Rhiannon Hendricks
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was estimated to cost around $33 million, with security costing around $32 million. While the royal family paid for the core aspects of the wedding, such as the church service, music, flowers, decorations, and the reception, it is expected that Meghan paid for her wedding dress, which is rumoured to have cost $135,600. The security costs for the wedding were covered by British taxpayers, as is customary for royal weddings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Wedding | May 19, 2018 |
| Number of Ceremonies | 2 |
| Location | Windsor Castle |
| Venue | St. George's Chapel |
| Bride's Maiden Name | Meghan Markle |
| Groom's Title | Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex |
| Bride's Title | Duchess of Sussex |
| Best Man | Prince William |
| Godchildren in Attendance | 5 or 6 |
| Reason for Missing Friend's Wedding | Security Concerns |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding date
The wedding was televised and live-streamed around the world, attracting an estimated 1.9 billion viewers. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex exchanged vows in a traditional ceremony, with a gospel choir and a cake made by Claire Ptak. The couple's engagement was announced on November 27, 2017, and Harry designed the engagement ring, which featured a diamond from Botswana and two smaller stones from Princess Diana's collection.
The wedding paid tribute to Princess Diana, with all three of her siblings in attendance, and Jane Fellows giving a reading. Meghan's bridal outfit included a piece of fabric from Diana's wedding dress, and her engagement ring featured two diamonds from Diana's collection. Prince Harry and his best man, Prince William, wore the frock coat uniform of the Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons). Harry asked and received the Queen's permission to keep his beard, which was usually only permitted under exceptional circumstances in the British Army.
The couple's wedding invitations were mailed out in late March, and the Queen gave her formal blessing to the marriage, as required by the Successions to the Crown Act. The wedding was followed by a traditional lunch reception and a private evening party, with Idris Elba serving as a DJ.
BYOB Wedding: How to Inform Your Guests in Advance
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The wedding venue
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding venue was St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The venue was chosen for its intimate space, in contrast to the more grandiose Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton wed. The chapel, with its capacity of 800 people, offered a more fitting size for the couple's wedding.
St. George's Chapel holds a special significance for the royal family, with a long history of royal weddings. The first wedding to take place there was in 1863, between King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. The chapel boasts magnificent Gothic architecture, particularly noted for its stunning 15th-century stone fan vaulting.
The choice of venue reflected Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's desire for a more intimate and personal ceremony. The couple also held their evening wedding reception at Frogmore House, the site of their engagement portraits. The beautiful grounds of Windsor Castle provided a picturesque backdrop for the couple to begin their married life together.
It is worth noting that the couple also had a private ceremony in the gardens of Kensington Palace, three days before the public ceremony. This private ceremony, with only Harry, Meghan, and the Archbishop of Canterbury present, held a special meaning for the couple.
Harry and Meghan: Will They Attend Beatrice's Wedding?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The guest list
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was a grand affair, with a long guest list of royals, celebrities, and friends. The couple had two ceremonies, a private one in their Kensington Palace gardens three days before the public ceremony on 19 May 2018.
The public ceremony took place at St. George's Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle, a venue with a rich history of royal weddings and the final resting place of several monarchs. The guest list included around 1900 invitees, with the royal family, celebrities, and close friends in attendance.
The Royal Family
The royal family was well represented at the wedding. Prince Harry's older brother, Prince William, served as his best man, a break from royal tradition. Their father, King Charles III, was also in attendance, and the couple's first public appearance as a married couple was at his 70th birthday celebration. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William's wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and other members of the royal family were also present.
Celebrities and Friends
The wedding had a star-studded guest list, including many celebrities and friends of the couple. Meghan's friends Serena Williams, Priyanka Chopra, and her "Suits" co-stars Abigail Spencer, Gabriel Macht, and Patrick J. Adams were in attendance. Prince Harry's friends George Clooney, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, James Corden, Sir Elton John, and many others were also present.
Private Ceremony Guests
The private ceremony was a more intimate affair, with only the couple and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in attendance. This ceremony held a special meaning for Harry and Meghan, as it allowed them to exchange vows in a personal and private setting before their public wedding.
Overall, the guest list for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding included a mix of royalty, celebrities, and close friends, reflecting the couple's diverse connections and the significance of their union.
Forte-Meyers Wedding: A Match Made in SNL Heaven
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The wedding dress
Royal wedding dresses are known for their luxurious and high-class style. They are often made with high-quality materials, tailored to perfection, and can be quite expensive. A royal wedding dress typically features a long train, a lush skirt, and intricate details such as sparkly gems, sequins, and delicate lace. The dresses are designed to make the bride feel like a real princess and are often inspired by fairy tales and fantasies.
Honiton lace, a type of bobbin lace made in Honiton, Devon, has been a prominent feature in several Royal Wedding dresses throughout history. Princess Victoria, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria, wore a dress made of white Moiré Antique fabric with three flounces of Honiton lace when she married Prince Frederick of Prussia in 1858. The lace was decorated with roses, shamrocks, and thistles, representing the emblems of England, Ireland, and Scotland.
Another notable royal wedding dress was that of Princess Alice, who married Prince Louis of Hesse in 1862. The wedding took place during a period of deep mourning for the Royal Family, following the death of Prince Albert. Princess Alice's dress reflected the muted nature of the occasion, with a simple style and minimal embellishments. It was described as a "half-high dress with a deep flounce of Honiton lace, a veil of the same fabric, and a wreath of orange blossom and myrtle."
Princess Helena's wedding dress in 1866 also featured Honiton lace, with white satin as the base fabric. The lace was adorned with roses, ivy, and myrtle, adding a touch of elegance to the design. Similarly, Princess Alexandra's wedding dress in 1863 was made of white silk and trimmed with Honiton lace in a patriotic pattern of roses, shamrocks, and thistles.
In more recent times, royal wedding dresses have continued to evolve while retaining their regal elegance. Meghan Markle, for example, reportedly had two wedding ceremonies with Prince Harry, each with a distinct dress. For the private ceremony, Meghan wore a simple, elegant dress, while for the public ceremony, she wore a more elaborate gown designed by Givenchy's artistic director, Clare Waight Keller.
Kate's Wedding: Will She or Won't She?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61uavUUGx2L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![The Royal Tenenbaums (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81bN3xPF0FL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The cake
The wedding cake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was created by Claire Ptak, a London-based pastry chef and food writer who owns Violet Cakes, a boutique bakery in Hackney, East London. The cake was a lemon and elderflower cake, decorated with buttercream and fresh flowers, and was a departure from the traditional fruit cake typically served at royal weddings.
Ptak described her delight at being chosen to make the cake, stating that she shared the same values as the royal couple regarding food provenance, sustainability, seasonality, and flavour. The cake was inspired by the couple's spring wedding date, with a light and modern design that still packed a punch in terms of taste. It consisted of three separate pieces: one two-tier wedding cake and two single-tier cakes, all adorned with 150 fresh flowers, including British peonies and roses.
To create the fresh and fragrant batter, Ptak used 200 Amalfi lemons, 500 organic eggs from Suffolk, and generous amounts of butter, flour, and sugar. She also incorporated 10 bottles of Sandringham Elderflower Cordial, an ingredient that paid homage to the Queen, as it is made from elderflowers from one of her private homes. The elderflower cordial was used in both the cake and the Swiss meringue buttercream frosting.
The final product was a stunning and extravagant creation, a far cry from the traditional fruit cakes of previous royal weddings. It was a true reflection of the royal couple's unique style and a delicious treat for their guests.
Harry and Meghan's Wedding Gifts: What They Might Receive
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, Prince Harry only had two wedding ceremonies, one private and one public, when he married Meghan Markle.
The private ceremony was personally meaningful to the couple, and the public ceremony was legally recognised.
No, Prince Harry did not attend his friend Lord Vivian's wedding despite being in the UK at the time.
