster hosted a Royal Wedding brunch with a "Royal Box" of dishes, accompanied by cocktails, including The Jolly Ginger and Botswana Sunrise. Royal favorite Bluebird also put on its own "royal hurrar" brunch, which guests enjoyed while watching the ceremony in the restaurant's bunting-decked courtyard. The Cinnamon Club served a Bou-Bhaat thali, a traditional Indian dish served to welcome the bride into the groom's family.

Royal-themed parties

Food and Drink

• Royal-themed cocktails: Get creative and invent your own royal-themed cocktails or mocktails. You can even name them after the happy couple or other royal family members. For example, the "Meghan Sparkles", a mix of elderflower, peach, and blackberry, or the "Windsor Fizz", made with bourbon and hibiscus.
• Royal-themed brunch: Host a brunch with a "Royal Box" of dishes and cocktails. This could include a southern velvet cake as a nod to Meghan's American heritage, and a lemon and elderflower cake, mirroring the couple's wedding choice.
• Afternoon tea: Serve an afternoon tea with a royal twist. Include wedding dress-shaped ginger biscuits and a "groom"-themed bavarois pannacotta with a top hat.
• Wedding cake: Bake a cake inspired by the couple's lemon and elderflower cake, or go for a more traditional fruitcake.

Decorations

• Flowers: Decorate your venue with flowers, especially white roses, which were used to line the entrance to St. George's Chapel for the wedding.
• Banners and bunting: Deck your venue with royal-themed banners and bunting, perhaps featuring the couple's initials and wedding date.
• Cut-outs: Life-sized cut-outs of the royal family are sure to be a hit, providing fun photo opportunities for your guests.

Entertainment

• Music: Play music by British artists, or songs with royal or wedding themes. You could even have a special royal-themed playlist.
• Games: Organise some royal-themed games, such as a quiz about the royal family or a treasure hunt with royal-themed clues.
• Fancy dress: Encourage your guests to come in fancy dress as their favourite royal family member or in their best wedding attire.

Gifts

• Royal-themed favours: Send your guests home with small royal-themed favours, such as miniature crowns or royal-themed cookies.
• Donations: Instead of gifts, encourage guests to donate to charities that the royal couple support.

With a bit of creativity, you can easily incorporate a royal theme into your party and celebrate Prince Harry's wedding in style!

Royal-themed games

• Royal Wedding Charades: Pick a word, phrase, movie, or book related to the royal wedding and act it out without using words. For example, you could act out "Prince Harry" by pretending to wear a crown and waving regally.
• Royal Family Trivia: Test your knowledge of the royal family with a fun trivia game. Create teams and ask questions about the royal family, such as their names, titles, and interesting facts.
• Royal Wedding Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of items related to the royal wedding, such as a miniature crown, a photo of the happy couple, or a union jack flag. Divide your guests into teams and set them loose to find the items on the list. The first team to find all the items wins.
• Pin the Tail on the Prince: A royal-themed twist on the classic party game. Create a large poster of Prince Harry and have guests take turns trying to pin the tail on the prince while blindfolded.
• Royal Wedding Bingo: Create custom bingo cards with royal-themed items such as a tiara, a horse-drawn carriage, or a slice of wedding cake. As guests spot these items during the wedding coverage, they mark them off on their cards. The first person to get a bingo wins a prize.

Royal-themed music and dancing

Music and dancing are integral parts of any wedding celebration, and even more so when royalty is involved! Here are some ideas for throwing a party with a royal-themed music and dancing segment to celebrate Prince Harry's wedding:

Music

Set the mood for your royal-themed party with a carefully curated playlist that pays homage to the royal family and their traditions. Here are some song suggestions that are fit for royalty:

• Sun King by The Beatles
• Her Majesty by The Beatles
• A Day in the Life By The Beatles (references Royal Albert Hall)
• Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan (mentions Princess on a Steeple)
• Proud Mary by Creedence Clearwater Revival (mentions river boat queen)
• Rock On by David Essex (mentions queen)
• King of Pain by The Police
• God Save the Queen by The Sex Pistols
• Dancing Queen by ABBA
• Royals by Lorde
• Queen of California by John Mayer
• Mississippi Queen by Mountain
• Princess of R&B by Aaliyah
• Princess of Pop by Beyonce
• Queen of Soul by Aretha Franklin
• King of Country by George Strait
• Queen of Country by Dolly Parton
• Queen of Country Pop by Shania Twain
• King of Reggaeton by Daddy Yankee
• Queen of Hip Hop by Missy Elliot
• King of Mambo by Perez Prado
• Queen of Salsa by Celia Cruz
• King of Rock n' Roll by Elvis Presley
• Queen of Rock n' Roll by Janis Joplin
• King of Pop by Michael Jackson
• Queen of Pop by Madonna
• King of Swing by Benny Goodman
• Queen of Jazz by Ella Fitzgerald
• Prince of Darkness by Ozzy Osbourne

Dancing

Get your guests moving and grooving with some royal-themed dances and activities! Here are some ideas to consider:

• Host a mystical "Knights and Dragons" party, with props like swords and shields. Encourage your guests to dress up as knights and kings, and organise a fun sword fight or a game of capture the flag.
• Throw a Coronation Party and use a long red carpet to introduce your guests to your "kingdom." They will feel like royalty as they step into your grand ballroom.
• Set up a Royal Ball with a Belle from Beauty and the Beast as the guest of honour. Use a red and yellow colour scheme, and don't forget to play some waltzes and other elegant dances.
• For a whimsical touch, host a Cinderella-themed party where guests can dress up in princess gowns and slippers. Provide child-safe cosmetics and whimsical accessories for your guests to get dolled up.
• If you're feeling creative, organise a Royal Masquerade Ball. Request that your guests wear masks and create an air of mystery. At midnight, everyone can remove their masks and reveal their true identities!
• For a fun twist, host a Prince Charming-themed party with frog-themed decorations and treats. Provide your guests with plastic crowns and capes so they can channel their inner royalty.

Royal-themed fashion

The Royal Wardrobe

The royal family's fashion choices are often intentional and carry hidden meanings. For example, Queen Elizabeth II is known for her brightly coloured outfits, which help her stand out and ensure she is visible to her subjects. You could incorporate bright colours into your royal-themed wardrobe, or even try to decode some of the secret messages behind the royal family's fashion choices.

Military Uniforms

Prince Harry surprised his wedding party by wearing his military uniform on the big day, complete with ribbons awarded for his work. You could incorporate military-inspired pieces into your wardrobe or add some royal-themed ribbons and medals to your outfit.

Tiaras and Headpieces

Tiaras and headpieces are a signature accessory for royal women. You can find some royal-inspired headpieces or even make your own using sparkly jewels and ribbons. Princess Diana famously wore a choker as a headband, so you could take inspiration from her and get creative with your accessories.

Royal-inspired Dresses

If you're attending a royal-themed event, consider wearing a dress inspired by the royal family. You could opt for a sleek and streamlined look, similar to the Duchess of Cambridge, or go for something more rebellious like Meghan Markle's custom Givenchy wedding gown. Princess Diana's iconic wedding dress with its long train and puffy sleeves is also a great source of inspiration.

Suits and Uniforms

It's not just about dresses! Men can get in on the royal-themed fashion too. Prince Harry and Prince William twinned in their military uniforms at the wedding, but you could also take inspiration from the suits and morning coats often worn by royal men.

So, whether you're dressing up for a royal-themed party or just looking to add a touch of royalty to your wardrobe, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Prince Harry's wedding through fashion.

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