It doesn't take a fortune teller to predict
that the royal wedding between Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle
will be the event of 2018. I mean, variations on Kate Middleton's dress from
2011 are still being walked down the aisle today. But at the moment, apart from
the large-scale event it's sure to be, we know next to nothing about the
upcoming nuptials.
Luckily, there are a lot of hints out there,
if you know where to look. Let's start with what we know:
What
We Do KnowOn November 28th, Kensington Palace announced that the wedding would take
place in May 19, 2018. We also know it will take place at St. George's Chapel in
Windsor Castle, and that the Royal Family is footing the bill.
Often, as with William and Kate, royals are
wed at Westminster Abbey. It isn't unheard of for a royal wedding to be held in
St. George's Chapel, however. Prince Edward, the groom's uncle, married his
wife Sophie there in 1999. As for the guest list, we know the Queen will
be in attendance, and can assume Prince Charles and Prince William will be
there, as well. William and Kate are expecting their next child in April, so
Kate's attendance will likely hinge on the timing of the littlest royal's birth
date. We know that Meghan Markle will be baptized
and confirmed in the Church of England prior to the big day, and will become a
British citizen. Apart from that, we honestly don't know a lot!
What
Tradition Tells UsThankfully, the Brits (especially the royal
Brits) love their traditions. As a result, we can make some educated guesses
about what will happen this time around. There will most likely be a bachelor and
bachelorette party. In the UK, these are referred to as Stag and Hen parties.
William and Kate each had a very secret party before their wedding, so we can
assume the latest couple will follow suit. As for the wedding party, British Royal brides
usually have younger bridesmaids, generally not older than 12. We saw a
departure from that with Kate's sister Pippa joining her ranks - maybe Meghan's
American influence will bring even older bridesmaids to the party, so to speak.Pageboys - the British equivalent of our
ushers - are similarly youthful on the groom's side. The Best Man, however, can
be any age. We're guessing Prince Harry will return the favor bestowed upon him
by his older brother and have William stand up with him.
The
Guest ListGuests at a Royal Wedding tend to be foreign
heads of state, various dignitaries, and celebrities. As Prince Harry is close
with the Obamas, it's a safe bet to assume they'll be in attendance. Meghan's friend group is dotted with
celebrities - watch for actresses Abigail Spencer, and Priyanka Chopra, Suits
co-star Sarah Rafferty, TV Producer Lindsay Jill Roth, tennis star Serena
Williams, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie
(Markle and Mrs. Gregoire-Trudeau share a stylist).
TransportationWhile it's tradition for Royals to arrive at
church in some form of horse-drawn carriage, recent marriages have seen a shift
to another kind of horsepower. While William and Kate left the church in the
same horse-drawn carriage as Charles and Diana, their arrival and departure
from the festivities were in a Rolls Royce and an Aston Martin, respectively. With an American bride, we might see a
continuation of the new automotive tradition, but the couple may opt to include
more traditional elements to appease those already shocked that the Prince is
marrying an American - and a divorcee! My guess is that, given Harry's close
relationship with his late mother, we'll see Charles and Diana's carriage ride
once more.
The
BouquetSince Queen Victoria's wedding in 1840, all
Royal wedding bouquets have contained a sprig of myrtle, symbolizing love and
hope. Keep an eye out for lily of the valley, as well. In addition to
symbolizing a long and happy marriage, the flower was carried at many royal
weddings, including that of Harry's parents.
Finally
- The Dress!While this detail will remain a BIG secret
until Meghan steps out of the car or carriage, she did drop some hints in a Glamour Magazine interview.
According to Markle, "Classic and simple is the name of the game, perhaps
with a modern twist."
Some of her favorite wedding dress designers
include Delphine Manivet, Christos Costarellos, Ellie Saab, and J. Mendel. Rumor has it, however, that she's
considering Amanda Wakeley and Catherine Walker, two of Diana's favorite
designers. She may also look to Kate Middleton's dress designer, Jenny Packham,
or longtime friend Misha Nonoo. Regardless of who designs it, there is one
thing that's a safe bet - Meghan will look stunning coming down the aisle.
So there you have it - everything we know and
want to know about the upcoming Royal Wedding! Do you have any predictions? Let
us know in the comments!
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