Kids As Bridesmaids: Meghan Markle's Unconventional Choice Explained

Meghan Markle's bridesmaids were all children, which is in keeping with British royal wedding tradition. Markle's bridesmaids included several of the royal couple's godchildren and their friends' children. Markle chose not to have a maid of honour, so as not to choose between her best girlfriends. Instead, she included her closest friends' children as bridesmaids and page boys.

Royal tradition

Royal bridesmaids in the UK tend to be children, a tradition that Meghan Markle followed when she wed Prince Harry. The bridal party is usually filled with a handful of young guests, including the children of the couple's close friends and godchildren.

Markle's bridesmaids included Princess Charlotte, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and several of the couple's godchildren: Florence van Cutsem, Zalie Warren, Remi Litt, Rylan Litt, and Ivy Mulroney. The boys in the bridal party were known as page boys and included Prince George, Jasper Dyer, and John and Brian Mulroney.

The bridal party wore outfits designed to mimic the bride and groom's attire. The girls wore ivory dresses designed by Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller, with puffed sleeves, double silk ribbon bows, pockets, and pleated skirts. The boys wore miniature versions of Prince Harry's Blues and Royals frockcoat, made by tailors Dege & Skinner in Savile Row.

The choice of children as bridesmaids is a notable difference from bridal parties in the US, where bridesmaids are typically the bride's closest friends.

Meghan's closest friends' children

Meghan Markle chose not to have a maid of honour at her wedding to Prince Harry, as she did not want to choose between her best girlfriends. Instead, she included several of her goddaughters as attendants, alongside Princess Charlotte.

The bridesmaids included Ivy Mulroney, the four-year-old daughter of Markle's good friend and stylist Jessica Mulroney. Jessica's seven-year-old twin sons, John and Brian, were page boys and held Meghan's veil as she walked down the aisle.

Remi and Rylan, the six and seven-year-old daughters of Meghan's close friend Benita Litt, an LA-based brand curator and bag designer, were also bridesmaids. Meghan referred to the two girls as her "fairy goddaughters" on a now-deleted Instagram post.

The inclusion of these children in the wedding party represents a stark contrast with the bridesmaids who accompanied the Duchess of Cambridge down the aisle in 2011, who were all connected to William's side of the family.

The bridesmaids' dresses

The bridesmaids' shoes were designed by Aquazurra, one of Meghan's favourite footwear designers. Each pair was monogrammed with the bridesmaids' initials and the wedding date—a gift from Meghan for the children to keep as a memento of the day. The tiny bouquets that the girls carried were designed by royal florist Philippa Craddock and were created to replicate Meghan's bridal bouquet.

The dresses were the subject of a disagreement between Meghan and her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, in the lead-up to the wedding. According to Prince Harry's memoir, Spare, Kate texted Meghan four days before the wedding to say that her daughter Princess Charlotte's dress didn't fit. Meghan suggested that Kate take Charlotte to see the tailor, but Kate insisted that all the dresses needed to be remade. The disagreement escalated, and Meghan was reportedly left in tears.

The tailor, Ajay Mirpuri of Mirpuri Bespoke, has since spoken out about the incident, confirming that all six bridesmaids' dresses needed to be altered. He described the situation as stressful for all involved and noted that his team worked long hours to ensure the dresses were ready in time for the wedding.

The bridesmaids' shoes

The designer, Edgardo Osorio, expressed his delight that Meghan chose his brand for the royal wedding. Meghan is a longtime fan of Aquazurra, having worn their shoes for her engagement announcement and to a Commonwealth Women's Empowerment reception in April. Osorio noted that Meghan's style tends to be "elegant, simple and sleek" and that she "always accentuates with a beautiful pair of shoes".

The bridesmaids' bouquets

In the official wedding portraits, two of the little bridesmaids, Ivy Mulroney and Florence van Cutsem, can be seen sharing a bouquet. This is because Ivy played a special role during the ceremony, holding Meghan's bouquet as she walked down the aisle.

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