If you are getting married this year, then you have something in common with two royal couples – Prince William and his fiancée Kate Middleton, and Zara Phillips and her fiancé Mike Tindall. But while your nuptials will not capture media attention in the same way and you will not have quite such a notable array of guests, you can still make sure that your wedding feels regal, elegant, and most noble. After all, in many traditions the groom and bride are supposed to feel like a king and queen for the day.
Once both royal brides have walked down the aisle, the world of wedding dress fashion will probably never be the same again as many future brides will try to capture the same beautiful look. Until then, we cannot say how the dress at either royal wedding will look and we therefore can’t copy the style. However, there are other things that can be planned in advance that will add to the aristocratic atmosphere of your wedding.
Let’s take a look at some royal-style table settings. At the most recent royal wedding in Sweden in the summer of 2010, the accent was placed on royal tradition, with every generation of the ruling Bernadotte dynasty represented by the table silver. While you may not have enough ancestral silver to pull this off, you may want to ask the caterer to use good quality silverware and porcelain dishes to serve the food. When it comes to how to set the table, you may want to use elegant, soft white linen edged with lace for the tablecloths and napkins. If you are able to, you might want to follow royal tradition by designing a monogram for the couple and embossing this on the napkins.
For elegant royal-style wedding centerpieces, you may like the idea of silk flowers, or even real flowers to add color to each table. The most beautiful and romantic flowers to use are, of course red or white roses. Other colors to add are royal blue, cream, and peach, possibly in the form of ribbons tied around the flowers or the vase in which they will stand. If you want to be more direct with the royal theme, you could even create table centerpieces in the shape of a crown. Other centerpiece ideas can include all manner of decorations involving candles for a romantic feel, jars of candies, or subtle displays of fruit.
Decorate the rest of the hall with swatches of lace and your “royal” wedding monogram. Small posies of real or silk flowers should be left in strategic corners. For extra atmosphere, have soft classical music playing during the meal to add to the classy atmosphere. Louder modern music can be played later on, after the banquet, when everyone can dance the night away.
On the floor, ask for a red carpet to add to the royal theme. Remember – you may not really be a prince and princess in the technical sense, but tonight and to each other you are truly royal. So enjoy your own royal wedding as much as you can.
Photo Credit: Oldmaison
Another tip: hire out a harpist, or string musicians from a local school to add a little something extra to the ambiance
Bring out SLL the silver and polish it up, from tall and short candlesticks to serving platters to the chilling bucket for the champagne!