How Meghan And Harry’s Wedding Compared To Wills And Kate

When Kate married Prince William back in 2011 she opted for a now-iconic gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The gown featured a plunging v-neckline over a fitted sweetheart bodice and lace sleeves and dramatic nine-foot train.

Meghan went for a more minimalist look with her open bateau, white Givenchy gown designed by Claire Waight Keller.

Kate opted for a shorter vail to accompany her dresses dramatic train, it was hand embroidered with lace flowers.

Meghan’s veil was much more dramatic at 5 metres long and embroidered with the flora of all 53 countries of the commonwealth as well as Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox), which grows in the grounds of Kensington Palace in front of Nottingham Cottage, and the California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) the State flower from Ms. Markle’s place of birth, California.

What’s better than one royal wedding dress? Two! Both royal brides opted for a second dress for their respective evening receptions. Kate kept with the traditional theme, opting again for Alexander McQueen complete with sweetheart neckline, crystal belt detailing and a cashmere cardigan.

Meghan went sleek and sexy for her second dress, opting for Stella McCartney, she wore a halter-style gown which although we are yet to see it from the back, is believed to have an open back.

Kate wore the Cartier Halo tiara lent to her by the queen, which she was gifted on her 18^th birthday. Kate also wore a pair of diamond drop earrings commissioned by her parents especially for the big day.

Meghan opted for Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara lent to her by the Queen. Meghan paired the look with earrings and a bracelet both by Cartier.

Kate and Meghan’s flowers were rather similar in their simplicity, but while Kate carried lily of the valley, lemon myrtle as well as Sweet Williams and hyacinths.

Meghan’s flowers were handpicked by Prince Harry himself from the Kensington Palace garden the day before the wedding. The bouquet featured Forget-Me-Nots which were Diana, Princess of Wales’ favourite flower as wells as sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine and astrantia – and sprigs of lemon myrtle.

Both ladies opted for gold wedding bands to accompany their very different engagement rings. Kate’s Diamond and sapphire engagement ring that once belonged to Princess Diana. 

Harry designed Meghan’s ring with two diamond’s from his mother’s personal collection as well as a centre stone from Botswana. Her wedding band was also made from Welsh gold.

When Kate and Wills married the kiss was one of the most highly-anticipated moments of the day, as it was to take place on the historic Buckingham Palace balcony, in following with royal tradition – it ended up being upstaged however by a cute (but grumpy) bridesmaid!

Meghan and Harry’s kiss however took place right outside St George’s Church as they emerged after the ceremony.

Kate opted for her sister, Pippa Middleton, to serve as Maid of Honour on her big day (despite stealing the show in that dress. She also had four bridesmaids and two page boysincluding Tom Petiffer, Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Grace Van Cutsem, Lady Louise Windsor, Eliza Lopes, and William Lowther-Pinkerton.

Meghan famously went without a Maid of Honour, instead opting for a larger bridal party, with 10 bridesmaids and page boys including her new nephews Prince George and Princess Charlotte as well as Zalie Warren, Florence Van Cutsem, Jasper George Galloway Dyer, Remi and Rylan Litt, Ivy Mulroney, and her twin brothers Brian and John Mulroney.