The Society Wedding of the Year Pippa Gets Married

On Saturday, May 20th Philippa Charlotte “Pippa” Middleton married financer James Spencer Matthews. The happy event was deemed The Society Wedding of the Year Pippa Gets Married.

The Society Wedding of the Year Pippa Gets Married

For those who may not know, Pippa is the younger sister of Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, who is married to Prince William, son of Prince Charles and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. 

The wedding ceremony took place at Saint Mark’s Church in the quiet Berkshire village of Englefield.  The church is situated on private land known as the Englefield Estate.

Here is one of the three early English arches decorated for the special day.

The Englefield Estate is owned by Richard Benyon, one of Britain’s wealthiest members of Parliament.

The earliest parts of the church date back to 1190. It was extensively restored by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1857.

The same shot in all its wedding glory. Faux tree trunks featured cascading vines, to include English ivy, and were topped with peonies, roses, sweetpea, as well as freesia and accented with various greenery.

No doubt the church was selected for its history, beauty, and privacy.

The church is also located just six miles from Bucklebury where the Middleton’s live.

The interior floral decorations only enhanced the loveliness of the church.

A closer look at the traditional floral arrangements.

The bride arrived at the church in a vintage 1951 Jaguar Mk V car.

She was accompanied by her father, Michael.

The Wedding Dress and Accessories

The bride wore a custom Giles Deacon dress. It featured a high neckline, cap sleeves and a corseted bodice with a heart-shaped detail on the upper back. The bespoke guipure silk cotton lace was hand appliqued to create an illusion that the dress had no seams. The lace was additionally embroidered with pearls. The underskirt of the gown had multiple layers of organza and tulle to create a floor-sweeping movement.

Her veil was a double-tier, cathedral-length design made by Stephen Jones. The tulle had a scattering of dégradé pearls (a minute change from one shade, tone, or color to another). The bride also wore a diamond tiara by Robinson Pelham in a Maidenhair Fern design.

The small bridal bouquet, made by Lavender Green,  included peony, sweetpea, astilbe, freesia, waxflower, green bell and lady’s mantle.

Her bridal shoes were the Seneca bridal heel by Manolo Blahnik. The ivory silk satin pump has a pointed toe, ankle strap, and Swarovski crystal buckle embellishment.

The bride’s “something old” was the earrings she wore to sister’s wedding in 2011. They were custom made by Robinson Pelham who also created the tiara.

Her engagement ring, also from jeweler Robinson Pelham, is an Asscher-cut, hexagonal-shaped diamond set in a platinum bezel setting. This is surrounded by multiple smaller brilliant-cut diamonds.

A very simple Welsh gold wedding band was selected to pair with the diamond ring.

The Wedding Party

The bride’s sister, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, was Pippa’s matron of honor.

Her custom peachy pink crepe silk dress featured a fitted bodice with a deep v-neck and billowing sleeves that cuffed with three covered buttons. It was designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen.

She wore an elegant fascinator hat from milliner Jane Taylor and morganite and diamond earrings by Kiki McDonough.

Princess Charlotte’s ivory silk dress, by Pepa & Co., had a frilled collar with pale pink trim on the sleeves and neckline. The bodice features a vintage-style pleated panel. Underneath is a silk petticoat with lace trim to provide volume. The charming frock was accented with a pale pink silk sash.

This same style of dress was worn by all the flower girls.

They also wore custom pink leather “Angelica” strap shoes created by Papouelli.

Here you can see the back pleating of the Duchess’ dress. Her heels were Gianvito Rossi suede pumps in the “Praline” colorway.

Prince George and the other page boys were dressed in Pepa and Co. knickers made of pale olive silk dupioni and ivory double-breasted silk pleated shirts accented with olive silk covered buttons and matching cummerbunds. They wore blucher style “Celebration” shoes.

The pageboys were Casimir Tatos, Edward Sebire, William Ward and the bride’s nephew, Prince George.

The flower girls were Countess Philippa Hoyos, Lily French, Avia Horner and the bride’s niece, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.

Prince William and Duchess Catherine’s children were angelic cherubs.

Just as her sister did for her six years ago Duchess Catherine arranged the back of Pippa’s bridal gown.

Spencer Matthews, James’s younger brother, was the best man.

The Wedding Guests

In attendance were princes William and Harry wearing customary morning suits.

Princess Eugenie of York (the younger daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York) attended the wedding with her boyfriend, Jack Brooksbank. She wore a Paule Ka dress and carried a metallic Anya Hindmarch clutch.

The bride’s brother, James Middleton, escorted the bride’s mother, Carole Middleton, to the church. Mrs. Middleton wore a pale pink bespoke Catherine Walker design.

The groom’s parents, David and Jane Matthews. Mrs. Matthews wore a gown in a lovely shade of mint green and accessorized with emerald green.

The happy couple immediately following the ceremony.

The first public kiss.

A jolly wedding party.

The beaming couple.

The Reception

The reception took place at the Middleton family home, Bucklebury Manor.

The Duke and Duchess stayed here for a few weeks after Prince George was born.

A custom glass conservatory-style structure was shipped from Belgium and constructed on land behind the home.

As appropriate, the airspace above both villages was closed to intrusive press crews from flying overhead or launching drones on the day of the event to prevent video footage of celebrations.

The happy couple leaving the church.

They drove through the village in a 1961 Jaguar E-Type car.

Best wishes to the happy couple.

I hope you have enjoyed this post!

Laura