While asking recent brides to detail the most stressful part of their wedding planning, a majority replied, “The food.” After all, there are so many decisions to make, just on the food alone! Do you offer chicken or beef? Both? Should you have a vegetarian option? What about a buffet? Choosing a meal and coordinating with guests can be incredibly stressful, especially for brides with a larger guest list, or family members who are a bit more…shall we say particular?
So, if you’re feeling a little stuck, feel free to draw inspiration from some of the most beloved wedding itineraries of them all: royal weddings. After all, every bride wants to feel like a queen on her special day. Why not eat like one? Below, we’ve compiled the meals from some of the most talked about, most remembered wedding from royal weddings–televised, or not.
Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, 1973
When Princess Anne and Mark Phillips said, “I do,” their guests enjoyed a feast fit for–well, royalty. Their lunch was starring a spectacular lobster, partridge, fresh peas, peppermint ice cream. Their wedding cake? Well, it was made to be exactly 5’6” tall, which was Princess Anne’s height, of course.
Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, 1981
At the fairytale wedding of Charles and Diana, their wedding meal involved sweet strawberries with cream, brill in lobster sauce and a traditional chicken stuffed with fine lamb mousse. Best of all, there were 27 cakes to sample–and that includes their official wedding cake, which was an five-foot tall fruitcake with white icing.
They may have been onto something there. Featuring dessert is one way to get your guests ready to take on the dance floor in a sugar rush, after all!
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, 1986
Prince Andrew and Fergie celebrated their nuptials with Eggs Drumkilbo, which was a dish that was essentially egg aspic and lobster. Why? It was the late Queen Mother’s favorite dish.
After all, there are so many ways to dedicate your day to family or friends who won’t be able to join you–and, as we all know, food is the key that unlocks so many hearts! If someone special to you won’t be able to join you, consider letting them have a say in the meal by choosing something they’d love.
Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones, 1999
Going for a simpler kind of style, Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones were royals who opted for self-service buffet, giving their guests the option of smoked haddock, beef stroganoff, and raspberries with cream–or even a mix of all three! While they were being so adventurous with their plans, they also broke the English tradition of a tiered fruitcake, going with the (arguably more delicious) devil’s food cake.
So, even if you don’t choose those dishes exactly, there’s still a lesson to be learned. Make your day so uniquely you, no other wedding will look the same!
Prince William and Kate Middleton, 2011
The William/Middleton wedding in April of 2011 was thrown over the spring, and their food selection certainly celebrated the season. The first course took marinated salmon and crab, wild langoustines and a fresh herb salad. Then, as their main course, guests enjoyed organic lamb with spring vegetables like asparagus and potatoes. Dessert was as unique as the couple themselves: honey ice cream, a sherry trifle and a chocolate parfait.
Whether you serve one course or two, chicken or beef, dinner or dessert, there’s one thing we know for sure: you don’t need to have royal blood to have a special wedding.
Let FanC help you prepare for your special day with unique brides of every shape, size, and style. We can’t help you choose between the lobster or the soup d’jour, but we can help you feel absolutely gorgeous–no matter what’s on the table.