£40k of caviar and table tennis against Federer

PIPPA’S lavish reception was held in a specially constructed £100,000 glass marquee at her £6million family home.

One guest revealed that there was £40,000 of beluga caviar on offer after a friend donated 17lb of the delicacy.

Guests drank vintage champagne and enjoyed Scottish treats including haggis and whisky, in a nod to the groom’s heritage.

Among the wines flowing was £75-a-bottle 2010 Blanc de Noir Millington from Sussex vineyard Nyetimber. There was a live band and at one stage, jazz renditions of the White Stripes song Seven Nation Army and Eric Prydz’s Call on Me were heard. At another point, people joined in a Beatles singalong.

Earlier, guests had canapes including mini haggis, foie gras, langoustine, asparagus, steak and chips and king prawns.

Pippa and James later cut a fruit cake either three or four tiers tall by baker Fiona Cairns. Chefs sliced serrano ham to order from huge legs while a giant wheel of parmesan was available for people to shave off their own sprinkling.

During the afternoon reception, James paid tribute to his late brother Michael in an emotional speech. Michael died at 23 while descending Mount Everest after becoming the youngest Brit to climb the world’s highest mountain.

James said he was certain Michael was “looking down on them”.

Dinner was followed by a saxophonist and games included a table tennis tournament – which guest Roger Federer joined in.

At 10pm the best man, James’ brother Spencer, gave a speech to loud applause and laughter.

And there was even a flyby by a Second World War Spitfire, which performed manoeuvres over the village of Bucklebury. EXCLUSIVE An invitation