Royalty Themed Wedding

A royalty themed wedding is nothing short of fun and glamourous at the same time. From the flower girls with gold ribbons in their hair and floral white headpieces to the luxurious yet delicate crown worn by the bride – everything spells magical.

Isn’t an Edinburgh wedding venue magical too? A boutique hotel, a spacious Balmoral suite or an enchanted castle all make exquisite places to say your vows. In this photo shoot, a winter wedding is made even more special with the addition of elegant winter wear on the happy couple.

What to Look for in a Venue for a Royalty Themed Wedding

No expense is spared for a royalty themed wedding, so your venue should be the ultimate in elegance and class. Venues with classical architecture or a rich history are typically fitting. Churches with high ceilings and antique artwork lend well to the royalty themed wedding.

You’ll want to make sure the venue is large enough to accommodate all guests, and the venue should be accessible, not only in traveling distance but to accommodate special needs guests. Be sure to ask your contact at the wedding venue about everything that is included in rental as well as any amenities your chosen space offers.

Often, brides choose a historic venue for a royalty themed wedding. However, mansions and castles also fit well into this theme.

Food for a Royalty Themed Wedding

Elegance and opulence should be the theme of your wedding reception. Not only will you want to fill tables with gorgeous, over-the-top floral centrepieces, but be sure to use china flatware or even gold cutlery sets at guest tables. While most brides utilise white table linens, royal blue linens are an original yet elegant choice as well.

If you really want to give a royal impression, plan a full, multi-course meal for your guests. Setting the reception area up like a banquet is a plus. You’ll want to have a head table where the bride and groom are seated like the royalty they are. In fact, placing the bride and groom’s table on a riser really gives the effect of royalty.

Don’t forget that the cake should get the royal treatment as well! A traditional tiered cake with pearls as well as piping detail that is reminiscent of lace can really emphasise the royal theme. However, you may wish to use fondant on the cake layers for a smoothing effect. Ask the baker to add pearl luster to the fondant for a beautiful sheen. In addition, if the baker can add scrollwork or sugar flowers to the cake, that’s a great deal of elegance to add to the nature of the event.

Dresses & Accessories for a Royalty Themed Wedding

Brides can find inspiration in the gowns worn by Kate Middleton or Meghan Markle on their wedding days. If you’ll notice, royal brides always wear sleeved gowns. Choose lacy, sheer sleeves if you wish, but even a capped sleeve that covers the shoulders is appropriate. Most royal wedding dresses possess a full skirt with a long train. Veils are long as well, often the same length as the train.

Speaking of veils, pairing your veil with a tiara is a great way to achieve that royal look. However, steer clear of tiaras that look more pageant queen than elegant royal bride.

Menswear for a Royalty Themed Wedding

For a royalty themed wedding, men are also expected to look glamourous and dashing. Tuxedos with tails are the traditional outfits for grooms. Be sure to add a satin tie that closely matches the colour of the tux.

If your fiance is a member of the military, the royalty themed wedding is the perfect occasion for the groom to dress in his uniform. In fact, it's expected in a royal wedding.

However, the groom, as well as groomsmen, may dress under what is called the Morning Dress Code. This means dressing as formally as possible, including a waistcoat that matches the tux.

Budget for a Royalty Themed Wedding

When dressing as the belle of the ball, brides might expect they’ll need a huge budget, but there are ways to get all the royal trimmings without breaking the bank.

When planning a royalty themed wedding, you will want to plan your budget in the smartest ways. Allow the majority of your budget to go to must-have items, perhaps your dress and the reception. At the same time, there are many ways to stretch your budget.

Make plans to rent glassware and linens for the reception. Perhaps the wedding reception venue will include this in your rental price, which can maximise savings. Seek out fresh flowers that are in season to save expense. Find a few things at the local vintage store to further stretch your budget.

Colour Palette for a Royalty Themed Wedding

Two colours come to mind when planning a royalty themed wedding: gold and royal blue. Gold should be used as an accent colour, with splashes of royal blue mixed with white linens and white and blush-coloured flowers in the bouquet. Some brides select white and gold as their chief colours, adding splashes of royal blue for very subtle accents.

Another great colour that is associated with royalty is a vibrant red. If you’ve paid attention to the nuptials of royals over the years, much of the royal guard is outfitted in red. Floral arrangements may be a mixture of white and various shades of pink.

Ceremony Decor for a Royalty Themed Wedding

When it comes to your ceremony decor, lavish decorations are called for. You’ll want to use lots of scrollwork, elaborate floral arrangements dripping with flowers, and gold accents throughout. Floral bouquets hang from the ends of each row of seats, and you’ll likely want a carpeted runway for your grand entrance.

There are some brides who adore lots of jeweled effects (think rhinestones) as well as glitter, while other brides may downplay the glitter and jewels for more bows and floral decor. Don’t forget the backdrop for the ceremony! Tasteful yet glamorous is key.

Wedding Reception Music and Entertainment for a Royalty Themed Wedding

During the wedding, you’ll want to choose some traditional music, such as Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” or “A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61: IX. Wedding March” for your entrance. Select a few classical music pieces for the ceremony itself.

“Clair de Lune” makes great background music to play throughout the ceremony. “Ave Maria” is often played prior to the ceremony, or it could be used during the nuptials – an instrumental version is available just for this purpose.

At the reception, you’ll be able to let your hair down a bit and play a few songs you really like as well as some fun dance songs.

Bridesmaid Dresses for a Royalty Themed Wedding

Bridesmaids should wear dresses that somewhat match that of the bride. Typically, long, formal gowns are the standard for the bridesmaid dresses at a royalty themed wedding.

When it comes to colours, most experts suggest royal blue, since it has been noted as a great accent colour for the ceremony. However, some brides prefer amethyst, which will match the colour palette and look rather elegant.

At the same time, you may want to choose a more understated or paler colour. In that case, grey in any shade is a perfect choice. Rose or a blush pink work also.

Reception Decor for a Royalty Themed Wedding

If you’re serving a sit-down meal at the reception, then decor is highly important here. Crystal glasses, a fully set placement for each guest with fine flatware and cloth napkins are a must. Centrepieces at the reception should follow the same pattern as the dripping floral arrangements of the ceremony.

Tables could be covered with crisp white linen tablecloths, and you may want to use a chair cover for the chairs at each table. All floral arrangements should be placed in tall glass vases. Consider adding a few sprays around the reception venue to really play up the royal theme.

Royalty Themed Winter Wedding

Today’s royalty themed wedding inspiration shoot from Bellamint Photography mixes old and new motifs in the most flawless way. With plenty of gold, silver, glitter, and sparkle – this wedding theme is truly fit for a queen!

From Carrie at Bellamint Photography – “We kept this royalty inspiration shoot very elegant with metals and pastels. I love mixing metals and was pretty excited to feature gold flatware with little silver crown-shaped salt & pepper shakers from Pottery Barn.

We opted for crown pins instead of traditional boutonnieres and a gold wire wrapped the ends of our bridesmaid’s tousled hair. The twin flower girls, instead of carrying flowers, had gold glitter in pendants to welcome to the bride. It was such a fun shoot!”

Credits: Photography: Bellamint Photography // Event Planning: Day Planner Events // Floral Design: Rhonda Nichols Floral Design // Paper Goods: Pier 9 Graphic Design // Dresses: Wedding Treasures // Makeup: Magnifica Bella // Shoes: Eros Shoe Boutique // Jewelry: Master Jewelers // Wedding Cake: The Sugarplum Cake Shoppe // Submitted via Two Bright Lights.