The TWO-venue extravaganza is expected to last over 22 hours!
Bridebook.co.uk, the UK’s leading wedding planning app, has helped thousands of couples plan their wedding day to perfection. Here is how we believe Pippa’s big day will run like clockwork:
6.00am – Hair and makeup
Pippa and her bridesmaids will be up early to start their beauty regimes with a team of 2 stylists to work on Pippa’s hair and makeup, and an additional 2 or so team members for the mothers of the bride and groom, and the bridal party.
9.00am – Usher’s breakfast
James and his groomsmen gather in their tails for the Usher’s breakfast. Likely to be in a local pub or at one of their hotels. A Scottish whiskey shot at the end to send them on their way.
9.30am – Flowergirls and pageboys arrive
The flowergirls and pageboys, including Prince George and Princess Charlotte, arrive at Englefield House, the house where the Bridal party will be staying to get ready.
10.30am – Guests begin to arrive
Ushers need to be at the ready for the arrival of the guests and co-ordinating the seating. James will likely be outside greeting guests on arrival to keep any nerves at bay.
11.30am – The bride arrives and marriage service begins
Pippa travels the short distance from the spectacular Englefield house in their wedding transport with her parents, and bridal party . The doors to the Church will be closed before Pippa enters ready to walk down the aisle with her father, everyone catching the first glimpse of the glorious bride and dress before the ceremony begins. Only 150 of the closest family and friends will be present for a traditional wedding service led by the Rev Nick Wynne-Jones.
12.45pm – They’re married!
Pippa and James walk down the aisle as the new Mr and Mrs Matthews! There may be some formal lineup photos at the church whilst guests wait outside.
1.00pm – Church Departure
Guests will be set up for a picture perfect confetti throw. Key friends and family positioned close to the entrance of the church, a flower arch around the entrance, and biodegradable flower petal confetti.
1.30pm – Guests arrive for drinks reception at Englefield House
Pippa, James and guests will walk to nearby Englefield House (with umbrellas at the ready) for the first and more intimate drinks reception at the home of a ceremony guest and close family friend, Conservative MP Richard Benyon.
1.45pm- The Englefield House drinks reception
The first drinks reception will run with champagne and light canapes. Music will be provided, potentially a bagpipe performance as a nod to James’ Scottish heritage. This is the opportunity for Pippa and James to personally greet and chat with their closest guests.
2.15pm – Father of the Bride speech
Michael Middleton will welcome the guests and deliver his Father of the Bride speech to this more intimate gathering, on a stage built especially for speech delivery. It is likely James will deliver his main speech then too or wait to do it in the evening with the other speeches.
3pm – All guests depart
The time provided for guests to return home to change into specially-requested second outfits and prepare for the festivities ahead at the Middleton family home.
3pm-5pm – Photos and Outfit change
Pippa and James will have this time to take private photos with their photographer in the grounds of the Englefield house, relax and spend quality time together alone. They will then both change into their evening’s outfits, with Pippa having her makeup redone and her hair style changed for the evening.
5pm – Evening Reception at the Middleton Family Home
The ceremony guests head to the Middleton family home joined by 200 additional evening guests. It is likely some elderly ceremony guests may not join for the evening. A champagne drinks reception will happen throughout the gorgeous Middleton garden, or within the spectacular glass marquee if the weather is not ideal.
5.30pm – Mr & Mrs Matthews’ Grand Arrival
Having travelled from Englefield house in a fleet of Bentleys, Pippa and James will be joining the guests with a dramatic entrance as Pippa reveals her second dress of the evening.
6.15PM – Spitfire flyby
A flyby of two vintage WW2 Spitfires are expected to wow the guests out on the lawn. Clear umbrellas will likely be provided for all the guests, so that regardless of wet weather they can still enjoy the flyby.
6.30pm – Guests called through for dinner
The Master of Ceremony will call everyone through into the incredible glass marquee to find their tables and be seated for dinner, with the wedding party taking their seats at the top table.
7pm – Dinner begins
An extravagant four-course dinner by top caterers The Admirable Crichton is served which is expected to have predominant Scottish themes throughout. The 15-chefs and up to 70 staff will be streaming out of the huge connected catering marquee to ensure everything is perfect.
The rest of the wedding speeches, including Best Man and Groom speeches, will take place between the 3rd and 4th course, and before the cutting of the cake.
9.45pm – Cutting of the cake and First Dance
Mr and Mrs Matthews stand to do the ceremonial cake cutting, potentially with a saber for ceremonial gravitas. Guests will gather around the dance floor for the couple’s first dance.
10.00pm – Party begins with 1st band
Bars will open by the dance floor serving champagne and signature cocktails. Begin playing as guests continue drinking and socialising as the party heats up.
10.30pm – Cake and Cheese available for guests
The caterers will have laid out the cut up wedding cake and platters of luxury cheese in a separate space for guests to eat as and when they like.
12.00am – DJ and Late Night Food
The entertainment shifts to a DJ for the late night partiers. The caterers will also provide late night food and midnight treats to help keep the guests going. These midnight treats are likely to be scottish and british-themed comfort food.
1am to 4am – Carriages
Some guests will be leaving as soon as 1am, with others likely to stay until the early morning hours.
For further information, interviews and images please contact
Harriet or Sarah-Jane at Harriet Hunt Communications
[email protected] [email protected]
T: 0208 871 2246 M: 07886 96908
Notes To Editor:
Bridebook.co.uk is the UK’s leading wedding planning platform with over 40,000 couples currently planning their weddings on the website and app.
Launched in 2016, Bridebook.co.uk‘s state-of-the-art wedding planning toolkit with personalised Wedding Checklist, Wedding Budgeter and Wedding Guestlist Manager, enables couples to plan their entire wedding from any device, anytime, anywhere, all in one place…for free. With over 70,000 wedding venues and suppliers in its directory, Bridebook.co.uk increases the digital presence of industry professionals and connects them directly with local couples. Bridebook.co.uk has also partnered with leading experts such as Mary Berry, Bobbi Brown and Jimmy Choo to provide genuine expert advice and inspiration to its couples. Bridebook.co.uk was founded by Hamish Shephard, an industry professional and recently married groom who used Bridebook.co.uk to plan his own May 2016 wedding. Visit Bridebook.co.uk online and the Bridebook.co.uk App on the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.