After all those months of waiting since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement, we can't believe the royal wedding is actually over already. Here, we look back at all the highlights from the couple's historic big day.
The Date
Harry and Meghan tied knot on May 19, 2018. The ceremony started at 12 p.m. noon, local time, which translates to 7:00 a.m. EST.
How to Watch
The royal family livestreamed the event on YouTube. Find more sites and channels that broadcasted the event here.
The Location
The couple wed a St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The Dean of Windsor conducted the service and the Archbishop of Canterbury officiated the vows. Bishop Michael Curry from Chicago contributed a fiery sermon to the program.
Though their wedding venue wasn't Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton wed in 2011, Harry and Meghan still followed a number of royal couples who said "I do" at St. George's. The most recent include Peter Phillips (Harry's cousin) and Autumn Kelly in 2008 and Prince Edward (Harry's uncle) and Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999. Harry's father, Prince Charles, and stepmother, Camilla Parker Bowles, also had a special blessing ceremony here after getting married in a civil service in 2005.
"Windsor is a very special place for Prince Harry, and he and Ms. Markle have regularly spent time there during the last year," a rep from Kensington Palace told People. "They are delighted that the beautiful grounds of Windsor Castle will be where they begin their lives as a married couple."
Prince Harry was also baptized here in 1984.
The Procession
At 1 p.m., after saying their vows, the newlyweds embarked on a procession through the town of Windsor and returned to the castle via the picturesque, tree-lined Long Walk.
The horse-drawn carriage ride was one of the five Ascot Landaus kept by the Royal Mews. The Queen uses one for her procession at the Royal Meeting at Ascot, and two were previously used at the 2011 royal wedding. Harry actually rode on on one during his entrance as best man.
The carriage was be pulled by four Windsor Grey Horses—Milford Haven, Sir Basil, Tyrone and Storm—and two additional horses—Plymouth and Londonderry—will serve as outriders.
The Receptions
There were two afterparties celebrating the newlywed couple. The first will included the 600 guests of the congregation from the wedding ceremony and took place at St. George's Hall. The modern gothic-designed space is the largest room in Windsor Castle, stretching over 180 feet (55.5 meters) long. It typically holds up to 162 for a state banquet, according to the Royal Collection Trust.
The second reception was a private celebration later in the evening hosted by Prince Charles, with about 200 guests at Frogmore House, a royal residence located a half mile away from Windsor Castle. The estate has been in royal possession since the late 1600s and was a favored retreat for Queen Elizabeth II and her family. You might even recognize the location — it’s where Harry and Meghan staged their official engagement portraits. It’s unconfirmed if there will be a performance at the evening festivities, but rumors are circulating that the Spice Girls will serenade the newlyweds and their guests.
Read more on Harry and Meghan's wedding receptions here.
The Proposal
Though the couple's engagement was announced on Monday, November 27, Harry actually proposed to Meghan in London earlier in the month. The couple was having a regular, "cozy night" together at Kensington Palace (they were even in the middle of trying to roast chicken) when Harry "got on one knee," they revealed in their first joint interview.
Markle was so excited she said yes before Harry could even finish proposing. "I was like, 'Can I say yes now?'" she recalled.
"It was a really nice moment, it was just the two of us and I think I managed to catch her by surprise as well," Prince Harry said.
The Rings
The couple's wedding bands are from Cleave and Company. Meghan's ring, a gift from the Queen, is made from Welsh gold. Harry's, on the other hand, is platinum. The groom's decision to wear a band was unexpected after his brother, Prince William, decided not to wear one.
As for Markle's engagement ring, Prince Harry proposed with all-diamond jeweled piece he designed for Meghan. It features a cushion-cut stone in the center, sourced from Botswana, in honor of his and Markle's special getaway trip together. The diamond is flanked by two smaller round-cut stones from Princess Diana's jewelry collection "to make sure she's with us on this crazy journey together," Harry said. The stones are set on a yellow gold band—Markle's favorite.
The ring is from London jeweler Cleave and Company, and Fortune estimates it's worth $1 million due to its precious royal connections.
Learn more about Markle's engagement ring here.
The Dress
For the daytime ceremony, Markle wore a custom bateau-neck wedding gown by Givenchy Haute Couture. Artistic director Clare Waight Keller was behind the top-secret design, after being approached by Markle in January. The two collaborated closely together to arrive to the final design.
The ensemble featured a 16-foot veil (perhaps a tribute to Princess Diana's monarch iteration) that included a flower from each of the 53 nations in the commonwealth embroidered at the hem.
Meghan's second dress was a high-collar, shoulder-baring gown by Stella McCartney. She paired the white silk number with sating Aquazurra pumps and Princess Diana's aquamarine cocktail ring.
Read more on Meghan's wedding gown here.
The Bridal Party
Prince Harry's best man was Prince William. Meghan Markle, however, did not have a maid of honor because she could't choose between her close group of friends. Kate Middleton did not have a designated role for the ceremony.
Ten children served as bridesmaids and page boys, and the tots all have special connections to the couple. Harry's famous niece and nephew Princess Charlotte and Prince George were included in the list, but their baby brother Prince Louis stayed home the day of the wedding. The royal siblings already had plenty of wedding practice at Pippa Middleton's nuptials in May 2017.
The bridesmaids are:
- Princess Charlotte, 3: The royal tot previously served as a bridesmaid at her aunt Pippa Middleton's wedding last year.
- Florence van Cutsem, 3: She's Prince Harry's goddaughter and daughter of Alice van Cutsem and Major Nicholas van Cutsem. Her sister Grace is the infamous frowning flower girl at Prince William and Kate Middleton's 2011 wedding.
- Remi Litt, 6: She's Meghan's goddaughter and daughter of Benita Litt, one of the bride's closest friends, and Darren Litt.
- Rylan Litt, 7: As Remi's big sister, Rylan is also a goddaughter to Meghan and daughter to parents Benita and Darren.
- Ivy Mulroney, 4: She's the daughter of Meghan's best friend, Jessica Mulroney, and Benedict Mulroney. Ivy bonded with Prince Harry after her parents helped him and Meghan hide from paparazzi at their home in early stages of their relationship.
The page boys are:
- Prince George, 4: The third in line to the throne will help out his uncle and future aunt on their big day. Like little sister Charlotte, George also has wedding experience as a page boy for Pippa Middleton's wedding last year.
- Jasper Dyer, 6: He's the godson of Prince Harry and son of Amanda Dyer and Mark Dyer M.V.O. Mark is a former Welsh Guards officer who was equerry to Prince Charles and looked after Harry as he was growing up; he's often considered the prince's "second father" and mentor.
- Brian Mulroney, 7: He's one of Jessica and Benedict Mulroney's twin boys. Like his sister Ivy, he's also had some bonding time with Prince Harry.
- John Mulroney, 7: He's Brian's twin brother and son to Jessica and Benedict Mulroney. He, too, has bonded with "aunt" Meghan's future husband.
The Dress Code
According to a note on the official invitation, guests are urged to wear “uniform, morning coat, or lounge suit” and a “day dress with hat.”
Meghan's Parents' Roles
Meghan's dad, Thomas Markle, didn't attend the ceremony since he was recovering from heart surgery. He was previously slated to walk his daughter down the aisle.
Meghan's mom, Doria Ragland, accompanied her daughter in the car ride from their overnight location, Cliveden House, to St. George's Chapel. The night before the ceremony, the mother-daughter duo was seen arriving to their accommodations.
Who Gave the Bride Away
Prince Charles filled in for Thomas Markle and walked Meghan down the aisle. "The Prince of Wales is pleased to be able to welcome Ms. Markle to The Royal Family in this way," the Palace announced before the wedding day. The switch-up garnered no hard feelings from Markle Sr. He told TMZ he's "honored and grateful" Charles is replacing him.
Upon entry, Markle walked part of the aisle herself, and joined her new father-in-law halfway before reaching the front of the Chapel.
The Guests
The usual suspects from the royal family were in attendance, including the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte.
Meghan's friends on the list included her BFF Jessica Mulroney, tennis champ Serena Williams, Priyanka Chopra, and her Suits costars (including Sarah Rafferty, Patrick J. Adams, Gina Torres, Gabriel Macht, and Rick Hoffman). Big-time celebs like George and Amal Clooney and Sir Elton John were also at the ceremony.
Who was snubbed? State officials (including the Obamas, President Trump, and Theresa May) due to precedent, Harry's cousin Lady Amelia Windsor, and Meghan's estranged half-siblings.
See the full speculated guest list here.
The Engagement Portraits
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle released their official engagement photos nearly a month after announcing their betrothal. They were taken by Alexi Lubomirski at Frogmore House, Windsor in mid-December.
The Invitations
Exquisite cards were made by Barnard and Westwood, a fine printing company that’s been crafting royal wedding invitations since 1985. The invites feature an elegant script and the Prince of Wales’ three-feathered badge in gold ink. The printers used American ink on English paper, representing the union between Markle and Harry.
The message reads:
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, K.G., K.T.
requests the pleasure of the company of
________
at the Marriage of His Royal Highness Prince Harry of Wales
with Ms Meghan Markle
at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
on Saturday, 19th May, 2018 at 12 Noon
followed by a reception at Windsor Castle
The couple sent out about 800 invitations (600 for the ceremony and lunch party, and 200 for the evening reception). See how Meghan and Harry's invitations compare to William and Kate's here.
The Wedding Cake
Claire Ptak, owner of Violet Cakes, and organic bakery in London, created a “lemon elderflower cake that will incorporate the bright flavors of spring,” Kensington Palace announced. It was covered in buttercream frosting and fresh flowers.
Like Markle, Ptak was raised in California before moving to London to launch her business. The bride-to-be also once interviewed the pastry chef for her blog, The Tig. Ptak has praised the couple for sharing her values in “food provenance” and “sustainability.”
Though the flavor is uncommon for royal weddings, it still sounds delicious. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the pastry being made.
Read more about Harry and Meghan's cake here.
The Floral Arrangements
Florist Phillppa Craddock was responsible for the floral decorations inside St. George's Chapel, the bridal bouquet, the bridesmaids flowers, and the décor at the receptions. According to CNN, she opted for "white garden roses, peonies and foxgloves, as well as branches of beech, birch and hornbeam for the chapel's floral displays." It's also been reported that the floral decorations will include white roses, as a loving tribute to Princess Diana.
Even Markle's bouquet paid homage to Harry's late mother; they consisted of forget-me-nots, Diana's favorite flower.
The Diana Tribute
Kensington Palace confirmed that Harry and Meghan would incorporate Diana's memory in their wedding ceremony through her surviving family members.
"All three siblings of Diana, Princess of Wales will be in attendance and Lady Jane Fellowes will give the reading. Prince Harry and Ms. Markle both feel honored that Lady Jane will be representing her family and helping to celebrate the memory of the late Princess on the wedding day," the palace said in a statement.
The Music
The ceremony was music-directed by James Vivian. Participating musicians included the boys choir of St. George's Chapel, 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, and Karen Gibson and the Kingdom gospel choir.
The orchestra, conducted by Christopher Warren-Green, includes instrumentalists from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the English Camber Orchestra, and the Philharmonia. Soprano opera singer Elin Manahan Thomas and trumpeteer David Blackadder also participated.
The Kingdom Choir's performance of "Stand by Me" was specifically a memorable moment. Read more about the royal wedding music here.
The Military’s Role
More than 250 members of the armed forces, from “Regiments and units that hold a special relationship with Prince Harry,” were involved in the ceremonial duties at the wedding and carriage procession, at the request of Kensington Palace. The military holds a place in Prince Harry’s heart, after he served in armed forces for 10 years.
Members of the Household Cavalry formed a staircase party at St. George’s Chapel for the wedding, according to the palace. The Captain’s Escort of the cavalry also joined the State Trumpeters in providing “ceremonial support” for the occasion.
Streets within Windsor Castle were lined by:
- Members of the Windsor Castle Guard, from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards
- Royal Navy Small Ships and Diving (Harry is a Commodore-in-Chief)
- Royal Marines (Harry is Captain General, succeeding his grandfather Prince Philip, who retired from the position in 2017)
- 3 Regiment Army Air Corps (Harry served in Afghanistan with their 662 Squadron)
- The Royal Gurkha Rifles (Harry served with their 1st Battalion in Afghanistan in 2007)
- RAF Honington (Harry is Honorary Air Commandant)
The Wedding Portraits
Harry and Meghan posed for wedding portraits with their families, bridesmaids, and page boys after the carriage procession Windsor Castle.
Alexi Lubomirski took the official photos after the wedding at Windsor Castle. He's the same photographer who took the couple's engagement portraits at Frogmore House late last year. He's also a former resident of Botswana, which holds a special place in Harry and Meghan's hearts. The photographer is royal, too—he's a prince of the Polish House of Lubomirski. He shoots regularly for Harper's BAZAAR. His recent works include Selena Gomez's March 2018 cover story and Angelina Jolie's November 2017 cover story.
The Honeymoon
Harry and Meghan's honeymoon destination has not been confirmed yet, but there is speculation the couple will head on a luxurious safari trip to Namibia. Regardless of the location, the pair will not embark on their trip right away, as they have an official engagement lined up the week after their wedding.
Watch this space for more updates. In the meantime, read up on more royal wedding news below.
Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now.
