Who’s making Meghan Markle’s wedding dress is still as big a question as whether her father will walk her down the aisle, or if he’ll attend his daughter’s much-anticipated wedding at all, after that embarrassing revelation of staged (and paid) paparazzi photos, and an apparent heart attack.
UK-based Australians Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo have been wildly rumored as the wedding dress designers, after the former “Suits” star wore a $75,000 Ralph & Russo couture gown for her engagement photos with Prince Harry. But new sources now claim the American future duchess had tapped another British designer to make her dress.
Bets are on Christopher Bailey, outgoing creative director of Burberry. If true, Markle’s dress could be Bailey’s closing salvo for his stint at the heritage British brand.
Stella McCartney is also a favorite, but online sources said the Order of the British Empire awardee laughed off suggestions that she was making the dress.
Erdem, who’s also a favorite of the Duchess of Cambridge, is also a top bet, according to bookies.
But various online sources say Ralph & Russo could still have made a dress for Markle—but only for the reception. One thing is certain—the bride’s bouquet will include a sprig of lemon myrtle as part of a long-held royal family tradition.
Prince Harry is expected to wear his military uniform on his wedding day, just like his brother, Prince William, did in his own wedding. But the younger prince would have to shave his beard since it’s against British military tradition to sport a beard while wearing the uniform. (Royal watchers are divided over that, with many hoping the redhead royal keeps his beard.)
Ahead of tomorrow’s wedding in Windsor Castle, cake maker Claire Ptak shared on Instagram a cream-colored cake adorned with fresh peonies—
Markle’s favorite flower—suggesting what the royal wedding cake could look like.
Earlier, Ptak, the owner of East London’s Violet Bakery, who was raised in California like the bride, also posted a photo of crates of lemons with the caption, “And so it begins.” Prince Harry and Markle, it was announced, have opted for the trendy lemon and elderflower flavor for their cake, eschewing the traditional fruitcake chosen by Prince William and Kate Middleton for their own nuptials.
Royal florist Philippa Craddock is also being hounded by paparazzi, especially after her London shop was seen receiving a large order of pink roses and other white blooms just days before the wedding.
It was earlier announced that the florist would use local and sustainable seasonal flowers that bloom in May—roses and peonies, as well as branches of beech, birch, hornbeams and foxgloves—
sourced from the Crown Estate and Windsor Great Park, for the wedding.
Queen Elizabeth will host the afternoon wedding reception, but it won’t be a formal sit-down meal. Instead of dainty finger food, trendy food bowls and substantial canapés—including traditional British fare like shepherd’s pie and fish and chips—using seasonal produce and prepared by royal chef Mark Flanagan and his team will be passed around. This was decided reportedly in consideration of Prince Harry’s army friends who have been invited.
Kensington Palace has also announced that the bride wouldn’t have a maid of honor as she didn’t want to choose among her girlfriends. While no world leaders have been invited to the royal wedding, royal watchers can, however, expect some stylish faces in fascinators, including tennis ace Serena Williams, actress Priyanka Chopra, as well as the bride’s “Suits” costars.
Prince William’s adorable children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, are expected to be page boy and flower girl.
