Entertainment

Meghan Markle's Wedding vs. Kate Middleton's Wedding: All the Ways They Were So Different

EntertainmentPublished May 22, 2018
By Maressa Brown
Harry and Meghan; Kate and William post-wedding carriage ridesWUF / Splash News; Splash

When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot on May 19, 2018, it had been just over seven years since the last huge British royal wedding -- which was of course Kate Middleton and Prince William's big day. Nonetheless, royal watchers have been quick to compare the two fairy tale, internationally watched events. 

Of course, there will always be constants when it comes to a wedding involving a British prince -- or specifically, a Mountbatten-Windsor guy. Obviously Queen Elizabeth presented both couples with their new titles (for Kate and William, it was Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and for Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex). 

But from the moment the pair announced their engagement, spectators have known that Harry and Meghan wouldn't be shy about making their wedding day their own. "This wedding, like all weddings, will be a moment of fun and joy that will reflect the characters and values of the bride and groom," Kensington Palace said in a statement.

And now that we can look back on it, it's safe to say that -- from the details (like dress designer, cake style, flowers) to the VIP guest lists -- Harry and Meghan did their own, gorgeous thing.

Here are 10 ways Meghan and Harry's wedding was different from Kate and William's nuptials.

1/20
Meghan & Harry Married at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle...-placeholder
Meghan & Harry Married at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle...
Zak Hussein/Splash

Meghan & Harry Married at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle...

The pair tied the knot at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, which can hold 800 people and was the venue for Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles's vows in 2005.

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...While Kate and William Married at Westminster Abbey-placeholder
...While Kate and William Married at Westminster Abbey
Splash News

...While Kate and William Married at Westminster Abbey

Considered a much grander venue, as well as one of the United Kingdom's best-known churches, Westminster Abbey can accommodate 2,000 people. This difference was one that's very much tied to the fact that Prince William is heir to the throne following Charles -- whereas Harry is fifth in line, so Meghan and Harry's big day was innately "lower-key." (Whatever that means in this context, of course!)

3/20
Meghan Wore a White Givenchy Gown Designed by Clare Waight Keller-placeholder
Meghan Wore a White Givenchy Gown Designed by Clare Waight Keller
PCUK/Splash News

Meghan Wore a White Givenchy Gown Designed by Clare Waight Keller

Waight Keller's a British designer who used to helm the fashion house Chloé and is now the first woman to head Givenchy. That said, commentators immediately concluded that Meghan was making a feminist statement by choosing Waight Keller. 

“It is truly an honor to have been given the opportunity to closely collaborate with Meghan Markle on such a remarkable occasion,” Waight Keller said in a statement. “As a British designer at a Parisian haute couture house, and on behalf of all us at Givenchy who have been able to experience such an extraordinary process of creativity, I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished and grateful to Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and Kensington Palace for allowing us to be part of this historical chapter.” She added, “It has been an immensely rewarding experience to get to know Meghan on a personal level, one I will forever carry with me.”

For her reception outfit, she went with another female designer: Stella McCartney.

4/20
Kate Middleton Wore a White Lace Alexander McQueen Gown Designed by Sarah Burton-placeholder
Kate Middleton Wore a White Lace Alexander McQueen Gown Designed by Sarah Burton
Jeff Moore/Splash News

Kate Middleton Wore a White Lace Alexander McQueen Gown Designed by Sarah Burton

Burton is the fashion house's creative director, and her dress design for Kate featured long lace sleeves, a high lace collar with a v-neckline, and a magnificent train. At the time, Darcy Miller, editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings magazine said of the gown: "We knew she would wear something classic, but having Sarah Burton as the designer added something modern. And that’s really been the running thread with this couple -- that they bring modernity to the royal family but are respectful of tradition."

And for her reception gown, Kate opted for a second Burton-designed look.

5/20
Meghan Markle Wore the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara-placeholder
Meghan Markle Wore the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara
PCUK/Splash News

Meghan Markle Wore the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara

The diamond filigree tiara once belonged to Harry's great-great grandmother and was loaned to the Duchess of Sussex by Queen Elizabeth. The diamond and platinum tiara was made in 1932 and is formed as a flexible band of 11 sections, pierced with interlaced ovals and pavé set with large and small brilliant-cut diamonds, according to a statement released by Kensington Palace. The center is set with a detachable brooch of 10 brilliant-cut diamonds.

6/20
Kate Wore the Cartier Halo Scroll Tiara on Her Big Day-placeholder
Kate Wore the Cartier Halo Scroll Tiara on Her Big Day
WUF/Splash News

Kate Wore the Cartier Halo Scroll Tiara on Her Big Day

Kate's tiara was also on loan from Queen Elizabeth, but it was the monarch's own, which was made by Cartier in 1936 -- and was presented to the Queen on her 18th birthday, when she was still Princess Elizabeth. It features nearly 1,000 diamonds and was originally purchased by King George VI as an anniversary gift to his wife in 1936.

7/20
Meghan Opted Out Of Having a Maid of Honor-placeholder
Meghan Opted Out Of Having a Maid of Honor
PCUK/Splash News

Meghan Opted Out Of Having a Maid of Honor

The reason Meghan opted not to have a maid of honor: "She didn’t want to choose one [friend] over another,” a palace spokesman said on May 4. “All have been actively involved in helping her prepare for the day and will be there in the days beforehand. She’s very happy to have their support." 

Nonetheless, neither a maid of honor nor a best man has traditionally been a part of British royal weddings.

8/20
Meanwhile, Kate Chose Her Younger Sister, Pippa Middleton, as Her Maid of Honor-placeholder
Meanwhile, Kate Chose Her Younger Sister, Pippa Middleton, as Her Maid of Honor
Jeff Moore / Splash News

Meanwhile, Kate Chose Her Younger Sister, Pippa Middleton, as Her Maid of Honor

Though it isn't necessarily traditional, Kate Middleton opted to make her younger sister, Pippa, her maid of honor in 2011. (And of course, Prince Harry stood up for his brother, just as Prince William did for Harry at his wedding.)

9/20
Meghan Opted to Walk to the Chapel Solo-placeholder
Meghan Opted to Walk to the Chapel Solo
kensingtonroyal/Instagram

Meghan Opted to Walk to the Chapel Solo

Leading up to her big day, much hullabaloo was made over Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, trying to make his way across the pond to escort his daughter down the aisle, but sadly, the father of the bride had to remain in the US following heart surgery. Although she arrived at St. George's Chapel with her mom, Doria Ragland, Meghan opted to walk into the chapel solo in what was seen as a revolutionary feminist statement. Once she reached the quire of the Chapel, she joined her now father-in-law Prince Charles, who escorted her, but did not "give her away."

10/20
Kate Walked Down the Aisle with Her Father, Michael Middleton-placeholder
Kate Walked Down the Aisle with Her Father, Michael Middleton
WUF/Splash News

Kate Walked Down the Aisle with Her Father, Michael Middleton

In a more traditional move, Kate's father walked her down the aisle at Westminster Abbey.

11/20
Meghan and Harry Had a Lemon Elderflower Wedding Cake-placeholder
Meghan and Harry Had a Lemon Elderflower Wedding Cake
KensingtonRoyal/Instagram

Meghan and Harry Had a Lemon Elderflower Wedding Cake

According to Kensington Palace, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's cake, created by Claire Ptak, featured "elderflower syrup made at The Queen’s residence in Sandringham from the estate’s own elderflower trees, as well as a light sponge cake uniquely formulated for the couple."

12/20
Kate and William Went With Traditional Fruitcake-placeholder
Kate and William Went With Traditional Fruitcake
WPA Pool/Getty Images

Kate and William Went With Traditional Fruitcake

The Cambridges's wedding cake was covered in fondant, and the towering eight tiers worth of candied fruit and bitter spirits was adorned with 900 sugar paste ribbons, bows, flowers -- including roses -- and leaves; tiered swags and pearls were piped on with royal icing. The cake came from pastry chef Fiona Cairns. A second cake, or groom’s cake, was an unbaked chocolate biscuit cake by McVitie’s Cake Company.

13/20
Meghan and Harry Bucked Tradition With Their Flowers-placeholder
Meghan and Harry Bucked Tradition With Their Flowers
PhillipaCraddock/Instagram

Meghan and Harry Bucked Tradition With Their Flowers

By choosing London-based florist Philippa Craddock, the pair eschewed royal tradition, which is to use Royal Warrant holder Shane Connolly for all things floral. 

Of being tapped to create the floral arrangements for the couple, Craddock said: "I am excited and honored to have been chosen by Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle to design and create their wedding flowers. Working with them has been an absolute pleasure. The process has been highly collaborative, free-flowing, creative, and fun. The final designs will represent them as a couple, which I always aim to achieve in my work, with local sourcing, seasonality and sustainability being at the forefront."

14/20
Kate and William Went With Royal Warrant Holder Shane Connolly-placeholder
Kate and William Went With Royal Warrant Holder Shane Connolly
Allpix/Splash News

Kate and William Went With Royal Warrant Holder Shane Connolly

Connolly is known for his "sustainable approach to floristry," which uses live growing plants and trees. For Kate and Will's big day, he brought in eight 20-foot-high maple and hornbeam trees, all growing in planters, for the wedding. The other arrangements included azaleas, rhododendrons, euphorbias, beech, wisteria, and lilac.

15/20
Meghan's Guest List Boasted an Impressive Number of Celebs, of Course-placeholder
Meghan's Guest List Boasted an Impressive Number of Celebs, of Course
SerenaWilliams/Instagram

Meghan's Guest List Boasted an Impressive Number of Celebs, of Course

In addition to tennis star Serena Williams and her husband Alex Ohanian, former actress Meghan and Prince Harry's wedding was attended by a slew of celebrities like Oprah, Priyanka Chopra, Idris Elba, James Corden and Julia Carey, James Blunt (who served in the army with Harry), the cast of Suits, Carey Mulligan and Marcus Mumford, Sir Elton John, as well as Victoria and David Beckham.

16/20
Kate and William's Guest List Included Fewer Celebrities-placeholder
Kate and William's Guest List Included Fewer Celebrities
WUF/Splash News

Kate and William's Guest List Included Fewer Celebrities

Sir Elton John and the Beckhams attended Kate and William's wedding, as well, but the bulk of their VIPs weren't Hollywood-famous.

17/20

Meghan and Harry Departed Windsor Castle for Their Reception in A Snazzy, 007-Esque Jaguar

Kensington Palace took to Instagram to share this video and explain, that on their way to a reception hosted by the Prince of Wales at Frogmore House, the newlyweds drove "in a silver blue Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero. This vehicle was originally manufactured in 1968, and has since been converted to electric power."

18/20
Kate and William Headed to Their Reception in an Aston Martin-placeholder
Kate and William Headed to Their Reception in an Aston Martin
Splash News

Kate and William Headed to Their Reception in an Aston Martin

William and Kate drove from Buckingham Palace to Clarence House in Prince Charles's navy blue Aston Martin. Prince Harry and others had decorated the ride with streamers, balloons, and a rear license plate that read "JU5T WED."

19/20
Leaving St. George's Chapel, Harry and Meghan Shared Their First Public Kiss as a Married Couple-placeholder
Leaving St. George's Chapel, Harry and Meghan Shared Their First Public Kiss as a Married Couple
KensingtonRoyal/Instagram

Leaving St. George's Chapel, Harry and Meghan Shared Their First Public Kiss as a Married Couple

As the pair exited St. George's Chapel, they paused and Meghan appeared to get the go-ahead from Harry before sharing their first public kiss as husband and wife in front of the whole world. Aww!

20/20
Kate and William's First Public Kiss Took Place on a Buckingham Palace Balcony-placeholder
Kate and William's First Public Kiss Took Place on a Buckingham Palace Balcony
WeirPhotos/SplashNews

Kate and William's First Public Kiss Took Place on a Buckingham Palace Balcony

While greeting onlookers, alongside their wedding party, Kate and Wills shared their first public kiss. It was lovely and romantic, but royal watchers couldn't help but notice the grouchy little bridesmaid in the foreground!

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