Harry And Meghan's Wedding Eve

In the lead-up to their wedding, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were busy making plans for the big day. The couple was involved in all the decision-making, from the music and seating plans to the menu and cake. They chose a non-traditional American-style wedding cake and worked with a Michelin-starred chef to create a macrobiotic menu. They also had input on the guest list, although the final approval came from the Queen. The royal couple exchanged vows in a private ceremony three days before their official wedding, which took place on 19 May 2018 at St. George's Chapel in Windsor.

Harry and Meghan privately exchanged vows before their wedding

In March 2021, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle revealed that they privately exchanged vows three days before their official wedding ceremony. The couple shared this information during their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, where they also disclosed several other explosive revelations.

During the interview, Meghan told Oprah:

> "You know, three days before our wedding, we got married. No one knows that. But we called the Archbishop, and we just said, 'Look, this thing, this spectacle is for the world, but we want our union between us.' So, the vows that we have framed in our room are just the two of us in our backyard with the Archbishop of Canterbury."

To this, Harry added: "Just the three of us."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, later confirmed that the private event was not a "legal" nor "official" service. He stated that the legal wedding took place on Saturday, May 19, 2018, when he signed the wedding certificate.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's official spokesperson also clarified that the couple "privately exchanged personal vows a few days before their official/legal wedding." This clarification came after the British media contested the claim of a "backyard" wedding, pointing out that a legal marriage ceremony in the U.K. requires two or more witnesses.

The private exchange of vows was symbolic and not legally binding. The couple's marriage certificate states that they were married on May 19, with Harry's father and Meghan's mother as witnesses.

The Archbishop of Canterbury confirmed he married the couple

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, confirmed that he married Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018. This confirmation comes despite the couple's claim that they had a private ceremony three days before the public wedding.

During an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan revealed that "three days before our wedding, we got married. No one knows that." She added that they called the Archbishop and explained that the spectacle of the public wedding was "for the world," but their union was just between them.

Welby, however, stated that the legal wedding took place on the Saturday, and he signed the wedding certificate, which is a legal document. He affirmed that he would have committed a criminal offence if he signed it knowing it was false. While he acknowledged having private and pastoral meetings with the couple before the wedding, he refused to disclose any details about those meetings.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England. As the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, Welby holds a significant position and plays a central part in national ceremonies such as coronations.

Meghan's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller

Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress was made of "double-bonded silk cady cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza" and had a boat neckline, long sleeves, and a sweeping train. The designer secured the fashion commission of the year, as the designer of the silk cady royal wedding dress that Meghan Markle chose to wear as she married Prince Harry in Windsor.

Waight Keller was certainly not the front runner in the press leading up to the wedding. Rather, the dress was rumoured to be designed by Ralph & Russo. In early May, the Royal School of Needlework, which helped craft Kate Middleton's wedding dress, posted a tweet highlighting the fact that Ralph & Russo's haute couture atelier team was visiting, fueling speculation. Just one day before the wedding, Stella McCartney also emerged as another potential option, with the New York Post citing British bridal designer Caroline Castigliano as saying that McCartney would be the perfect fit.

Meghan Markle chose to work with Clare Waight Keller for her "timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanour". Meghan wanted to "highlight the success of a leading British talent who has now served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses – Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and now Givenchy".

Waight Keller reflected on her experience crafting Meghan's wedding gown: "Looking at the design of the dress, there were many conversations we had about how you want to present yourself to the world," she said. "Most of us have a wedding with 70 to 200 people. This was billions of people watching this wedding. It has to be flawless. It has to be perfect."

The dress epitomised a timeless minimal elegance, referencing the codes of the iconic House of Givenchy and showcasing the expert craftsmanship of its world-renowned Parisian couture atelier founded in 1952. The slim three-quarter sleeves added a note of refined modernity to the design. The sweeping train added a sense of drama to the star-studded occasion, with guests including Victoria and David Beckham, Elton John, Serena Williams, Idris Elba, Patrick Adams, Priyanka Chopra, James Blunt, Oprah Winfrey, and Emma Bunton.

The veil was also designed by Waight Keller and was 15ft (five metres) long, made from silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza. The veil featured flora from each of the 53 Commonwealth countries, as well as a California Poppy, the state flower of California, to symbolise Meghan's place of birth.

The royal family paid for the wedding

The wedding was not declared a bank holiday, unlike the weddings of Prince William and Kate Middleton and Prince Charles and Princess Diana. The royal family, led by Queen Elizabeth II, paid for most of the wedding expenses. The Queen's income comes from the sovereign grant, which is calculated as a percentage of the Crown Estate's profit. The Crown Estate includes Buckingham Palace and the crown jewels and is considered the property of the British state rather than the Queen's personal property.

The wedding was expected to boost the British economy by up to £500 million and later estimates suggested it generated £1 billion for the economy, including £300 million from foreign tourists and £50 million from merchandise. The royal couple also requested that, instead of wedding gifts, people donate to one of seven charitable organisations with which they had no formal association.

The couple delayed their honeymoon

Delaying a honeymoon has its pros and cons. One benefit is that the couple won't have to rush their wedding week with last-minute preparations for their trip. They can also spend more time with their guests, especially those who have travelled to be with them on their big day. Furthermore, delaying the honeymoon means the couple has another exciting event to look forward to, extending the excitement of the wedding festivities.

On the other hand, delaying the trip means an abrupt return to reality for the newlyweds. They may miss out on the overall honeymoon feeling that comes with the post-wedding bliss and excitement.

The couple's honeymoon destination was kept private, although the press speculated that they would travel to East Africa, a place they had visited on their third date.

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