Pack your close-toed shoes and tiny, wacky hats… you'll be dressed to impress
at the next royal wedding! But uh, maybe leave those swords at home.
Royal wedding guests had better pack light,
because only small handbags are permitted at these illustrious affairs.
"Give me your wallet, I couldn't fit mine in my tiny purse."
While it may seem frivolous, this wedding guideline is actually quite practical. Seating
tends to be tight at royal weddings, so there simply isn't enough space for cumbersome luggage.
Aside from the limited space at royal weddings,
there are a few other reasons why the monarchy favors tiny handbags. The late Princess Diana
was seldom seen without a dainty clutch, partly because they were handy for covering
up her chest while bending down or leaning forward. With this clever handbag hack,
the princess was able to block paparazzi from catching her in a cleavage-bearing moment.
The late Queen Elizabeth II had some handbag tricks of her own.
In a conversation with Newsweek, royal commentator Kristen Meinzer
explained that the queen would use her handbags to convey secret messages to
her staff. Meinzer referred to these subtle communications as "handbag code" and stated:
"Supposedly if she's standing around at an event and mingling with people and talking,
and she switches her handbag from one arm to the other,
she's telling her staff she'd like someone to interrupt and end the conversation."
Hats started appearing at royal weddings decades ago, when it was popular for British
women to cover their hair during official events. These days, hats are still one of the best-loved
traditions of royal weddings. Over time, hats have become more elaborate, featuring bigger brims,
funkier shapes, and interesting decorations. But even the most extravagant hats are outshined by
another headwear trend: fascinators. These elaborate headpieces adorned with feathers,
veils, and other embellishments are the peak of perfection when it comes
to royal wedding attire. However, the most astute hat-wearers know the golden rule of
royal wedding attendance: Make sure that your headpiece doesn't obscure the view for others.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are known for pushing the limits of royal fashion.
Their claim to fame is wearing some of the wildest fascinators the monarchy has ever seen. In 2011,
the sisters and their getups captured international attention at the wedding of Prince
William and Princess Catherine. Eugenie wore a striking blue headpiece with jumbo flowers and
a massive plume of feathers. Beatrice turned heads in a ring-shaped fascinator that was topped with a
gigantic bow. The infamous headwear inspired its own Facebook page, as well as countless memes.
"That is the most ridiculous hat I have ever seen."
Although Beatrice's hat received a lot of ridicule,
the princess came out on top when she sold the hat at auction for an eye-popping
$130,710 dollars. Funds from the sale were donated to UNICEF and Children in Crisis.
When it comes to royal weddings, women aren't the only ones subject to a strict dress code.
Men have their own fashion protocols, which help to ensure that every fellow
looks crisp and clean for the big occasion. Military members are expected to show up in
their finest service uniforms, because, according to etiquette expert Myka Meier:
"In terms of formality and respect, it's the top of the top."
For non-military men, a dark suit and tie will do the trick. Since royal weddings are
daytime events, men can also wear morning dress, which consists of a waistcoat and a
fitted jacket with long tails. Lastly, hats are off limits for the gents.
Brothers Harry and William are pros at following
etiquette while looking absolutely dapper at a royal wedding. On his special day,
Prince William rocked a set of spurs. Then there was Prince Harry, who looked debonair
in a merino wool coat during his own nuptials. You might expect menswear to look a bit drab
next to the standout ladies' fashions of royal weddings. However, well-dressed guests like
David Beckham and Idris Elba definitely know how to turn heads at the big event.
As archaic as it may seem, royal wedding guests are expected to obey the standards of British
etiquette and the Church of England. And these institutions have very clear rules:
no visible cleavage, shoulders, or back. Showing an excessive amount of skin is
an absolute no-no when it comes to royal weddings.
Etiquette expert Myka Meier summed up the dress code to the Columbus Dispatch, stating:
"You won't see cleavage. You won't see a lot of
skin. At least you shouldn't. It would be seen as disrespectful."
Fortunately, there are endless ways to play up the haute couture without breaking the
royal dress code. Many guests have covered up with fashionable jackets, like the gorgeous
lilac piece worn by Priyanka Chopra at Harry and Meghan's 2018 wedding. Serena Williams,
who also attended the soiree, looked both modest and fresh in a blush pink dress with
an asymmetrical neckline. Then there was Amal Clooney, who stunned in a bold yellow dress
that featured a square neckline. Other royal wedding attendees, like actor Jacinda Barrett,
added a touch of sizzle to their ensembles with keyhole cutouts just below the neckline.
The royal family is known for being prim, polished, and polite,
so you can expect the same from their attire. Noblewomen go to great lengths
to preserve their modesty in public. In fact, the royal ladies reportedly have
tiny weights sewn into the hems of their skirts to keep them in place on gusty days. Naturally,
the kingdom's emphasis on modesty also extends to royal wedding protocol.
For weddings and other daytime affairs, tea dresses are preferred. This dress
style comes with a full skirt and a hemline that falls right around the knee. Complete
with a high neckline and sleeves, the tea dress checks off all the boxes of a modest,
laid-back wedding look. Critically, the hemline of the dress should never rise above the knee.
Royal wedding guests would be wise to adhere to this rule or else they'll really stand out
in the crowd — and not in a positive way. Princess Eugenie learned this lesson the
hard way at the 2018 union of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The royal was criticized
by some media outlets because the hemline of her dress was hiked up above her knees.
At any royal wedding, you're bound to see a full spectrum of vibrantly-colored dresses. From pale,
muted monochrome to the boldest hues, anything goes at these stylish affairs. That said,
there are a few colors that you simply won't see. White and cream, for example,
should be avoided by royal wedding guests because they're reserved for the bride and
her bridal party. Oprah Winfrey almost broke this golden rule at the 2018 wedding of Prince
Harry and Meghan Markle. The superstar had originally planned to wear a cream dress,
but she ended up ditching the color for a more appropriate pink design.
Black is another color that you won't see on display at a royal wedding, and that's because
the color is associated with mourning. And that goes for any shade that looks dark enough
to resemble funerary attire. Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham raised a few eyebrows when she
attended the 2018 royal wedding in a dark navy dress from her own fashion label. Although some
critics felt that the color was too somber for a wedding, the public didn't seem opposed. In fact,
Beckham's dress was so popular that there was a waitlist to purchase it from her shop.
Guests had better put away those toes, because sandals are not permitted at a royal wedding.
Close-toed shoes are an important element of royal etiquette. However,
that's not the only footwear rule. Guests should also leave their towering stilettos at home.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to obey the royal dress code while looking positively fierce.
Oprah Winfrey and Serena Williams definitely got that memo at Prince Harry's 2018 wedding
to Meghan Markle. Both ladies dazzled in outfits that they paired with the perfect
subdued heels. Nude footwear is a popular choice for these royal affairs, as evidenced by stars
like Princess Catherine and Pippa Middleton, who looked amazing in subtly-shaded shoes in 2018.
But for those bold enough, bright colors and metallics are also an option. Amal Clooney
amped up her wedding glam with shimmering pumps at the 2018 royal ceremony. Victoria Beckham
also slayed the footwear game in a pair of bright orange heels. Lady Kitty Spencer,
the niece of Princess Diana, embraced the color craze with a
pair of orange velvet heels that perfectly complimented her Dolce and Gabbana dress.
"What are you thinking about?" "My sword."
There wasn't a sword in sight at the 2018 nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. While swords
may seem like an unusual wedding accessory, they're actually quite common in British and
U.S. military tradition. Since military officials attend royal weddings in uniform, it's feasible
that some might show up with their swords in tow — but Meghan and Harry requested that no one did.
Swords were not the only accessories on the minds of Meghan and Harry as they planned their big
day. They also requested that guests abstain from wearing medals to the ceremony. It seems
that Harry and Meghan's choice to exclude medals and swords was a matter of personal
preference rather than protocol. For the 2011 union of Prince William and Princess Catherine,
medals were on full display. In fact, David Beckham made big news when he accidentally
wore his Order of the British Empire medal on the wrong side of his lapel. The star managed
to correct his faux pas later in the day, but it didn't go unnoticed by eagle-eyed reporters.
While tea dresses are the look of the daytime, floor-length gowns rule the night. In line with
royal tradition, 6pm marks the glamorous peak of royal wedding fashion. That's when guests are
permitted to ditch their hats and slip into their most elegant evening wear. As is also tradition,
the crown jewels are permitted to be worn during this part of the day.
While royal wedding ceremonies are for the public, the receptions are much more intimate. In fact,
Harry and Meghan's reception guests were forbidden from bringing their phones to the event. But
thanks to some insider tea, we do know that it was an unforgettable evening, complete with drinking
games, fireworks, and an impromptu performance by Elton John. Meghan Markle set the tone for
the evening in a glamorous custom gown that was designed by Stella McCartney. Her guests looked
phenomenal, too: Priyanka Chopra was absolutely golden in a gown with tulle details, while
Serena Williams looked breathtaking in a floral Valentino gown and a stunning Bulgari necklace.