Pippa Middleton ties the knot
May 20, 2017
Pippa Middleton, 33, and James Matthews, 41, kissed and waved to the crowd of well-wishers and reporters gathered outside St. Mark's church in Englefield, Berkshire, before showers forced the wedding party to rush to the reception at the Middleton estate a little sooner than planned.
The wedding was understandably on a smaller scale than her sister Kate's 2011 nuptials to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, at Westminster Abbey, but it was ever as much a royal event.
Security was high at the wedding, as four direct heirs to the throne were in attendance: Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. A no-fly zone was part of the precautions taken for the ceremony. Wedding guests were also told to refrain from taking pictures to post on social media, though some guests defied the ban, posting pictures of the wedding party arriving at the church.
A wedding dress that set new standards
Images posted online showed Pippa Middleton's white lace wedding dress, a short-sleeved gown made by designer Giles Deacon, which appeared to have been crafted in a seamless look. With a high neckline and a corseted bodice, the white lace dress was complimented by a Stephen Jones veil and accentuated by Manolo Blahnik shoes.
After the ceremony, a lavish private reception was planned at the bride's parents' estate in nearby Bucklebury. According to reports published by British media, the wedding reception at the Middleton estate was to feature a massive glass marquee for a Scottish-themed soiree. The exact number of wedding guests at the event was unknown, the daily newspaper "The Daily Mail" reported that about 120 guests were invited to the church and that some 300 would attend the reception.
When's the next wedding?
Many were disappointed when Prince Harry did not attend the church ceremony with his girlfriend, Meghan Markle.
The US actress may, however, be present at the reception, with rumors about the prince's future with Markle rife since the relationship was first made public. Royal watchers hope to see clues that Markle's romance with Harry could lead to another royal wedding - one that would eclipse Saturday's event.
The Middleton and Matthews families gave no public statements about Saturday's events, nor did the royal family, with Prince Harry asking the press to respect their privacy.