Harry and Meghan have certainly made their day their own; they’ve broken from tradition to invite 1,000 members of the public, they’re the first royal wedding not to serve a fruitcake and are also tying the knot on a Saturday rather than a week day, so what special touches can you treat yourselves to?
A venue steeped in history or a modern feel?
The choice of venue is of course one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when you’re planning your wedding. Harry and Meghan will be having their nuptials in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle which is steeped in Royal history, so if you’re looking for your own slice of history we’re lucky to have St Swithin’s Church, famously referred to as ‘the least spoilt church in Cornwall’ by Sir John Betjeman, a literal stone’s throw from our venue. You can also enjoy your wedding weekend in our Manor House, which is referred to in the Domesday Book of 1086!
Fancy adopting some of Harry and Meghan’s more modern ideas? Our brand new, purpose-built reception barn has been designed to complement the original house and is able to fit up to 180 guests on round tables or 200 on trestles. This space gives our couples complete flexibility to decorate and make the space their own. It doesn’t stop their either! Our converted 19th century Mill Barn which is built from stone offers even more chances for you to make your day your own and can seat up to 160.
Invited by your majesty
Harry and Meghan’s invitations were made by London-based fine printers ‘Barnard and Westwood’ who’ve been creating invitations for the royal family since 1985. Their invite differs to William and Kate’s as it bares the crest of Prince Charles rather than the Queen, from whom all previous invites have been sent.
Your own invites will be the first chance for you to share the style of your wedding; will you go modern or traditional? The great news is that Devon and Cornwall are both full of fantastic designers – there’s something to meet everyone’s chosen style.
Fancy florals
Back in March, Kensington Palace announced that Harry and Meghan had chosen Philippa Craddock to create the floral design for their wedding, both for the ceremony at St. George’s Chapel and the reception at Windsor Castle. Choosing flowers and designs won’t be something most of us do on a daily basis, so we’re always happy to give you ideas and suggestions and put you in touch with the best suppliers we know locally.
A classical choice of music
Whilst it’s rumored that Elton John is set to play at the Royal Wedding, one musician not gaining as many headlines is 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason who will also be amongst the day’s performers. Classical music can give your ceremony a real air of elegance and with a great selection of classical musicians and string quartets blessing the West Country it could be an option to explore if you’ve not considered it before.
A show stopping cake
Traditionally royal wedding cakes make a real statement, boasting multiple tiers adorned with intricate sugar work. Whilst we’re not advising you copy Prince Charles and Camilla in terms of size (theirs weighed an impressive 17 stone and took around 130 hours to decorate), you’ll definitely want it to be every bit as tasty, so if you’re wanting some recommendations on who to go with we’ve been lucky enough to sample some fantastic cakes from local suppliers and always happy to let you have our recommendations.
To find out more about holding your wedding here at Launcells Barton, please get in touch and we will be happy to help.
