Harry And Meghan's Wedding: A Date To Remember

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot on the 19th of May, 2018, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, officially becoming the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The wedding was a fairytale affair, with a traditional ceremony, a luncheon reception, and a private evening affair. The couple exchanged vows in an intimate backyard ceremony three days before their wedding and shared several special moments from their nuptials in their Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's whirlwind romance began in 2016, and they have since welcomed two children, Archie and Lilibet.

The couple's wedding date was unusual

The wedding date of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was unusual for several reasons. Firstly, it took place on a Saturday, which is a break from the royal tradition of holding weddings during the week. The wedding also coincided with the FA Cup Final, which Prince Harry's brother, William, typically attends in his role as President of the Football Association.

Another unusual aspect of the wedding date was that it was not declared a bank holiday, unlike the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. This meant that the working public did not get a day off to celebrate the royal nuptials.

The date of the wedding, 19 May 2018, also held a special significance for the couple. It was the same date as Pippa Middleton's wedding in 2017, where Meghan joined Harry as his date. Additionally, Meghan's engagement ring featured two diamonds from Princess Diana's collection, honouring Harry's late mother.

The wedding date was also chosen to accommodate the couple's desire to have an outdoor wedding. May in the UK offers milder weather, making it an ideal month for an outdoor ceremony and celebrations.

Meghan's wedding dress designer

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married on the 19th of May 2018 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

Meghan'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 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".

Waight Keller, who is British, was the first female Artistic Director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy. Meghan chose to work with her for her "timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanour". Meghan also wanted to "highlight the success of a leading British talent".

Waight Keller and Meghan worked closely together on the design, which featured a graphic open bateau neckline that gracefully framed the shoulders and emphasised Meghan's slender waist. The slim three-quarter sleeves added a note of refined modernity. The sweeping train added a sense of drama to the occasion.

The veil was 15-16 feet long and made from silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza. It featured flora from each of the 53 Commonwealth countries, as well as the California Poppy, the state flower of California, to symbolise Meghan's place of birth.

The royal guests

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The royal family announced that they would pay for the wedding, which was expected to cost around £32 million. The wedding was attended by approximately 600 guests, including members of the British royal family, celebrities, and friends of the couple. Here is a list of some of the notable royal guests who were present at the wedding:

• Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip: Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry's grandmother, conferred upon him the titles of Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel on the morning of the wedding.
• Prince Charles: Prince Harry's father, who walked Meghan Markle down the aisle after her father was unable to attend due to health issues.
• Duchess of Cambridge: Prince William's wife, who was also present at the wedding.
• Prince William: Prince Harry's brother and best man at the wedding.
• Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice: Prince Andrew's daughters, who are cousins of Prince Harry.
• Duchess of York: Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice's mother, who had a strained relationship with the royal family but was invited to the wedding.
• Mike and Zara Tindall: Queen Elizabeth II's granddaughter and her husband, a former English rugby star.
• Prince Seeiso of Lesotho: A friend of Prince Harry and co-founder of Sentebale, a charity focused on providing aid to children diagnosed with HIV.

In addition to the royal guests, there were also several celebrities and friends of the couple in attendance, including George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian, Priyanka Chopra, and Meghan Markle's Suits co-stars.

The ceremony

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The ceremony was a traditional Anglican service, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and was noted for its inclusion of African-American culture.

The bride arrived at the chapel with her mother, Doria Ragland, and proceeded down the aisle unescorted—an unprecedented step for a royal bride in the United Kingdom. Her father, Thomas Markle Sr., was unable to attend due to health concerns. Prince Harry's maternal aunt, Baroness Fellowes, read a scripture lesson from The Song of Solomon, and the sermon was delivered by Michael Curry, the presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church.

The wedding vows were those published in Common Worship, and included the promise to "love and to cherish" each other. The couple exchanged rings—Markle's was fashioned from Welsh gold, and Harry's was made of platinum. After the signing of the registers, the newlyweds sang the national anthem with the guests, before briefly pausing to bow and curtsey to the Queen. They then shared their first kiss as husband and wife on the steps outside the chapel.

Hymns sung during the ceremony included "Lord of All Hopefulness" and "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer", the latter of which was a favourite of Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, and was also sung at her funeral. The music during the service was provided by two choirs, an orchestra, the chapel organ, and fanfare trumpeters. The bride walked down the aisle to "Eternal source of light divine" by Handel, and other music during the service included the motet "If Ye Love Me" by Thomas Tallis, and "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King, arranged for choir by Mark Delisser.

The reception

The newlyweds arrived at the evening reception in ultimate style, riding in a silver-blue 1968 Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero, which has since been converted to electric power. Prince Harry drove the car to Frogmore House in Windsor, with Meghan waving at photographers as they made their way to the evening reception.

The bride wore a bespoke lily-white, high-neck gown made of silk crepe, designed by Stella McCartney. Her hair was styled in a relaxed up-do, with loose strands tucked behind her ears. She wore shoes from Aquazurra, made with silky satin and featuring soles painted baby blue.

The groom wore black tie.

The couple exchanged rings during the ceremony, with Prince Harry choosing to wear a wedding ring—unlike his brother, Prince William. Meghan's ring was fashioned from Welsh gold, while Harry's was made of platinum.

The Prince of Wales gave a speech that moved guests to tears. He described how emotional he felt watching his youngest son, whom he still remembers so clearly as a baby, marry the love of his life. He warmly welcomed Meghan and her mother, Doria Ragland, to Windsor and into his family.

Prince Harry then gave a heartfelt, off-the-cuff speech, in which he made clear he was the happiest man in the world. He, too, was effusive about how beautiful his new wife looked. He prompted laughs as he reminded the guests where they were and told them not to be too raucous and disturb the neighbours when they left the castle. He raised hearty guffaws as he promised that the Americans would not steal the swords.

Sir Elton John, who sang at the funeral service for Harry's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, performed at the lunchtime reception. He also performed at the evening reception, singing Circle of Life, Tiny Dancer, and Your Song.

Meghan Markle gave a speech at the evening reception. Her father, Thomas Markle, would have traditionally been the one to address guests at the event, but he did not attend the wedding following emergency heart surgery.

Music boomed from the grounds of Windsor Castle as Harry and Meghan's guests danced the night away. Soul classics and dance floor-fillers filled the night's air as revellers continued to celebrate late into the night. A huge firework display lit up the sky over Windsor.

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