Well, we’ve gazed at Meghan-inspired dresses, now how about those gorgeous florals?!

The flowers were wild – with sweet peas, lily of the valley and jasmine in Meghan’s bouquet. A sweet, small posy is a great choice as it doesn’t take focus from your dress and isn’t too unmanageable to carry! And, let’s face it, once it’s been down the aisle with you, what’s it for, anyway?!!

We think a fresh posy of white wildflowers is simply perfect. Choose fragrant, seasonal blooms – sweet peas and freesia are our faves.

Or an utterly charming bunch of daisies is so sweet, wrapped in fresh, lush greenery. Small, simple posies are gorgeous if you want all eyes on you and your fabulous dress!

How gorgeous is this floral chandelier?! A perfect way to decorate your venue and continue the white wildflower theme.

A floral arch is a perfect way to dress an outdoor wedding and gives a pretty, natural contrast to a traditional chapel entrance.

If you’re going for a white wedding, including greenery makes the flowers really stand out and adds a lovely contrast without adding another colour.

It also keeps the displays looking wild!

Of course, if you really want to go wild, upcycle jars, cute buckets and vintage vases for a boho or vintage feel.

White keeps the colour palette fresh and light and gives you the option of adding another colour if you wish. I love a white wedding – pure and clean, you can’t go wrong!

Looking for more royal wedding inspiration? Check out our style tips to find a dress like Meghan’s.

As anticipation grows for the royal wedding on the 19th May, we thought we’d take a little look at the details we know so far, and those that we don’t!

Flowers

The honour falls to florist Philippa Craddock, expert floral designer, to create the displays for the day. As has been a tradition since the marriage of Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Princess Victoria, we know that there will be a sprig of myrtle in Meghan’s bouquet, and Meghan’s favourite flower, the peony, will feature alongside white garden roses and foxgloves, as well as beautiful seasonal flowers. The Royal Parks will provide wildflowers from their meadows to line the aisles, pews and adorn tables.

Cake

London pastry chef, Claire Ptak has been brought in to create a very different sort of royal wedding cake. Shunning a traditional fruit cake, Meghan and Harry have chosen an organic lemon and elderflower cake, incorporating the bright flavours of spring and decorated with beautiful fresh flowers.

Venue

A traditional ceremony will take place at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, and it’s rumoured that while the Dean of Windsor will conduct the ceremony, the Archbishop of Canterbury will officiate the vows, having got to know Meghan well whilst she has been here in the UK. Harry and Meghan are planning two receptions. A formal afternoon reception for 600 guests at St George’s Hall, followed by a less formal evening reception for 200 close friends and family at Frogmore House in Windsor Home Park.

Gift list

The couple have requested donations instead of gifts, picking seven charities that are close to their hearts including CHIVA, the Children’s HIV Association; Crisis, supporting homeless people; Myna Mahila Foundation, empowering women in Mumbai’s urban slums; Scotty’s Little Soldiers, supporting bereaved Armed Forces children; StreetGames, helping young people using sport; Surfers Against Sewage, a national marine conservation organisation and The Wilderness Foundation UK, who help build resilience in vulnerable teenagers.

The invitations

Holding the Royal Warrant for Printing, Barnard & Westwood created the invitations. Stamped in luxurious gold and featuring the Prince of Wales’s Three Feather Badge, attendees are requested to wear “Uniform, Morning Coat or Lounge Suit, or Day Dress with Hat.” We don’t know exactly who has been invited, but the couple has extended the invitation to 1,200 people who will be able to celebrate a little closer than the rest of us. Recognised as having made a contribution to their communities, the couple wanted to invite and encourage young people who have shown strong leadership, and these chosen few will celebrate from within the grounds of Windsor Castle.

The dress

Well, all bets are off for this one. London based Erdem were front-runners, but British couture company Ralph & Russo are now favourites to design the dress. Meghan chose a Ralph & Russo gown for her engagement photo shoot, but there’s been no word from the palace on who’s won the gig of the year. No doubt there are a few decoy dresses being created, and we won’t know the real designer until Meghan steps out on to the red carpet.

The wedding party

No details yet of best man or bridesmaids, but we’re assuming William will be Harry’s right-hand man, maybe alongside a close friend. We imagine Meghan’s band of bridesmaids will contain close friends as well. There will also be a nod to Harry’s army friends as the Armed Forces will be strongly represented, lining the stairs at the Chapel and the streets within the precincts of Windsor Castle.

The honeymoon

A closely guarded secret, we imagine the happy couple can’t wait to escape to celebrate their new marriage away from the spotlight and high profile. Maybe they’ll go back to Botswana, a place close to their hearts. Or the stunning Amalfi coast, where Meghan loves. Or maybe they’ll jet off to a remote desert island, like William and Catherine did, and just relax and enjoy being alone for a while.

What’s in a name…?

And what of their names? Well, Meghan will become Her Royal Highness, joining the Windsors. But as tradition dictates, Harry and Meghan will receive new titles, as Prince William and Catherine did after their wedding. A popular opinion is that they will become the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as this is a vacant title. In a beautiful mirroring of events, the previous Duke of Sussex also married for love, rather than searching for a perfect royal wife. But we think Meghan fits both bills rather well!

And then there are all the other questions… Will Harry choose to wear a wedding ring? Will the Spice Girls perform? Why has Elton John cut a few dates from his Vegas residency around the 19th May…? We can’t wait to see the day unfold!

So get your commemorative plates and mugs, dust off that union flag bunting and get ready to celebrate a beautiful day.

Anticipation is growing over a new must-have wedding planning guide from one of London’s most luxurious wedding planners, Quintessentially Weddings. This new, practical volume is a handbag-sized book filled with inspiring content, wedding planning tricks and a step-by-step guide that demystifies the planning process.

The guide brings together expert advice from a handpicked selection of the best of the wedding industry. Featuring a who’s who of wedding royalty, from wedding dress designers to calligraphers, venues and settings to cake designers, the book divulges real insider secrets and hidden gems. Designed with the bride and groom in mind, the guide is tipped to be an indispensable portable wedding planning aide.

The Secret Quintessentially Weddings Guide blends beautiful coffee-table book visuals with elegant editorial. Pepperedthroughout are expert tips from the likes of Phillip Treacy on how to wear a hat with panache, Royal Wedding Florist Shane Connolly on choosing timelessflowers, Browns Bride on finding ‘the one’ and The Savoy on hosting a glittering vintage wedding soiree.

Sophie McCorry Day of Quintessentially Weddings says: “The book gives guidance on everything a couple needs to plan their bespoke big day. We hope the guide will become abride’s companion through the planning process, not only by giving her the confidence and tools to plan her wedding, but through sharing expert tips from some of the industry’s most exciting and trusted names.”

She adds: “The guide encapsulates Quintessentially Weddings’ stylish and personalised approach to weddings and includes a portfolio of nuptials organised by the team to inspire couples. It combines practical and easy-to-follow advice with some coveted behind-the-scenes tips from some of the industry’s biggest suppliers, as well as some real rising stars prised from our little white address books.”

The book, due to be released in November, features contributors such as: De Beers, Vivienne Westwood, Bruce Oldfield, AbsoluteFlowers, Wrotham Park, Little Venice Cake Company, Marchesa, Vera Wang, Valentino, Smythson, Pomp de Franc, Matthew Williamson, Blakes Hotel, Cutture, Paul Antonio, Philippa Lepley, Jenny Packham, Aneta Mak, The Dorchester, notonthehighstreet.com, Charlotte Olympia and many, many more.

• Have a look at the book for yourself and let me know what you think, quintessentiallyweddings.com

As Australia’s leading bridal jewellery designer, Stephanie brings to the UK her unrivalled experience of over 20 years of creating some of the world’s most exquisite haute-couture designs. This season, Stephanie includes four stunning new additions to her collection – including ‘The Taylor story’, in homage to Elizabeth Taylor and the charming ‘Sophia’ inspired by the era of sense and sensibility, ‘Astoria’ reminiscent of Art Deco glamour, and finally ‘Windsor’ which pays homage to the glory of Queen Elizabeth II’s amazing reign.

At White Gallery, Stephanie will proudly unveil further new additions for the 2013 season – a wonderful opportunity to see the designs first hand. Stephanie’s pieces are sought after statements of the most elegant of bridal jewellery, all designed with her exceptional eye for detail, and a loving appreciation for that special day. Her jewellery is made of the very finest materials and covered by 6 month warranty.
‘My collection is for every bride in the winter garden of her dreams, with each piece lovingly created to treasure for today and tomorrow’ comments Stephanie.

For samples or please contact Paul Wendt at Barberini Fashion paul@barberinifashion.com

For more information on attending or exhibiting at White Gallery visit www.whitegallery.com

M E D I A P A R T N E R S
5Starweddingdirectory.com, Bridal Buyer, Bridal Buyer Europe, Bridalbuer.com, Bridal Nordic, Conde Nast Brides, Confeti, Dani Vjencanja, Fashion Insight, FashionMag.com, Hochzeit, Ideal Bride Australia, Just Married, Marions Nous! Martha Stewart Weddings, Sposa.com, The Wedding Vine, Vjen?anje Ponuda, Wedding Magazine, Wedding Venues & Services, White Sposa Italy, White Sposa Russia, Wedding Russia, Zank You.

Don’t despair, because now it seems you can have one affordable luxury – a live vintage orchestra!

Posh frocks, elegant gents in their white ties and tails, along with music from a time when Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra would sweep the dance floor in style, Tom Bott’s High Society Orchestra creates an atmosphere normally associated with the guests of ‘High Society’, Tea at the Ritz and most likely a Royal wedding. The look and feel of this elegant entertainment is rather vintage, which does seem to be going through a revival at the moment, especially when it comes to wedding themes.

Tom Bott, a professional violinist from Wiltshire, directs the High Society Orchestra offering unique live music in London and throughout the UK for events and special celebrations.

He inherited a library of light orchestral sheet music from his Grandfather Bernard Bott, who directed his own orchestra primarily throughout the 1950’s and 60’s.
Tom, together with fellow musicians who perform with some of the UK’s leading orchestras, has rebranded his Grandfathers’ orchestra to create a nostalgic and unique experience for people to enjoy at all kinds of events.

Tom explains; “Live music can make or break the success of an event. We work closely with clients, carefully planning repertoire to suit each event, from suitable music to listen to with a glass of bubbly, to pieces that will have your feet tapping, singing along and even persuading guests onto the dance floor”

For more details visit Tom Botts High Society Orchestra.

We are so excited to hear that you can now purchase a near-identical version of the bridesmaid dress worn by Pippa Middleton to Duchess Catherine’s wedding.  The famous Alexander McQueen silk crepe gown is now available to buy from Net-A-Porter, for £1,995.  The cowl-neck, silk-crepe gown with only minor tweaks to the original is just gorgeous if you want to create the same look as the royal wedding.

Visit Net-A-Porter for more details.