Everything We Know So Far About Pippa's Wedding
Pippa's wedding day is finally here! The younger Middleton daughter walked down the aisle to marry her longtime boyfriend, financier James Matthews this morning. Here's what we know so far about the happy couple’s big day.
The dress
Pippa captured the world's attention when she wore a white Alexander McQueen dress as her sister's bridesmaid. When it was her turn to walk down the aisle, she opted for a custom Giles Deacon gown.
The classic cream-colored lace dress, which is already drawing comparisons to her sister's famous wedding look, features an a-line shape, high neck, and cap sleeves. Pippa paired the gown with a sparkly headpiece and a simple veil.
The venue
The couple tied the knot at St Mark’s church in Englefield, Berkshire, which is located a few miles away from the Middleton family home. Following the church service, the congregation headed to the reception on the grounds of Carole and Michael Middleton’s Georgian property in nearby village of Bucklebury.
The reception
There was a break of several hours between the church service and the evening party, and according to People, several guests were seen around town wearing black tie - men in tuxedos and women in evening gowns. Guests had to check in with security at a separate location and were then ferried to the Middleton home in Range Rovers.
In honor of the celebrations, a glass marquee from Belgium was installed on the Middleton family grounds.
Another unique element of Pippa's big day the reception's theme. The party will reportedly celebrate the couple's ties to Scotland with haggis bites and a bagpiper. While there's no word whether James will don a kilt for the occasion, rumor has it the groom will incorporate tartan into his ensemble.
Marrying in her hometown is said to be important to Pippa. "Pippa is a traditional girl and wanted to marry close to home," a source told Hello! earlier this year.
In comparison to her sister Kate’s Westminster Abbey nuptials, the younger Middleton's wedding is likely to be a low-key affair, but with 150 guests reportedly attending, it will definitely be a party.
The bridal party
While many hoped the Duchess of Cambridge might be bridesmaid or the maid of honor at her sister's wedding, that was not the case.
"Kate would upstage her sister," says People’s royals editor Judy Wade predicted earlier this year. "It's a tricky situation for Pippa. She would want her sister by her side, as who else would she trust to make things go well? But if your sister is a future queen, she is going to draw attention."
It's thought that the Duchess did a reading at the church service. She was also in full mom-mode this morning, tending to all the young wedding attendants, including her daughter Princess Charlotte, who was a bridesmaid and Prince George who served as a page boy.
Additional page boys included Casimir Tatos, Edward Sebire, and William Ward. And the other bridesmaids were Countess Philippa Hoyos, Lily French, and Avia Horner.
The guest list
Onlookers also saw Prince Harry arrive with his brother William this morning. His girlfriend and past wedding date, Meghan Markle, was not present at the marriage ceremony, but she did attend the reception as his guest.
It was previously reported that Pippa implemented a "no ring, no bring" policy, meaning that guests could only bring their partners to the church if they were either married or engaged.
Other key members of the guest list included tennis player Roger Federer and Princess Eugenie.
A new name
Following her wedding, Pippa will be given a title. According to the Daily Mail, Pippa's future father-in-law, David Matthews, is currently the Laird of Glen Affric and when he passes away, his son James will take on the title, which will make Pippa the Lady of Glen Affric. Until they inherit their new titles, Pippa can take on the title of Mrs. Matthews of Glen Affric the younger, which she can use anywhere in the Commonwealth, according to The Express. Lady Pippa? It's definitely got a ring to it.
The engagement
The Duchess of Cambridge's younger sister and the 40-year-old millionaire announced the good news last year on July 19, after just a year of dating. James is thought to have proposed during a trip to the Lake District, England, and according to The Daily Mail, the groom-to-be asked Pippa's father Michael for his daughter's hand in marriage before the proposal. "James is a traditionalist and very much wanted to do things properly," a friend of the couple's revealed. "That meant getting the consent of his future father-in-law." Kensington Palace said that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were “absolutely delighted” by the news, and Pippa’s parents, Carole and Michael, told the press they were “thrilled.”
When news of the engagement broke, all eyes were on Pippa's finger. A day after the announcement was made, she was spotted wearing her art deco-style ring, which features an Asscher cut diamond at the center. It is rumored to be worth over $200,000.
The bachelorette party
While Prince William was pictured partying with friends in the Alps, Pippa and her sister Kate were reportedly on their own ski trip, which also served as a low-key "hen" party, the British equivalent of a bachelorette party.
Verbier in Switzerland, while Pippa and her friends flew 100 miles away to enjoy a "small, private party" in Meribel, France. And as you might expect, it was a fairly glamorous affair. "They stayed in a really exclusive catered chalet with maids and chef, who ensured that they were totally spoiled," a source told the newspaper.
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