Harry And Meghan's Tennessee Wedding Time

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding took place on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The ceremony began at 12:00 midday BST. The couple's wedding date was unusual as royal weddings typically take place on weekdays. The groom is a member of the British royal family, while the bride is American and had a successful career as an actress prior to the wedding. The wedding was a star-studded affair, with a host of celebrities and public figures in attendance, including George Clooney, Serena Williams, Idris Elba, and Oprah Winfrey.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding date and location

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The ceremony began at 12 pm BST (7 am ET), followed by a carriage procession through Windsor at 1 pm BST (8 am ET).

The choice of venue was a break from tradition for the royal family. Prince Harry's brother, Prince William, married Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London, while St George's Chapel has a capacity of 800 compared to Westminster Abbey's 2000. However, the chapel holds significance for Prince Harry, as he was baptised there in 1984, and it is located near Eton College, which he attended. The venue has also played host to several other royal weddings, including those of Prince Harry's cousin, Princess Eugenie, and Jack Brooksbank, and his uncle, Prince Edward, and Sophie Rhys-Jones.

The wedding ceremony was officiated by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, and included a notable address by American Bishop Michael Bruce Curry, who quoted Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1957 "Love Your Enemies" speech. The ceremony was followed by two receptions: a lunchtime reception hosted by the Queen at St George's Hall, and an intimate evening affair hosted by Prince Charles at Frogmore House.

The wedding ceremony

The bride and groom arrived at the chapel separately, with Meghan arriving with a party of junior attendants. She was met halfway down the aisle by her future father-in-law, King Charles III, who escorted her to the altar where Prince Harry was waiting. The ceremony was conducted according to the Christian liturgy for Holy Matrimony and was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. The Dean of Windsor, David Conner, also conducted the service.

The ceremony included several readings and musical performances. A scripture lesson from The Song of Solomon was read by Prince Harry's maternal aunt, Baroness Fellowes. The sermon was delivered by Michael Curry, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, who quoted Martin Luther King Jr. in his address. The ceremony also featured a performance by the Kingdom Choir, who sang "Stand By Me". The choir is a London-based, black gospel group that gained international prominence after their appearance at the royal wedding.

The couple's wedding vows followed the standard set of vows from the Church of England, which included the promise "to love and to cherish" each other. Notably, Meghan omitted the word "obey" from her vows, following in the footsteps of Princess Diana and Kate Middleton. The vows were sealed with the exchange of rings—a tradition in Western wedding ceremonies. Meghan's ring was made of Welsh gold, while Prince Harry's ring was made of platinum.

After the signing of the registers, the couple, along with their guests, sang the national anthem. They then shared their first married kiss on the steps outside the chapel, following the tradition of other royal couples. They exited the chapel to the song "This Little Light of Mine" by Etta James and were driven away in an open-top Ascot Landau horse-drawn carriage.

The wedding guests

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a star-studded affair, with 600 guests in attendance. The guest list included extended royal family members, friends, and high-profile figures from the worlds of Hollywood, music, and sport.

The bride's pals Serena Williams and Priyanka Chopra showed up for the ceremony, as did her Suits co-stars Abigail Spencer, Gabriel Macht, and Patrick J. Adams (with his wife, Troian Bellisario). Prince Harry's ex-girlfriends, Cressida Bonas and Chelsy Davy, were also in attendance.

Several famous couples graced the event with their presence, including George and Amal Clooney, Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford, and Victoria and David Beckham. Other notable celebrity guests included Idris Elba, who served as the couple's DJ, and Elton John, who performed at the daytime luncheon. Oprah Winfrey, James Corden, and Tom Hardy were also among the guests.

The talk show host, James Corden, later revealed that Harry had asked him to do a performance and that he attended the wedding dressed in a Tudor outfit.

The wedding ceremony and celebrations also included the participation of members of the British Armed Forces, with approximately 250 personnel involved.

The wedding party

The bridesmaids wore Givenchy dresses made of ivory silk radzimir with short puff sleeves, pockets, and pleated skirts. They also wore flower crowns that matched Meghan's bouquet. The page boys wore uniforms resembling the Blues and Royals frock coat with their initials embroidered into the shoulder straps.

Meghan's friend Jessica Mulroney was given a special seat closest to the couple and served as the bride's unofficial maid of honor.

The wedding looks

The bride, Meghan Markle, wore a simple and elegant dress designed by British designer 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 silk veil was 16 feet long and was embroidered with 55 flowers, representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as Wintersweet, which grows in front of Nottingham Cottage, and the California Poppy, the state flower of California. The veil was secured by a diamond bandeau tiara, made in 1932 for Queen Mary, and loaned to Markle by Queen Elizabeth II. The centre brooch had been a wedding gift to Queen Mary from the County of Lincoln in 1893. The tiara is a platinum band made up of eleven sections and a detachable centre brooch with interlaced opals and diamonds. Markle's hair was styled with "face-framing fringe tucked behind her ears" by Serge Normant. Her makeup, done by Dior makeup artist Daniel Martin, was described as "a soft brown eyeshadow" with a minimal base. Markle's nails were painted in a "neutral pink-y beige". Her bouquet, designed by Philippa Craddock, contained "forget-me-nots, scented sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine and astrantia, and sprigs of myrtle".

Markle's wedding jewellery included white gold and diamond earrings and a bracelet made by Cartier. For the evening reception, she changed into a halter-neck, open-back dress by Stella McCartney and an emerald-cut aquamarine ring that once belonged to Princess Diana.

The groom, Prince Harry, and the best man, Prince William, wore the frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals, in which both were commissioned, and Prince Harry served for 10 years, including in combat in Afghanistan. The uniforms were made by Dege & Skinner, gentleman's tailors and uniform makers, of Savile Row, London. Prince Harry wore the rank of major with the star of the Royal Victorian Order, of which he is a Knight Commander, along with several other medals. Prince William, also with the rank of major, had the EIIR cypher on his shoulder straps and gold aiguillettes on his right shoulder. The page boys wore uniforms by Dege & Skinner that resembled the uniform worn by the groom and best man.

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