Royal Wedding: Harry And Meghan's Big Day

On May 19, 2018, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were married at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, England. The wedding was a significant event for several reasons, including the fact that it was the first time a member of the British royal family had married a person of mixed-race heritage in modern history. The couple's relationship began in mid-2016, and they got engaged in London in 2017. Their wedding ceremony was noted for its inclusion of African-American culture and was attended by a range of celebrities, politicians, and members of the royal family.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding ceremony

The wedding was a traditional ceremony with the inclusion of African-American culture. The couple's wedding vows were read by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and included the promise "to love and to cherish" each other. The ceremony was also attended by around 600 guests, including extended royal family members, friends, and high-profile figures from Hollywood, music, and sport.

The bride's glamorous wedding gown was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. It was accessorised with an abbey-length lace veil, embroidered with flowers representing the Commonwealth nations and the California poppy. The veil was held in place by an antique diamond tiara loaned to Markle by Queen Elizabeth II. The groom and his brother, Prince William, wore the frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals.

The ceremony was followed by two wedding receptions. The first was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in St George's Hall inside Windsor Castle, where the couple cut their wedding cakes—a layered lemon and elderflower cake decorated with peonies. The second reception was held in a large tent on the grounds of Frogmore House, where the couple shared their first dance to 'I'm in Love' by Wilson Pickett.

The wedding reception

The couple's first dance was "Land of 1000 Dances" by Wilson Pickett. Meghan wore a halter-neck reception dress by Stella McCartney, and her hair was styled by George Northwood. She wore an emerald-cut aquamarine ring that had belonged to Princess Diana. Janina Gavankar, a friend of Meghan's, commented that " [they] all danced until the wee hours. We partied and celebrated and ate sliders at 2 in the morning."

A second reception was held later in the day at Frogmore House, hosted by the Prince of Wales, for family and close friends. Prince Harry drove Meghan to the reception in a silver-blue Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero. The couple made their way to Frogmore House for the evening reception, and Meghan changed into a halter-neck, open-back dress by Stella McCartney. DJ Idris Elba and The Atlantic Soul Orchestra performed at the event, and Elba played "Still D.R.E." at Meghan's request. The event ended with small fireworks displayed above Frogmore House.

The couple's first dance

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a grand affair, with the ceremony taking place at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom. The couple's first dance was a memorable moment, with Meghan and Harry choosing an upbeat and fun song for their dance routine. They danced to "Land of 1000 Dances" by Wilson Pickett, a soul track from the 60s. Meghan, in a stunning Stella McCartney gown and Princess Diana's aquamarine ring, and Harry, in a tuxedo, spun like a whirlwind on the dance floor. The private evening reception, hosted by then Prince Charles, was attended by 200 of their closest friends and family. The event was a huge dance party, with guests letting loose and having a blast.

The couple's choice of first dance song reflected Meghan's desire for fun music at their wedding. She wanted even their first dance to be enjoyable and memorable. The song, "Land of 1000 Dances," was an unexpected choice, and Meghan admitted that she often forgot its name. However, she sang along to the lyrics during the dance, and it was a fun and special moment for the couple.

The reception also included special moments such as speeches by Harry and Meghan, who thanked their guests with humour and sweetness. The guests were served by none other than George Clooney, and Serena Williams played beer pong. The music was provided by DJ Idris Elba, and the couple's first dance was a highlight of the evening.

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a joyous occasion, and their first dance, "Land of 1000 Dances," set the tone for a fun and memorable celebration with their loved ones.

The wedding dress

The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza. It featured a boat neckline, long sleeves, and a sweeping train. The dress epitomised a timeless minimal elegance, with sleek lines and sharp cuts, and only six seams. It was without lace or any other embellishments. The dress was inspired by the royal's affinity for Audrey Hepburn and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. The latter's wedding gown was described by Markle as "everything goals".

The dress was augmented by a 16-foot silk tulle veil, embroidered with 55 flowers. Markle chose two favourite flowers – wintersweet, which grows outside Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace, and the California poppy, from her home state. There were also individual flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. The veil took 500 hours to complete, with embroiderers washing their hands every 30 minutes to ensure it remained immaculate. A piece of the blue dress from Markle's first date with Prince Harry was also stitched into the veil for her "something blue".

The dress, veil, and tiara were exhibited by the Royal Collection Trust at Windsor Castle from October 2018 until February 2019, and then at Holyrood Palace from June 2019 to October 2019.

The wedding cake

The cake was created by London-based baker Claire Ptak, who runs Violet Cakes in East London. Ptak is also a food and prop stylist and a food writer, and she bakes her cakes with low-intervention and organic ingredients. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were impressed by her focus on organic ingredients. "I can’t tell you how delighted I am to be chosen to make Prince Harry and Ms. Markle’s wedding cake," said Ptak, "...knowing that they really share the same values as I do about food provenance, sustainability, seasonality, and most importantly flavour, makes this the most exciting event to be a part of."

The cake was inspired by the couple's spring wedding date. It was a light, refreshing flavour, while still celebrating with a nod to royal heritage. The elderflower cordial was made from flowers harvested at one of Queen Elizabeth's private homes, a sweet nod to the Queen herself. The cake was soaked with the cordial to give it an incredible floral flavour, and the ingredient was also incorporated into the frosting. This balanced the sweetness of the cake and made it just the right amount of tart.

The cake was made up of multiple cakes, with two single-tiered cakes and one two-tiered cake. The two-tiered cake was the tallest of the display, but overall, the cake was quite modest in comparison to other royal wedding cakes. The cakes were displayed on ornate gold stands from the royal family's collection. The cakes had a beautiful stark white exterior of elderflower Swiss meringue buttercream, with a bit of texture added to the top of each tier. They were adorned with 150 fresh flowers, mostly British peonies and roses, and green foliage.

The cost of the cake was around $70,000, which included the cost of 200 specialty Amalfi lemons. The cakes on display were not actually eaten by the guests, but donated to charity the next morning. Ptak and her team created several other tiers that were sliced in the back, and these were served to the guests.

Frequently asked questions