Don’t you think that weddings are just amazing? Two people joined together with all their special and important people around them.
Whether a small or grand affair, it is a time of happiness, love and hope for the future. And what better event to all come together to celebrate and get that warm and fuzzy feeling, than a Royal wedding!
No matter what generation we can usually remember where were when a particular member of the royal family walked down the aisle, whether it’s crowded round the TV, stood on The Mall in London waving your little Union Jack flag or squeezed into your local enjoying celebratory fizz.
Whatever age you are, we just love a Royal Wedding – that’s official!
Over the years Royal weddings have brought us together nationally and even internationally, with brides and guests alike soaking up trends, styles, designs and who is wearing what and how it can be replicated for their own wedding.
PRINCE CHARLES WINDSOR & LADY DIANA SPENCER
Looking back, the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in July 1981, was certainly a spectacular televisual event, with 750 million people watching the special day worldwide.
Can you remember where you were? If you were in that huge crowd, could you see the amazingly iconic full and layered wedding dress that was so elaborate and ornate (including a Cathedral fifty foot veil!)
The bride had to be squeezed into the carriage and her dress folded and tucked around her. The bridesmaids were said to look like a “picture from a Victorian postcard”with flower crowns and baskets, full skirts, satin slippers and puff sleeves.
Mother of the Bride & Groom and guests wore outfits of the time such as suits with “power-shoulders”, nipped in waist jackets, blouses with neck bows (currently having a 2020 resurgence!), pearls and kitten heels. Wedding Hats were neater and closer to the head and Fascinators or Hatinators were still a thing of the future where they were not worn to weddings or special occasions until the 1990’s.
QUEEN ELIZABETH & PRINCE PHILLIP
In comparison with Charles and Diana, the marriage of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1947 was a reflection of the time, with the country still recovering from the second World War and rationing in place. The wedding dress was designed and made by Norman Hartnell using Chinese silk bought with ration coupons that the young Elizabeth saved.
The event was seen as a way of celebration and hope after difficult war time years and it’s true to say that many thousands of post-war brides replicated the design with more affordable fabrics for their own special day.
In the 1940’s, mothers of the bride or groom again favoured tailored suits with little or no embellishments or frills (fabric was expensive and difficult to source so nothing was wasted). Skirts were mid length, shoes low heel and hats were smaller and closer to the head with felt flowers or bows on a headband
Even royal guests were aware of restrictions and fabrics would still have been difficult to source.
PRINCE HARRY & MEGHAN MARKLE
Fast forward to the most recent of Royal special days and in May 2018 we saw a thoroughly modern and sophisticated example of how brides (and their groom) like to celebrate their wedding day with the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Harry and Meghan celebrated in an individual way, with unique designs and chic sophistication as a staggering 18 million people watching in the UK alone.
Meghan’s dress designed by Clare Waight Keller and Givenchy was an example of impeccable tailoring in a timeless but modern design. It consisted of a high Bardot neckline, flowing lines and 15ft veil embroidered and decorated with flora and fauna from the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. This was a nod to Queen Elizabeth who had a similar embellishment on her own veil.
The mother of this particular and important bride, Doria Ragland, looking chic, fresh and every part the modern A-list guest as she arrived at the church. She wore a pale green, embroidered dress and coat, matching small oval Hatinator, useful nude heels and on trend box clutch that could clearly be used at another event – Royal or otherwise.
The Queen wore pale lemon with a stunning feather flower adorning her hat, while Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall, chose a beautiful shell pink coat and matching dress, pearl necklace and “show stopping” pink feather hat.
The wedding was celebrity packed with the Beckhams rubbing shoulders and sipping fizz with the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Idris Elba. It stands to reason that designers and styles abound, from classic to contemporary. Guests wore clothes that were effortless, comfortable and modern, from boho flowing chic to structured and tailored. This was a modern and beautiful wedding with the bride and groom encouraging a unique guest list to really shine!
Here at Compton House of Fashion we love a wedding or any special occasion! That’s our perfect day – when excited Mother of the Brides and their Daughter come to us for advice and help with their special outfit and beautiful matching wedding hat or fascinator for their very own “right royal day.”
Every mother or grandmother of the bride or groom, as well as wedding guests, can peruse an extensive selection of designs, colours, styles and sizes with matching shoes, handbags hats, hatinators and fascinators. Our hand picked selection satisfies all tastes, from stylish tailoring, relaxed and modern lines and comfortable and effortless fashion that can easily tick all your wedding planning boxes.
Gill Tincknell for Compton House of Fashion