The buzz surrounding Prince Harry’s magical wedding to Meghan Markle has barely died down, and the world has been treated to another royal wedding celebration. The royal wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank was an elegant and star-studded affair that also had some unique twists that set it apart.
The Couple
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Princess Eugenie is the 28-year-old daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah the Duchess of York. She is ninth in line to the throne behind her uncle, her cousins, her niece and nephews, her father, and her elder sister. Eugenie’s lucky husband is Jack Brooksbank. Jack works as the European Manager for Casamigos Tequila which was owned by George Clooney and Rande Gerber until recently. He also has family ties to nobility as members of his family are descendants from the Brooksbank baronets. The couple met while skiing in Switzerland and have been together for more than seven years.
The Dress
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One of the biggest draws of a royal wedding is, you guessed it, the wedding dress and Princess Eugenie’s stunning gown did not disappoint. The dress designed by Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos of British-based label Peter Pilotto. The designers created a special fabric for the dress containing several symbols special to the couple. It featured thistles to represent the couple’s love for Balmoral, Scotland, a shamrock to indicate Ireland the bride’s Ferguson family, a York Rose as a nod to the princess’s family name, and ivy to stand for the couple’s home, Ivy Cottage.
While the gorgeous custom fabric held special meaning, so did the design and creation of this stunning royal wedding gown. The gown boasted a unique folded necklace which wrapped around the bride’s shoulders and draped into a low-cut back. Princess Eugenie specifically requested that the gown have a low back to show her scar from the scoliosis surgery she underwent as a child. Before the ceremony, she told the media: “I think you can change the way beauty is, and you can show people your scars and I think it’s really special to stand up for that.”
Eugenie “crowned” her wedding day look with the Queen’s breathtaking Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara. This impressive tiara which was made by Boucheron in 1919. It features brilliant and rose-cut diamonds, pave set in platinum. Six emeralds can also be seen flanking either side of the tiara. Princess Eugenie also donned diamond and emerald drop earrings, which were a wedding gift from the groom.
The Ceremony
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Like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding earlier this year, the ceremony was held in St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performed two pieces during the ceremony, members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra played, and Dean of Windsor David Conner officiated. In an unconventional move, Eugenie’s elder sister Beatrice read a passage from the novel The Great Gatsby, rather than a more traditional reading. The Princess had read the classic novel shortly after meeting her groom, and a passage referencing the smile of the main character, Jay Gatsby, made her think of her beloved. “…one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life.”
The Guests
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The star-studded guest list of the royal wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank was over 800 people including celebrities like Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and Robbie Williams. The stylish guests mostly stuck to the requested dress code of day dresses and hats for ladies and morning coats for the gentlemen, although the prevailing winds made it a challenge to keep those hats and fascinators in place!
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Not everyone went the traditional route, however. Model Cara Delevigne drew attention by breaking with protocol and arriving in chic Emporio Armani tails and a Chanel top hat.
The Receptions
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Like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding just months earlier, Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbanks had more than one reception after the ceremony. Unlike Harry and Megan, however, they were treated to not two but three receptions! The first being a standup luncheon at Waterloo Chamber, the Grand Reception Room at St. George’s Hall in Windsor Castle. The reception was hosted by the Queen and also featured the couple’s stunning five-tiered wedding cake.
After the reception, the couple hopped in an Aston Martin and made the three-mile drive to the Royal Lodge for an evening reception. The Royal Lodge is Prince Andrew’s royal residence that he shares with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. This reception was more relaxed with guest Robbie Williams hopping on stage to perform an eclectic mix of music. A gourmet pizza truck provided food and Casamigos margaritas were the cocktail of choice, of course.
The following day the couple hosted yet another reception that also had a twist. They held a festival-style event complete with a fairground of carnival games, a merry-go-round, a Ferris wheel and food stalls at Windsor Great Park.
As always, the royal wedding was truly an event to remember! What did you think of the royal wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank? So, the only question that remains is who will be the next member of the royal family to tie the knot?
