Pippa’s perfect day.
The gown, the guests, the party and adorable George and Charlotte – every detail of Pippa and James’ fairytale wedding was just right
APRETTY young party-planner weds a handsome businessman in a stylish country wedding. Sounds like a charming if unremarkable British affair – and it might have been if the bride’s sister wasn’t one of the most famous people in the world and there hadn’t been a future king, a few princes and a delightful little princess in the pews.
In what’s been dubbed the almost-royal wedding of the year, Pippa Middleton wed her beau James Matthews on a cloudy summer’s day in the Berkshire countryside.
In a stroke of good luck, a heavy downpour which began moments after the 33-year-old bride had been escorted into St Mark’s church in Bucklebury by her father, Michael Middleton, let up just as the ancient dark wood doors swung open about an hour later.
Pippa, in an exquisite snow-white bespoke gown by designer Giles Deacon, beamed as she left the church with her new husband, a hedge fund manager she started dating last year.
The couple held hands as they made their debut as husband and wife, led out of the historic village church by an adorable entourage of tots – among them the third and fourth in line to the British throne, three-year-old Prince George and his sister, Princess Charlotte (2).
Pippa’s big sister, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, seemed determined to let the bride take the limelight that so often falls squarely on her.
Looking elegant in a dusty peach Alexander McQueen dress and Jane Taylor hat, Kate (35) helped smooth her sister’s train and gently herded the little ones in the bridal party – much like Pippa had done for her outside Westminster Abbey when she wed Prince William six years ago.
As the young flower girls and pageboys strode ahead of them, Pippa and James (41) stopped to share a kiss under the flowery archway. James may not be royalty but he’s Pippa’s Prince Charming – and she couldn’t have looked happier.
THE DRESS
The world’s most sought-after designers would no doubt have loved to dress Pippa and her famous perky posterior for her special day. But the honour went to British couture hotshot Giles Deacon, known for creating outfits for “women who want to be noticed” and a favourite of models such as Kendall Jenner, Jourdan Dunn and Cara Delevingne.
The classic cinched-waist lace dress hugged Pippa’s figure to perfection. The bride worked closely with the designer to create the gown, believed to be worth more than £40 000 (about R700 000).
The creation bore some similarities to the iconic dress Kate wore for her wedding in 2011 but unlike her older sister’s Sarah Burton ensemble, Pippa’s frock featured capped sleeves which showed off the avid athlete’s beautifully toned arms.
“I was thrilled to work with Pippa on her wedding dress,” Giles (47), who’s also dressed the likes of Lady Gaga and Helena Bonham Carter, said in an interview with Businessoffashion.com.
“The dress is constructed with a cap sleeve, high neckline and features a corseted bodice with draping to the front and heart-shaped detail at the back. The bespoke silk cotton lace was hand-appliquéd to create the illusion of the dress having no seams.
“The lace bodice is embroidered with pearl detailing over an organza and tulle underskirt. It’s a privilege to show the craftsmanship that my team produces – I wanted that ‘how-wasthat-done?’ factor.”
Pippa’s brunette locks, which had been twisted into an elegant knot at the back of her head, were topped with a maidenhair fern tiara. Her Stephen Jones veil was simple and classic, trailing all the way to her custom-made Manolo Blahnik ivory satin shoes.
SOMETHING OLD . . .
British high society is nothing if not traditional – so naturally Pippa made sure she had something old, new, borrowed and blue on her big day.
OLD According to Mail Online, Mr and Mrs Matthews’ something old was a collage of pics of them over the years, projected onto a big screen during the evening reception. Pippa’s sparkling Robinson Pelham diamond drop earrings – which she recycled from Kate and William’s wedding day – could also have qualified as something old.
NEW Pippa was spoilt for choice when it came to fulfilling the “something new” part of the old superstition – her costly bespoke wedding gown, Manolo Blahnik shoes, the exquisite Robinson Pelham pearl tiara . . .
BORROWED There was the small matter of the Spitfire that soared over the Berkshire countryside as the sun set on the big day, reportedly donated for the event. BLUE The groom’s powder-blue waistcoat – paired with a red tie – was a beautiful pop of colour in a day dominated by white, pink and peach.
PRINCE PAGEBOY AND PRINCESS FLOWER GIRL
A few days before the wedding Kate told an attendee at a Buckingham Palace garden party she was worried about how her pigeon pair would behave on the big day. And it seems she might have had cause for concern.
Kids are, of course, notoriously unreliable – and little George couldn’t resist having a quick stomp on his aunt’s train during the ceremony.
Kate had to take him aside for a telling-off, which George didn’t like much. His face crumpled and he burst into tears – but it was over soon enough and Mom gave him a comforting stroke on the head.
Apart from that – and Charlotte’s impromptu tongue-sticking-out display – the tots were well behaved, joining the other junior members of the wedding party in their matching Pepa & Co outfits.
Charlotte and the other little girls were doll-like in ivory silk dresses with frilled collars and nude pink sashes with matching trimmed sleeves and neckline. The lasses also wore ivory opaque tights and beige leather shoes.
The boys were clad in old-fashioned silk knickerbockers and matching cummerbunds, and ivory double-breasted silk shirts with Peter Pan collars.
Old fashioned maybe – but British to a T.
THE GUESTS
The guest list featured everyone from royals, reality stars and world-famous athletes to TV-show hosts. Along with the Cambridges, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, were Princess Eugenie and James’ reality TV-star brother, Spencer – although his infamous girlfriend, Vogue Williams, was notably absent.
ITV broadcaster Tom Bradby, British Vogue’s executive fashion director Serena Hood, and Lady Gabriella Windsor, the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, were there too.
But even the famous folk weren’t exempt from the security checks Pippa insisted on. According to the Mirror, “smartphone police” patrolled the event to make sure none of the guests leaked any info or pics. And before the crowd were allowed into the glass marquee they apparently had to provide a passport photo and password.
While the newly minted Mr and Mrs Matthews would have had plenty of meeting and greeting to do, they reportedly handled it with aplomb.
According to The Telegraph, Pippa’s uncle Gary Goldsmith in his speech praised the “brilliant couple” who “gave everyone time and attention”.
GETTING THE NOD
While Pippa’s rumoured “no ring, no bring” rule was applied to the day’s proceedings, she appears to have made an exception for her brother, James (30), and her sister’s brother-in-law, Prince Harry (32).
The flame-haired prince arrived at the church with his brother, Prince William (34), but was seen grinning as he drove Suits star Meghan Markle (35) to the reception (BELOW), reportedly after making a 160-km dash to Kensington Palace in London in his Audi to pick her up – accompanied by a security guard, of course.
Other sources say Harry had just nipped off to collect Meghan from their private suite at Englefield House, having driven to the country house together on Saturday morning. Whatever the case, Harry seemed over the moon at the prospect of having the brunette beauty on his arm for the society bash.
The actress had reportedly been staying at Harry’s London digs since flying into the UK on the Tuesday before the wedding.
THE RECEPTION
Guests and villagers gathered along the quaint country lanes cheered as the newlyweds left the church, zooming off in a convertible E-type Jaguar to the nearby Englefield Estate for the champagne reception. Then it was on to Carole and Michael Middleton’s £6-million (R105-million) estate near Bucklebury where a spectacle awaited them.
Pippa and her parents, who own event company Party Pieces, clearly didn’t abide by the simple rules the bride laid out in her party-planning book, Celebrate, when it came to arranging the lavish affair.
The 300 guests gathered in a 45 m-long glass marquee which had been shipped in from Belgium and erected on the lawns of the Middletons’ estate earlier in the week. Under the elaborate glass-panelled roof, they sipped £75 (R1 300) bottles of sparkling wine from Sussex vineyard Nyetimber and nibbled on £40 000 (R700 000) worth of caviar, reportedly donated by a Russian millionaire.
The groom’s Scottish ties were also acknowledged: haggis canapés were served along with the caviar, and Scottish lamb was among the dishes served at the five-course sit-down dinner. Prepared by a crew of 30 chefs, the meal is believed to have cost a whopping £200 (R3 500) a person.
Entertainment included a live jazz band and table tennis – which one guest in particular excelled at. Tennis ace Roger Federer, who attended the celebrations with wife Mirka, is said to have taken the groom on in a game of ping-pong – no prizes for guessing who won.
The society wedding of the year had a spectacular finale: a sunset Spitfire flypast by the Boultbee Flight Academy.
BEST MAN FAUX PAS
A best man’s speech is always a tricky task to navigate – but rumour has it Justin Johannsen’s offering was an utter flop. In what’s been dubbed a “toe-curling 10 minutes” the groom’s longtime pal somehow managed to liken Pippa to a dog – and drop a few lewd jokes that referenced bottoms, bawdy boys’ weekends and gay bars.
He also reportedly revealed he’d carried the rings in his undies. “I had them in a shower cap tucked in my shorts. [James] said, ‘Really, in a shower cap? I don’t want that in my head when I’m putting the ring on Pippa’s finger in the church,’ ” were his supposed words. “I’m sure it wasn’t on your mind in the church, but it’s on your mind now – sorry, Pippa.”
DAD’S SPEECH
In a heartwarming speech proud papa Michael Middleton joked he’d now lost both of his daughters – but to great men. “He couldn’t have made it clearer how proud he was of Pippa,” a source said.