Seven Wedding Ideas to Borrow from Meghan Markle
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Chances are if Meghan Markle likes it, we will too, whether it is the clothes she wears, her favorite wine, or her jewelry. Maybe it's her L.A. sensibility, but there is an inherent approachability to the Duchess of Sussex, even when it comes to her royal wedding. From her elegant invitations to the best wedding favor ever, we've highlighted the royal wedding tricks that all couples should steal for their nuptials, below.
Design a Custom Engagement Ring
Harry designed a custom diamond ring with court jewelers Cleave and Company, combining one diamond with two smaller stones from Princess Diana's collection. But you don’t have to have an in with the Queen to design a custom ring. Many independent jewelers will work with you on a one-of-a-kind piece, as will auction houses like Christie’s and Sotheby’s—provided you buy the original jewels from them, of course.
Opt for Simple Invitations
Don’t get us wrong, we love a painterly, bespoke invitation, but there is something to be said for a minimal, elegant version. Harry and Meghan followed royal tradition by using stationers Barnard & Westwood, which holds a royal warrant. Similar to William and Kate’s invitations, they featured text and a gold stamp of the Prince of Wales Three-Feathered Badge. To create your own sophisticated invitations, Smythson also holds a royal warrant and Minted offers both letterpress and foil-press invitations to get the same look.
Ask for a Wedding Reading
Harry’s aunt and Diana’s older sister, Baroness Jane Fellowes, read from the Song of Solomon at the church ceremony, in part as a tribute to Diana. It can be difficult to choose how to honor loved ones at your wedding. On the one hand, you may want them to feel present in some form, on the other, it can add emotion to an already overwhelming day. Choosing someone as a representative to give a reading during the ceremony can be a sweet, special moment.
Assemble a Sentimental Bouquet
Meghan’s bouquet was another detail that referenced Diana and royal tradition. In addition to sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine and astrantia, her all-white bouquet included forget-me-nots, which were Diana’s favorite flower, and a sprig of myrtle, which has been included in all royal bouquets since Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Victoria’s wedding.
Choose an Unexpected Wedding Cake
It’s not unheard of to forgo a wedding cake in favor of a different dessert, but there can be a lot of creativity in a seemingly straightforward cake. Royal wedding cakes are typically fruit cakes, but Meghan and Harry had a lemon elderflower cake created by Claire Ptak, a pastry chef who owns London-based bakery Violet Cakes. This might not sound too wild to American readers, but it was a shock to traditional Brits.
Decorate with a Floral Arch
From an Indian wedding to a Jewish chuppah, a floral arch is an adaptable piece of décor that is always stunning. Royal florist Philippa Craddock incorporated local, in-season blooms with lots of greenery including branches of beech, birch and hornbeam as well as white garden roses, foxgloves, and peonies to create the lush, romantic arrangements. Flowers were donated after the ceremony.
Give the Wedding Favor that People Really Want
At the after-party, Meghan and Harry provided guests with a thoughtful and fun favor: slippers! Encourage guests to kick off their heels and keep the dance floor going strong (trust us, they will appreciate these a lot more than that commemorative candle).
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