All eyes will be on Meghan Markle next month when she walks down the aisle at St. George’s Chapel to say “I do” to Prince Harry.
And according to Vanity Fair, the bride-to-be will have not one, but two royal wedding dresses!
Sources close to the former Suits star reportedly told the outlet that both dresses will be custom-made. The first is “an elaborate yet traditional bridal gown” for the ceremony and reception, and the second is “a glamorous, more sophisticated” gown she’ll change into for the evening to “party the night away” with less restriction.
“This wedding will be one of the biggest events of the year, so why not celebrate it with as many fabulous gowns as possible,” wedding dress designer Caroline Castigliano tells Vanity Fair. “I am fully expecting this wedding to follow the same format as Kate [Middleton]’s, with a wedding gown for the day and an evening gown, too.”
“I am sure Meghan will choose a traditional, classy gown with a little bit of a twist of her own style,” Castigliano continues. “We have to remember Meghan’s wedding photos will be seen and remembered for centuries to follow and will play as an important part of history. Choosing the best gown that will not look dated in years to come will play an important factor in the choosing of the gown, too. It will, I am sure, be fashionable but also classic to stand the test of time.”
Meghan is keeping all details about the dresses top secret. According to VF, the wedding dress designer she chose earlier this year (with help from her close pal/stylist, Jessica Mulroney) has been sworn to secrecy — and not even Prince Harry knows who he/she is.
“Meghan can’t wait to surprise everyone, especially Harry,” a source shares. “The wedding dress itself will be traditional and elegant. There is talk of some lace and sleeves and Meghan has been working very closely with the designer who has been sworn to secrecy.”
Although it sounds like we’ll have to wait until May 19 to see what Meghan actually wears on her special day, that hasn’t stopped fans from guessing who the Los Angeles native may have chosen. Many are speculating it could be Christopher Bailey of Burberry, or Ralph and Russo, the famous design duo who created the glamorous, $75,000 gown Meghan wore for her engagement photos with Prince Harry. A few other designers on the radar? Stewart Parvin, one of Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite couturiers, and Erdem, a Canadian designer favored by Meghan’s future sister-in-law, Kate Middleton.
ET spoke with royal expert Katie Nicholl last month, who gave us some insight on what Meghan could potentially don on her wedding day.
“I think when it comes to her wedding dress, [Meghan] knows that this is a very, very important dress,” she said. “This is a royal bridal gown and she’s getting married at Windsor Castle. It’s got to fit for the occasion, and it’s got to suit the regal historical backdrop that is Windsor Castle.”
“I’m told that [Meghan] wants something with lace, that she wants something with sleeves,” she continued. “She’s dressing for a very, very important occasion. So, I think you will probably be pleasantly surprised for Meghan, the rule breaker, when it comes to this dress. I think it’s gonna tick all the right boxes — traditional, elegant, sophisticated, memorable and fitting.”
Hear more in the video below, and keep up with all of ET’s coverage of the royal wedding right here as we count down to May 19.
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