Lifestyle - Redefining the Royal Wedding (P.2)
Originally published here for ServeGlad.com
On November 27th, 2027, the engagement of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle was announced to the public. It set off a string of events that eventually resulted in what could widely be considered one of the most memorable royal weddings to this day. Plans for the elaborately choreographed event were immediately set into motion from the moment it was announced and the five months between the engagement and the wedding were talked about worldwide as thousands waited for the special day. Everything from the released engagement photos to the a-list names on the invitation list was constantly discussed! The engagement also sparked questions surrounding the real-life fairytale that was the engagement of actress and humanitarian Meghan Markle to Prince Harry. Within the United States, much of the focus was on the now Duchess’ familial relationships and the fact that she would become the first Black woman to marryinto the British monarchy.
The world watched in awe as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were wed at Windsor Castle on May 19th, 2018. Only 600 people were invited to the event of the year, but millions watched it stream live on their televisions. One by one, all of the questions that surfaced following the engagement were answered: the dress, entertainment, and attendees become immediate topics of discussion during the wedding as well as for weeks following it. After watching what felt like hours of wedding coverage, I was left with one question: how is a Royal Wedding planned? It was mentioned many times in the media that the Duchess and her mother personally selected the floral design and that her closest friends helped with the selection of the wedding dress, but what about everything else? So, being the curious person I am, I decided to do some of my own research on more of the technical aspects of the wedding that lead to its success. This was no ordinary wedding to plan!
Although the names of hundreds of people involved in the efforts and many details remain unreleased to the public, the timeline and smaller events leading up to the big day were quite easy to determine. After a royal couple becomes engaged to be married, the first order of business seems to be deciding where the ceremony will be held. According to People Magazine, the venue was announced to the eager public in early to mid-December. While West Minister Abbey has seen hundreds of royal weddings, this royal wedding was held at Prince George Chapel in Windsor Castle. The wedding invitations were sent in March followed by the announced guest list which included the likes of George and Amal Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, and Elton John. The 600 brilliantly-handcrafted invitations were the responsibility of Lord Chamberlin’s office. Lottie Small, a former apprentice at Bernard and Westwood Fine Printers and Bookmakers was reported by Kensington Palace to have printed all of the invitations using a unique process called dye stamping.
The town of Windsor spent the last few weeks before the wedding in a mad rush to prepare for the event. The streets that Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle were set to embark on during their post-ceremony parade were proudly lined with flags and fancy for the large crows expected to attend. Security was increased as people from all over the world arrived in town to celebrate the occasion. The decorations chosen for both the interior and exterior of Windsor Castle were kept simple, classic, and tasteful. The flowers that lined the doors to the chapel and the aisle (peonies, white roses, and foxglove among others invoked a sense of natural beauty as a clear reflection of the bride-to-be. The information about the future duchess adding her personal touches to the plans came across to me as both humbling and relatable! In the end, the Royal Wedding was the sum of an incredible amount of work and the participation of hundreds of people working to make sure it would be as beautiful, successful, and memorable as expected.
As a general rule of thumb, it is important to remember (both in an out of the hospitality industry) that there will always be a process to achieve what it is you desire. Knowing that one can achieve their dreams through hard work and patience is the first step to excellence. When working with others as a team, remain encouraging of others and open to the possibilities of what they may contribute to a common goal. The Royal Wedding was so successful because everyone involved was able to work together and communicate in a truly beneficial way. In other words, know that your gifts are important and unique. Learn how to use them in partnership with others! You’ll be surprised what you can dream up.
- M.