Deborah Chan
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The couple, who first met in 2001 and had been in a relationship since 2003, got engaged in October 2010 while on a private holiday in Kenya. The wedding was a quintessential display of royal pomp and circumstance, with an estimated one billion people watching the ceremony worldwide. The bride's gown, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, became one of the most iconic wedding dresses of all time, with sentimental details like hand-cut lace roses, daffodils, thistles, and shamrocks woven into the sleeves to symbolize England and Wales. The groom, Prince William, wore a red military tunic, honouring his role as Colonel of the Regiment. The couple's wedding day was marked by celebrations across the Commonwealth, with street parties and events honouring the occasion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 April 2011 |
| Location | Westminster Abbey, London, England |
| Bride | Catherine Middleton |
| Groom | Prince William |
| Bride's attire | Ivory and lace wedding dress with blue ribbon, Cartier Halo tiara |
| Groom's attire | Red military tunic |
| Best Man | James Meade and Thomas van Straubenzee |
| Maid of Honour | Pippa Middleton |
| Guests | 1,900 |
| Cost | £23.7 million |
| Honeymoon location | Isle of Anglesey, Wales |
| Anniversary | 29 April 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
Wedding venue and attire
The wedding venue for Prince William and Catherine Middleton's wedding was Westminster Abbey in London, England. The abbey, which usually seats 2000 people, has been the venue for most royal weddings in the last century. The couple's wedding ceremony was attended by about 1900 guests, with many more celebrating outside the storied church and throughout the United Kingdom.
The wedding attire for Prince William was designed by A.W. Hainsworth, a textile mill with a close connection to Kate Middleton's family history. Her great-grandfather, Noel Middleton, was the director of a woollen manufacturer that was bought by A.W. Hainsworth in 1958.
Catherine Middleton wore a custom Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen wedding dress, which received a lot of recognition. The long-sleeved lace and floral-appliquéd ensemble was considered to be very detailed, with many outlets reporting on the amount of work that went into its design.
The maid of honour at the wedding was Pippa Middleton, who has since become a well-known figure in her own right.
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Engagement and proposal
The engagement and proposal of Will and Cate were nothing short of extraordinary. The couple first met in 2001 and their relationship blossomed over the years. On October 20, 2010, William proposed to Catherine, and their engagement was officially announced on November 16, 2010. The proposal itself was a private and intimate moment, with no public details disclosed.
The lead-up to their wedding attracted significant media attention, drawing comparisons to the nuptials of William's parents in 1981. The engagement was marked with an official Alderney £5 coin, featuring their profiles, and a £5 coin for the wedding itself. The Royal Australian Mint and the Royal Canadian Mint also released commemorative coins, while Canada Post issued stamps approved by Clarence House.
The proposal for Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton happened during a whirlwind romance. The couple first met in the mid-1990s when Cate was starring in Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull." Although it wasn't love at first sight, with Cate sharing that she found Andrew arrogant and him thinking she was aloof, their relationship took an unexpected turn during a late-night game of poker. Three weeks after their first kiss, Andrew proposed to Cate.
Cate recalled the proposal with a touch of humour, admitting that she had cooked "the worst meal." She had attempted to stuff a trout with walnuts and goat's cheese, yet despite this culinary disaster, Andrew proposed. The couple tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in December 1997, starting their journey as life partners.
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Wedding vows and rings
For Will and Cate's wedding, the couple may choose to include a ring exchange as part of their ceremony. This typically happens after the vows have been recited. The wedding rings are usually held by a guest seated in the front row or close to the altar, who then places them in the officiant's open palm.
The officiant can then say something along the lines of:
> "The circle represents the earth, the sun, and the universe. It symbolizes wholeness, perfection, and unity. Like circles, these rings have no beginning and no end. They are a fitting symbol, then, to link these two souls forever."
Will and Cate can then exchange rings by placing them on each other's fingers and reciting their personal vows.
For instance, Cate's vows could include a roadmap of their lives together, emphasizing how she promises to support Will in all his pursuits:
> "Will, we started our journey over 10 years ago, and if you told me then that we'd be standing here today, I never would have believed it. It is truly a dream come true. I promised to make the best and right choices for us so our marriage would be like our own Golden Age."
Similarly, Will's vows could be a sweet and simple promise:
> "As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to hold from this day forward."
The vows can be personalized to include inside jokes or romantic movie quotes, or they can be traditional religious vows, including phrases like:
> "In the presence of God/[name of God], I take you to be my wedded wife/faithful husband for all the days of our lives."
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Wedding costs and donations
The wedding of Will and Cate—Prince William and Catherine Middleton—took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The costs of the wedding were covered by the Royal Family and the Middletons, with security and transport paid for by the HM Treasury. The couple requested that donations be made to charities instead of gifts, and they established the Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton Charitable Gift Fund. The overall cost of the event was estimated to be £23.7 million.
The average wedding in the US costs $33,000, with the average cost per guest being $284. However, the cost of a wedding can vary widely depending on location, guest count, and individual priorities. For example, a wedding in a big city like New York or San Francisco will be more expensive than one in a smaller town. The reception venue is often the biggest expense, with couples spending around a quarter of their budget on it. Other significant costs include photography and entertainment, which can cost around $4,000 and $3,000 respectively. Couples who hire a wedding planner can expect to spend about 6% of their budget on an event coordinator, which is approximately $2,000.
There are ways to reduce costs, such as hiring a photographer for a few hours instead of the whole day or skipping extras like prints or an album. A secular officiant is generally cheaper than a religious one, with costs ranging from a few hundred dollars to $1,000 or more. It is important to discuss who will be paying for the officiant, as it is usually the couple unless it is a religious or cultural officiant provided by the family.
Donations can also be made after a wedding. For example, wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and flowers can be donated to non-profit organisations. Food can also be donated to recognised non-profit organisations, and couples can receive a donation letter for tax purposes. Instead of traditional wedding favours, couples can also make a donation to a charity on behalf of their guests.
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Wedding celebrations and events
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton was a grand affair, with celebrations and events leading up to and following the main ceremony. Here is a detailed overview of the wedding celebrations and events:
Pre-Wedding Events and Celebrations
In the months leading up to the wedding, media interest in the couple intensified, with TV programmes providing insights into their relationship and backgrounds. The world also caught a glimpse of Catherine's stunning engagement ring, which previously belonged to Princess Diana. The couple's engagement was announced in November 2010, seven months before their wedding day.
The Wedding Ceremony
On Friday, April 29, 2011, Westminster Abbey in London, England, hosted the wedding ceremony of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. The choice of venue held sentimental value, as it was also the wedding location for Queen Elizabeth II and her father, King George VI. The ceremony was presided over by John Hall, the Dean of Westminster, and conducted by Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, preached the sermon, and a reading was given by Catherine's brother, James.
Catherine arrived at the abbey by car, accompanied by her father, Michael. Her wedding dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, featured lace and ivory with a nine-foot train. She carried a bouquet of myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, sweet william, and hyacinth. Catherine's sister, Pippa, served as her maid of honour, while Prince William's best man was his brother, Prince Harry.
During the ceremony, Prince William and Catherine exchanged vows, with William placing a ring on Catherine's finger. They knelt and prayed, sealing their union according to tradition and their religious customs.
Post-Wedding Celebrations
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, continuing a royal tradition. Over a million people lined the route between Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, and an estimated 5,000 street parties were held across the United Kingdom. The overall cost of the wedding and associated events was estimated to be around £23.7 million, with additional costs for security and flowers.
The wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton was a joyous occasion, filled with love and celebration, and it continues to be remembered as a fairy tale moment in royal history.
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Frequently asked questions
They got married on Friday, 29 April 2011.
The wedding took place at Westminster Abbey in London, England.
Catherine Middleton's wedding dress was an ivory and lace custom gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress featured a V-neckline, long lace sleeves, a full skirt, and a nine-foot train. The groom, Prince William, wore a red military tunic as he had been recently promoted to Colonel of the regiment.
