So… last month saw the much anticipated ‘wedding of the rear’ as Pippa Middleton married her hedge fund beau James Matthews in Berkshire. The Manor By The Lake wedding planners take a look at her big day to see which top wedding trends Pippa embraced.
The Dress
Pippa wafted down the aisle in a dress by British designer Giles Deacon who was also responsible for the strapless wedding dress worn by Abbey Clancy when she married footballer Peter Crouch.
Deacon said in a statement that he was “thrilled” to work with Pippa to create her dream dress and went on to describe the gown in plenty of detail, much to the excitement of the Manor By The Lake wedding team!
“The bespoke silk cotton lace was hand appliquéd to create an illusion of the dress having no seams. The lace bodice is embroidered with pearl detailing over an organza and tulle underskirt, which has layer upon layer to enable a floor-sweeping movement.”
We loved the high neckline and cap sleeves and expect to see this look being mimicked by all the mainstream wedding dress designers before the season is out!
There have been no pictures released of the evening reception, but rumours suggest the new Mrs Matthews changed into a second dress just as her sister did, and opted for a full-length white gown with jewelled detailing, also from Giles Deacon.
Shoes & Accessories
Entering the church on the arm of her hugely proud father, Pippa wore a delicate tulle veil by milliner Stephen Jones that featured tiny pearls.
The bride kept her jewellery minimal and other than her whopping diamond engagement ring, she wore a Maidenhair fern tiara from Robinson Pelham and the pearl and diamond earrings she wore for Kate’s wedding in 2011, also from Robinson Pelham.
Her shoes were customised ivory satin pumps by Manolo Blahnik that also featured Pearl detailing, based on the label’s £715 Seneca bridal shoes.
The Ceremony
The couple were married at St Mark’s Church in Englefield, Berkshire which is located close to the Middleton’s family home. The cat was let out of the bag on this one when the Middleton family and James Matthews were seen attending services here over the Christmas period, 2016.
Hymns included Be Thou My Vision; Tell Out My Soul and I Vow To Thee, My Country. Mr Matthews’ brother Spencer (of Made In Chelsea fame) read a passage from The Alchemist, while James Middleton read the poem Love Is An Adventure by Pierre Teilhard du Chardin.
Attendants
Pippa obviously didn’t want to be upstaged by anyone her own age so instead of grown up bridesmaids, she had eight-page boys and flower girls in attendance – four of each. These were all the children of friends, and of course, the stars of the show, Kate’s children Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
The Reception
After a champagne reception at Englefield House, the party moved to the Middleton family home in Bucklebury where an enormous glass marquee had been erected in the grounds. Guests were treated to a sumptuous banquet that included Scottish lamb and trout which followed a wide array of canapés including langoustines, asparagus, Foie gras and serrano ham. A Spitfire performed a fly past and further entertainment was in the shape of a jazz quartet and band as guests danced until 4 am.
It certainly looked like the wedding of the year from the photos we’ve seen, so we send our very best wishes to the newlyweds.
If you’re planning a wedding and are looking for the perfect venue for your own VIP event, our planners would love to hear from you (even if Hello! won’t be covering your big day!). We can throw some celebrity style magic over your preparations so give us a call at Manor By The Lake on 01242 245 071 or email [email protected] to arrange a private tour.
