How do you decorate a wedding at Westminster Abbey? Considering this church has a thousand years worth of history and is literally an architectural treasure, you really don’t.
Flickr photo by Serendigity
At least, that’s what it seems like to me. In my researching Westminster Abbey, I’ve got a few questions:
- Westminster Abbey hosts only royal events — royal funerals, royal weddings and coronations. Can anyone refute this? Is there anyone “common” who has had their wedding there? Kate Middleton’s upcoming wedding doesn’t count, thanks!
- Is it just me, or does it seem that the British don’t really care for flowers at their weddings? Or do they care less than Americans? Is it because their churches are already so beautiful that flowers aren’t really necessary? Or maybe its royalty that doesn’t care for flowers at the church? Hm.
Westminster Abbey is, in a word, amazing. The architecture, the history, the sheer size — amazing. I’ve never been, but in my research for this post, I can see why it would be reserved for royalty. Check out this video posted on the British Royal Family’s YouTube channel:
There have been quite a few royal weddings at Westminster Abbey, including the wedding of Lady Diana and Prince Charles and their respective parents, but I can’t seem to find any photos (none that I can post here) of those weddings inside the church. In fact, finding photos of the church was nearly impossible and there’s a good reason — they ban personal photography inside the church. So what would a wedding at Westminster Abbey look like?
Since, besides being The Wedding Decorator, I’m a search rock star, I was able to find Flickr photos of a wedding that took place at Westminster Abbey, but inside the Lady Chapel (I’m guessing that there a several chapels within Westminster Abbey). And, the couple getting married isn’t exactly a regular couple — the groom is Sir Colin George Hampden-White, who also is the owner of the Flickr account.
Flickr photo by hampdenwhite, taken by Andrew Dunsmore
This may not be the main chapel of Westminster Abbey, but it is still spectacular. Those ceilings and stained windows, combined with the bright morning, plus all those colorful flags — pretty cool.
Flickr photo by hampdenwhite, taken by Andrew Dunsmore
And, of course, all those iconic hallways and cloisters make for some spectacular photos.
Flickr photo by hampdenwhite, taken by Andrew Dunsmore
I didn’t see photos of the reception, and of course the groom and his groomsmen wore boutonnieres, but the bridal bouquet appeared to be the most elaborate of the flowers at this wedding. This is a very classic, white bridal bouquet, with plenty of open roses, lisianthus, baby’s breath and other blooms.
I was looking for pictures and I came across your question. It is a bit late now I guess though.
I am getting married in Westminster Abbey in 4 weeks time… eek, nerves – in the Lady Chapel. The rules for getting married there are as follows: The only people that can be married in Westminster Abbey are members of the Royal Family, Order of the Bath members and their children, and anyone living in the Abbey’s Precincts. I think unless they are royalty they always use the Lady Chapel which is at the end of the main Abbey.
The order of the Bath is part of the UK honours system – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Bath – my Dad is a KCB from years as a civil servant, so we would definitely be considered normal, or indeed ‘common’. In fact the Order of the Bath is quite large and with all their children in the mix it is probably more people that you think!
Late reply but Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married at St. Paul’s Cathedral…NOT Westminster Abbey.
Thanks for the FYI!