Harry And Meghan's Wedding Time

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at 12:00 midday BST. The ceremony was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The wedding was unique in that it took place on a weekend, breaking with the royal tradition of weekday weddings. The couple exchanged vows in front of 600 guests and millions of viewers worldwide, with the ceremony televised and live-streamed internationally.

The wedding date and time

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 commenced at 12:00 midday BST (7:00 am ET) and was followed by a carriage procession through Windsor at 1:00 pm BST (8:00 am ET).

The wedding date was unusual as it fell on a Saturday. Historically, British royal weddings have been held on weekdays. For example, Prince William and Kate Middleton got married on a Friday, while Prince Charles and Princess Diana tied the knot on a Wednesday, and Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip exchanged vows on a Thursday.

The wedding day was not declared a bank holiday, which is also a break from tradition. However, as the wedding fell on a weekend, crowds were still able to gather and celebrate the occasion.

The wedding venue

The choice of St George's Chapel also reflected Prince Harry's position as sixth in line to the throne, allowing for a more low-key ceremony compared to weddings of those closer to the throne. The venue's quaint setting, just outside of London, contributed to the intimate atmosphere the couple desired for their special day.

The historic chapel provided a beautiful backdrop for the royal wedding, with its rich history and architectural grandeur. The bride, Meghan Markle, made her way down the aisle, escorted by her mother, Doria Ragland, until she reached the Quire, where she was joined by Prince Charles, who walked her the rest of the way to the altar.

The wedding invitations

The dress code for men was "Dress Uniform, Morning Coat or Lounge Suit", while women were asked to wear "Day Dress and Hat".

The wedding cake

The cake was a departure from the traditional fruit cake that is usually served at royal weddings. Instead, the couple opted for a spring-inspired flavour, with the elderflower cordial coming from the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, one of Queen Elizabeth's private homes. The cake was also covered in buttercream, another break from the royal tradition of using royal icing.

The cake was made up of three separate tiers, with two single-tier cakes and one two-tier cake, displayed on gold ornate stands from the royal family's collection. The cake took Ptak and her team of six bakers five days to make in the kitchen at Buckingham Palace.

Ptak described the flavour as "sweet from the buttercream, tart from the lemon curd, and ethereal from the elderflower". The cake was also adorned with 150 fresh flowers, including three types of peonies, Meghan's favourite flower, and roses.

The cost of the cake was estimated to be around $62,000, with each slice costing around $100.

The wedding rings

Harry's decision to wear a wedding ring was notable as many British royal men, including his brother Prince William and grandfather Prince Philip, choose not to wear one. This choice is often seen as a matter of personal preference rather than strict tradition. By wearing a wedding band, Harry and Meghan once again demonstrated their willingness to approach things from a more modern perspective.

Meghan's wedding band complemented her engagement ring, which was also crafted by Cleave and Company. The engagement ring featured a large central diamond from Botswana, with two smaller diamonds from Princess Diana's personal collection. The simple gold band was later replaced with a thin, yellow gold band set with micro-pavé diamonds by celebrity jeweller Lorraine Schwartz.

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