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{Clare will be marrying Chris on 5th May 2018 at Laura Ashley The Manor in Elstree, UK — Click here to read all Clare’s planning posts to date}
Speculating On The Royal Wedding…
Since the announcement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement I have been watching with extremely keen interest. For a while there, whilst we waited to find out when this Spring wedding would actually take place I panicked that Meghan and I would be wedding twins. This was far from ideal. I need to be watching that wedding live. I will be waiting with bated breath to find out every fine detail. That, and the fact that I really would have liked to have seen what Meghan went for, in case I could pick up any last minute inspo, meant that I was keeping it all crossed that the big day would fall before my own on May 5th 2018.
Well, as luck would have it, Meghan and I are not sharing the same wedding day, so I will at least be able to enjoy hers live; but I do sadly have to go first and will not be stealing any of the royal wedding plans for myself!
So, as I get into my final stages (eeeekkk) of wedding planning, I have been speculating (with a little bit of help from some questionable sources of research) on what the (second!) wedding of the year is going to include!
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A sophisticated dress
Alas I can’t publicly compare my dress to my vision of Meghan’s in the interest of giving my fiancà© and guests a lovely surprise on my own big day; but let’s compare Meghan’s to sister in law to-be Kate.
If Meghan has shared any of the same dress considerations as me, she will want to walk down the aisle in something completely different to any of her close friends and family members. She needs to create something truly memorable and unique.
Where Kate did the romantic, lace, classic English number I can see Meghan taking on a simpler, sophisticated yet subtlety sexy look. After all, if you have a body to die for, you’re going to want to showcase that right?! Despite the restrictions placed on a royal wedding that is to be held in the Queens chapel (I am thinking sleeves are a must), I think Meghan will add just a touch of the more daring side, a bit of a low back perhaps, or a fishtail cut to show off a fabulous figure?! And as for fabric, I am certain that lace is off the cards!
Maybe White peonies?
It’s reported that Meghan’s favourite flowers are peonies, which I couldn’t agree with more. My own spring wedding is set to have a fair few scattered around and I sense that Harry and Meg’s florist bill may be a little higher than my own! I’m predicting some impressive, large scale floral installations to really personalise the venue and add a romantic touch of Spring. Meghan’s wardrobe seems to be fairly muted in colour of late so I can picture seas of shades of white blooms – fabulous! I’m with you there Meghan and have opted for a very muted colour palette myself.
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A cake with a geometric design
It has been reported that Harry and Meghan are having a banana cake at their reception, and whilst I am dubious about the accuracy of these sources of information I am in love with the unconventional idea! I myself have opted to throw convention out of the window when it comes to wedding cake choices, and have actually decided to not have an official wedding cake as such (cue: gasps of horror from many friends and family members!)
Whether it’s a banana cake or not, I feel that Harry and Meghan will definitely go for something a little un-traditional, perhaps something fabulous and modern like a geometric, ombre design.
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Dancing all night long
It’s no secret Prince Harry had a wild partying past, and I am sure Meghan can enjoy a good party herself. I can imagine there will be an all night, dance filled evening reception where the couple will truly be able to show their personality, away from the restraints of a public audience and the watchful eyes of the older royals. Perhaps this will be where Meghan will be able to finally wear a more revealing dress and wow her guests in a stunning evening gown?
I always thought I would want a change of outfit, but after finding ‘the one’ just a couple months ago I love it far too much to want to ever take it off again! Instead, I will be getting my fix through seeing my fiancà©, Chris transform himself with a new evening outfit, selected last month (day time outfit still to be confirmed- ooops!)
I did ponder if our royal pair would take inspiration from the recent wedding of Pippa Middleton and adopt a change of dress code from day time, to evening with black tie. I do wonder though if their more relaxed, laid back characters will opt a little differently – only time will tell!
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mage by Chiko Photography from Olivia and Paul’s Jewish wedding
Another Four Months To Go…
So, another four months of anticipation to go, and with my own wedding planning journey coming to a frighteningly rapid end, I am becoming more consumed with my own to-do lists, last minute budget changes and what feels like an endless list of appointments to be made! Whilst I am sure Meghan has an army of helpers at her side and probably doesn’t have a fiancà© asking for spreadsheets with budget details, I am sure she is still feeling the strain of planning this most important and wonderful day.
It is definitely clear that Harry and Meghan are bucking a number of royal and traditional English trends and I am sure their wedding will not disappoint us in this area. With the huge array of amazing couples sharing their very non-conventional weddings on Smashing the Glass, this is a community where we are used to seeing interfaith weddings, same sex couples and many others who have crossed boundaries both as a couple and in the way they are celebrating their marriage; boundaries that not so long ago may have been far harder to overcome.
I cannot express how happy I am that the Royal family will be enriched with this new princess who not only happens to be American, but mixed race and previously married too! How fantastic this is now both possible and being celebrated so openly by the monarchy.
It may not be a Jewish wedding that Harry and Meghan are having, but I sure do feel that they are doing it their way, and for that reason they must surely be a truly ‘smashing’ couple! I will be there on May 19, recording every detail!
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Clare & Chris’ Wedding Vendors booked so far:
Photographer — Catherine Carter
Videographer — Jeff Woods
Venue — Laura Ashley The Manor
Dress – purchased at The Wedding Club
