Any bride’s wedding day can be nerve-wracking. But royal brides have specific rules that make it even more stressful. Kate Middleton, Princesses Eugenie BeatriceAlso, Meghan MarkleThese rules had to be followed by all the brides on the day of their vow exchange. Modern brides often strayed from tradition in small, but clever, ways.
Queen Elizabeth’s Approval Is Step One
Before the engagement is officially announced, the first step towards a royal marriage is taken. Before any royal wedding plans are approved by Queen Elizabeth, members of the royal family need to seek permission from her. Members of the royal family must request permission from the monarch to marry, as per the Royal Marriages Act 1772.
Royal Bride Bootcamp
Non-royal grooms and brides now have another item to check off their list after the queen has approved the union. The prospective bride or groom must first complete royal training before becoming a full-fledged member the royal family.
This training taught Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton what it meant to be a Royal. This includes how and who to curtsy, as well as SAS training sessions to prepare them for any security threats or kidnapping.
Bridal Dress Needs Queen’s Approval
Queen Elizabeth again gets involved in the wedding planning when it’s time for the brides to choose her dress. No, she’s not sitting down with the seamstresses or overlooking the entire process. Because her tastes in royal formalwear is well-known, she just has to give her approval.
The rules include no short hemlines, no low necklines, and no shoulders on display as a nod to the queen’s preference for conservative dress. Markle’s second wedding gown, a stunning Stella McCartney halter-neck gown, clearly flouted the no shoulders tradition, though the dress she wore for the actual wedding stuck to all the unspoken rules.
Brides Wear British Designers
Royal brides are expected, out of respect for the British monarchy and to wear a British designed wedding dress. Markle faced some heightened speculation before she unveiled her wedding gown since she’d been known to prefer US and Canadian designers in the past, but she also went with a Brit for her big day, just like Kate Middleton before her.
Special Rules Regarding Tiaras
The tiaras are worn by female members of the royal family on their wedding day and when they become married. It’s an exciting day for the bride-to-be when she gets to descend into the 150-foot long basement where the collection of royal tiaras is held. According to Finding Freedom, the brides don’t get carte blanche to pick whichever tiara that catches their eye. Instead, the queen gives them a choice of tiaras.
Royal Wedding Ring Origins
Prince William is an example of this. For those grooms who do choose to wear a ring, as well as their glowing brides, they get the option of having one of the world’s most unique wedding bands.
The queen has a stash of Welsh gold that royal couples can have made into a ring that’s made of one of the rarest and most expensive types of gold in the world. Princess Beatrice refused to follow convention and requested a ring made from silver.
What about the Bouquet?
Royal brides have a lot of choices when it comes to their bridal bouquets, but each one since Queen Victoria’s daughter has included the same flower and wound up in the same place since the Queen Mother married into the family. The tradition of including sprigs of myrtle in the bridal bouquet dates back to 1858, when Queen Victoria’s daughter included the white and cream-colored flower, which symbolizes purity, hope, and rebirth. The bride can choose any other flowers that she feels are important or meaningful.
Following the wedding, there’s no tossing of the bouquet to determine who the next to be married will be. The bouquet is instead placed on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in respect. If they were married at Westminster Abbey or elsewhere, the brides will leave the flowers on the tomb the day before their wedding.
Wedding Photos Are A Must
Wedding photos are inevitable because the royal family is such an integral part of British culture, history, and tradition. Even royal family members who got hitched in private ceremonies, like Princess Beatrice’s surprise wedding in 2020, must pose for official wedding portraits with their closest family members for the historical record.
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