Following what has been hailed as the nuptials of the year, Pippa Middleton’s marriage to hedge fund manager fiancé James Matthews, has truly given us wedding fever!
While not strictly a princess, Pippa has an undeniable regal connection as sister of Catherine, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, and as such, there was an air of excitement and expectation that made it a stand-out affair.
Royal affiliations may not be for everyone, but there’s no denying they can give any wedding afeeling of prestige, but whether you have the budget of a Royal or not, we think your big day should be no different. Every bride should feel like a princess on their wedding day and what better way to create an air of majesty than with a few royal connections to make your day sparkle.
Florals
Why not echo royal tradition in your choice of bouquet? Since Queen Victoria’s daughter married her beau in 1858 bearing a floral arrangement containing sprigs of myrtle from her mother’s garden, royal brides have upheld the custom of an all-white bouquet including the pretty evergreen flower. The bouquet of our last royal bride, The Duchess of Cambridge, included myrtle cut from the very same plant that belonged to Queen Victoria, alongside lilies of the valley, hyacinths, ivy and sweet William (rather apt, we think).
Entrance
How about making an entrance to your wedding like a royal bride? Unlike many modern weddings which see the page boys, flower girls and bridesmaids enter the 
ceremony before the bride, royal brides lead a traditional bridal party down the aisle, with bridesmaids in tow.
If you’re looking to make a grand entrance, why not take some inspiration from past royals and arrive at your wedding location in horse-drawn regal style? For something more modern but equally elegant, opt for a luxurious car. The Duchess of Cambridge famously arrived in none other than the Queen's Rolls Royce Phantom, chosen for its large windows so that onlookers received the best view of Kate in her dress.
Wedding Ring
A tradition credited to the Queen’s late mother in 1923, all of the royal women’s wedding bands have contained precious Welsh gold from the same nugget mined in Dolgellau, North Wales – a variety of gold that is very valuable. This is something many brides have chosen to recreate in their own weddings by forging their wedding bands from materials sourced from locations that hold a deep meaning to the couple. Whether it’s a band set with antique Murano glass as a reminder of time spent in Venice, or a stone crafted from a rare gem found only in the part of the world where your partner was born, a personalised ring is a great way to add your own stamp on your big day and is something that will stay with you for life. Some tech-forward couples are even opting for a truly out of this world ring in which they use mapping technology to replicate the nights sky exactly as it looked on the day they met into their ring!
For me, the real standout elements of a royal wedding are the quirky traditions that make them so unique. Try creating your own traditions and pick elements which speak to you as a couple. Remember, your day doesn’t have to follow a specific motif, so don’t feel that you’re tied down by anything. After all, for that day, you’re a princess and that means what you say, goes!
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Written by Jayne Mountford, wedding and private events planner at The Brewery
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