How to throw your own Royal wedding

Getting married? Here's how to channel the biggest wedding of the year...
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Alice Howarth7 May 2018

Are you getting married? Are you planning to be glued to the television to see Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tie the knot later this month? Are you thinking you might even take notes of all the minute details so you can nick them for your own nuptials? Who could blame you...

Whether you’re a die-hard Royalist or just want to inject a little lavish inspiration into your ceremony, we've done the hard work for you and collated the ultimate check list for how to throw your own royal wedding.

So, instead of frantically scoring annotations on their big day, you can sit back, sip your Pimms, holla, whoop and shed a little tear as Markle makes her grand entrance sans any distraction.

Below, Bridebook’s Hamish Shephard, reveals all...

Encourage fabulous hats

(Suzannah)

The royal wedding guests are sure to set trends and impress spectators with some suitably glamorous head-wear, why not encourage your own guests to adorn their finest, most colourful hats, too? From fancy fascinators to sequin headbands or wide-brimmed show-stoppers... anything goes. That’s the spirit!

Hire A Castle

(Toni Moeckel/Unsplash) 
Toni Moeckel / Unsplash

What better way to celebrate your wedding in royal fashion than in your very own castle?

With over 220 castle venues across the country available to hire, there’s plenty of opportunity to nab your fairytale venue and give your guests the royal treatment. Guests will be blown away by the setting, steeped in history and oozing regal charm.

See castles here on Bridebook

Morning suits for men, summer dresses for women

Chris Giles/Bridebook

Encourage guests to wear their finest summery gladrags, including traditional morning wedding dress for men. Complete with brightly coloured waistcoats, they are the perfect display of British style.

Choose a spring date

Pixabay

Royals typically marry in April and May, avoiding the busy summer season. Follow suit to ensure all your guests can make the date and be the first wedding of the season too.

Host a post-church Summer cocktail reception

Brooke Lark / Unsplash

Make sure the extended families can share in the celebrations by hosting drinks straight after the marriage service (with plenty of seating available!). Elderly relatives and distant aunts and uncles will love to be included, and then they need not take up precious space on the dance floor at the party later!

Use seasonal local flowers

(Bloom & Wild)
Bloom & Wild

Royal brides typically incorporate seasonal, British flowers into their bouquets, church flowers and reception decorations. There is so much choice year-round, and you really can source locally and be more sustainable.

Spring and summer brides are very fortunate in terms of picking their wedding flowers as there is so much in season.

Dress Up For Dinner

(Stocksnap / Pixabay)
(Stocksnap / Unsplash)

If you’re really keen for your guests to party on late in to the night consider a black tie dress code for the evening to really set the tone. With more and more brides choosing themselves to change in to something a little more ‘disco’, they’ll be in good company when the party frocks come out to play.

Both Make A Speech

Dana Marin / Unsplash

Follow in Meghan and Harry’s footsteps and have both the bride and groom make a speech. It’s the one time in your life you’ll have all your friends and family in one room listening to you after all, so use the opportunity to publicly thank those who are the most important to you.

Personalise your food and drink

food.jpg, by admin
Rawpixel / Unsplash

Caterers are offering more and more flexibility with bespoke menus. Consider designing your own cocktail or alcoholic drink based on your favourite tipple with a nod to your love story in the name. We are sure Royal Wedding guests will be treated to a ‘Meghito’ or two!

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