If you were expecting dramatics, too bad. Meghan Markle has been doing EVERYTHING her way with this Royal Wedding, and that includes her classically gorgeous gown. See the new Duchess of Sussex float down the aisle in a wedding dress that took everybody by surprise.
Meghan Markle is officially a Duchess! She entered Windsor Castle's St George's Chapel today, just as England's high noon sunlight hit, giving her the most perfect glow no amount of Fenty Beauty could give. She kept her makeup and hair to an almost bare-minimum, but she's gorgeous nonetheless.
The Bride moves in procession through the Nave where she is joined by The Prince of Wales #RoyalWeddingpic.twitter.com/d9HrWsMjRt
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 19, 2018
Just before that, we got our first sneak peek as she pulled up to the Castle in a burgundy Rolls Royce with her mother Doria Raglan.
Ms. Meghan Markle arrives at St George's Chapel #RoyalWeddingpic.twitter.com/Hj79je8glV
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 19, 2018
The American princess exchanged vows with Prince Harry in understated, yet gorgeously low-key gown, created by Givenchy's first female artistic director appointed last year, Clare Waight Keller. It matched the old-modern mix of a not-so-traditional, very intimate and romantic ceremony.
While Givenchy was not on anyone's radar when stylists and editors were playing guessing games to figure out who would design her Royal Wedding gown, it makes perfect sense.
Even though Clare is the head of a french fashion house, she is British by birth. She is also a working mother who worked through all three of her pregnancies. It's no secret Meghan is a feminist who staunchly supports working women, especially those who break glass ceilings. Kensington Palace confirms this saying:
Ms. Markle also wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent who has now served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses – Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and now Givenchy.
Who run the world?!
The deets surrounding just how Ms. Markle and Ms. Waight Keller developed this intentionally symbolized, timeless and elegant dress make us love the gown even more. The Palace broke down the dress saying:
True to the heritage of the house, the pure lines of the dress are achieved using six meticulously placed seams. The focus of the dress is the graphic open bateau neckline that gracefully frames the shoulders and emphasizes the slender sculpted waist. The lines of the dress extend towards the back where the train flows in soft round folds cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza. The slim three-quarter sleeves add a note of refined modernity.
Tons of fabric mills throughout Europe were visited to find the perfect fabric for the dress, and Clare went with an exclusive double bonded silk cady.
This train tho.
As for all the symbolization in the dress and the gorgeous veil, which was also created by Clare:
Ms. Markle expressed the wish of having all 53 countries of the Commonwealth with her on her journey through the ceremony. Ms. Waight Keller designed a veil representing the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country united in one spectacular floral composition.
The veil is five meters long and made from silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza.
Each flower was worked flat, in three dimensions to create a unique and delicate design. The workers spent hundreds of hours meticulously sewing and washing their hands every thirty minutes to keep the tulle and threads pristine.
Meghan wanted to represent on a global level, especially her home country of America. So in addition to the flora of the Commonwealth, she also selected two personal fave flowers to adorn her look:
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.
Symmetrically placed at the very front of the veil, crops of wheat are delicately embroidered and blend into the flora, to symbolize love and charity.
A selection of flora distinctive from every member state of the Commonwealth is listed here.
It was the tiara, though, that blew us away. The veil was held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, lent to Ms. Markle by The Queen. The diamond bandeau is English and was made in 1932, with the entre brooch dating from 1893. Epic.
Prince Harry and his best man The Duke of Cambridge arrive at St George's Chapel #RoyalWeddingpic.twitter.com/FhWlR1ZPBX
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 19, 2018
Meghan's (super fine) Prince looked like a whole snack himself.
Both Prince Harry and The Duke of Cambridge (Prince William) wore the frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals, which they were granted permission to do by the Queen.
When Prince Harry removed her veil, all he could say was "You look amazing. I'm so lucky." He was seen saying "Wow" after removing her veil.
"You look amazing. I'm so lucky." Prince Harry greets his beautiful bride Meghan Markle. #HarryAndMeghan#RoyalWeddingpic.twitter.com/IhPfQPcwyE
— InStyle (@InStyle) May 19, 2018
They giggled often while exchanging vows (thanks to the crowd outside understandably doing the most), and they're clearly head over heels in love.
Awww!
After the Duke & Duchess were married, they took a carriage ride through the streets.
Photos: Getty/InSTAR
