HUB GETS ITS BRIT ON FOR BIG DAY
The spirit of Windsor Castle could be felt at the Fairmont Copley Plaza during a packed Royal Watch Party yesterday morning.
A sea of fascinators descended upon the Back Bay hotel’s grand ballroom at the crack of dawn to witness the nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Guests were hit with everything Brit as soon as they entered the venue, being greeted by mock members of the Queen’s Guard, complete with faux bearskins, and life-size cutouts of Queen Elizabeth II, as well as the happy couple. Once Boston’s most dedicated royal watchers grabbed their place cards, which were accented with crowns, they could slap on a tiara and pose in a photo booth before finding their tables. Arrangements of white roses were sprinkled throughout the venue, which also proudly displayed both British and American flags.
In a corner stood a regal wedding cake embellished with sugar roses, whose colors included faint blush, burnt peach and deep berry. But, if we’re being honest, no eyes were on the decor as attention was fixed on the enormous projector screen or two high-def TVs streaming the live action.
As the few hundred spectators watched the royal fanfare, they provided a fitting soundtrack to punctuate the wedding’s more emotional moments: The room broke out in applause when the bride stepped out of the Bentley and stood before
St. George’s Chapel in her custom Givenchy dress designed by Clare Waight Keller; giggling coos could be heard when Prince George and
Princess Charlotte made their way down the aisle with the rest of the tots; the crowd sighed a collective “aw” when the camera panned to a crying Harry and Markle’s mother,
Doria Ragland, with tears in her eyes; and an eruption of cheers bounced off the walls as soon as the lovebirds were pronounced husband and wife.
If we’re talking fare, the food and beverage reflected the pair’s blended backgrounds. To represent the English, delicate pastries and scones were displayed on tiered trays, accompanied by pots of tea, platters of fresh fruit and assorted jams. Meanwhile, a full American breakfast — we’re talking our classic bacon and eggs — was laid out on a buffet. And as soon as the ceremony was sealed with a kiss, the hotel popped bottles of Bollinger Champagne, the official supplier of Champagne to the British court, for partygoers to toast the newlyweds.