The British Royal family's strict marriage traditions

There's an engagement announcement, There's an interview, Royals can't marry Catholics, The most traditional site for a royal ceremony, Wedding dresses are made out of lace, Military uniform, The Royal family pays for the wedding, Special seats, Children are an important part of the wedding, Appearance at Buckingham Palace, Women are required to wear hats, A princess is not always a princess, Princes also have bachelor parties

In 2011, Prince William and Kate Middleton brought us the excitement of witnessing the first royal wedding since Diana and Charles tied the knot in 1981. And not so long ago, in 2018, his brother Prince Harry followed, and married Meghan Markle. 

We love weddings, and royal weddings have the pomp and circumstance that most of us can only dream of. But what is really going on behind the scenes, what are the rules and traditions that must be followed for a royal wedding to happen? 

Browse through the gallery to delve into the strict marriage traditions of the British Royal family.

There's an engagement announcement

There's an engagement announcement, There's an interview, Royals can't marry Catholics, The most traditional site for a royal ceremony, Wedding dresses are made out of lace, Military uniform, The Royal family pays for the wedding, Special seats, Children are an important part of the wedding, Appearance at Buckingham Palace, Women are required to wear hats, A princess is not always a princess, Princes also have bachelor parties

An official engagement announcement is made to the public.

There's an interview

There's an engagement announcement, There's an interview, Royals can't marry Catholics, The most traditional site for a royal ceremony, Wedding dresses are made out of lace, Military uniform, The Royal family pays for the wedding, Special seats, Children are an important part of the wedding, Appearance at Buckingham Palace, Women are required to wear hats, A princess is not always a princess, Princes also have bachelor parties

The royal engagement announcement is usually followed by an interview. 

Royals can't marry Catholics

There's an engagement announcement, There's an interview, Royals can't marry Catholics, The most traditional site for a royal ceremony, Wedding dresses are made out of lace, Military uniform, The Royal family pays for the wedding, Special seats, Children are an important part of the wedding, Appearance at Buckingham Palace, Women are required to wear hats, A princess is not always a princess, Princes also have bachelor parties

The 1701 Act of Settlement prohibits this from happening. Meghan Markle, for instance, had to be baptized into the Church of England before her wedding.

The most traditional site for a royal ceremony

There's an engagement announcement, There's an interview, Royals can't marry Catholics, The most traditional site for a royal ceremony, Wedding dresses are made out of lace, Military uniform, The Royal family pays for the wedding, Special seats, Children are an important part of the wedding, Appearance at Buckingham Palace, Women are required to wear hats, A princess is not always a princess, Princes also have bachelor parties

Traditionally, the Chapel Royal at St. James Palace has housed most royal weddings, including those of Queen Anne, George III, George IV, Queen Victoria, and George V.

Wedding dresses are made out of lace

There's an engagement announcement, There's an interview, Royals can't marry Catholics, The most traditional site for a royal ceremony, Wedding dresses are made out of lace, Military uniform, The Royal family pays for the wedding, Special seats, Children are an important part of the wedding, Appearance at Buckingham Palace, Women are required to wear hats, A princess is not always a princess, Princes also have bachelor parties

Like the Princess of Wales' wedding dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

Military uniform

There's an engagement announcement, There's an interview, Royals can't marry Catholics, The most traditional site for a royal ceremony, Wedding dresses are made out of lace, Military uniform, The Royal family pays for the wedding, Special seats, Children are an important part of the wedding, Appearance at Buckingham Palace, Women are required to wear hats, A princess is not always a princess, Princes also have bachelor parties

Traditionally, royal males serve in the military, so they wear a military uniform to their weddings. 

Bouquet

There's an engagement announcement, There's an interview, Royals can't marry Catholics, The most traditional site for a royal ceremony, Wedding dresses are made out of lace, Military uniform, The Royal family pays for the wedding, Special seats, Children are an important part of the wedding, Appearance at Buckingham Palace, Women are required to wear hats, A princess is not always a princess, Princes also have bachelor parties

Traditionally, the bouquet contains a sprig of myrtle. This tradition dates back to Queen Victoria.

Cakes

There's an engagement announcement, There's an interview, Royals can't marry Catholics, The most traditional site for a royal ceremony, Wedding dresses are made out of lace, Military uniform, The Royal family pays for the wedding, Special seats, Children are an important part of the wedding, Appearance at Buckingham Palace, Women are required to wear hats, A princess is not always a princess, Princes also have bachelor parties

The traditional flavor is fruitcake. Here are the wedding cakes of Charles and Diana (left), and William and Kate (right).

The Royal family pays for the wedding

There's an engagement announcement, There's an interview, Royals can't marry Catholics, The most traditional site for a royal ceremony, Wedding dresses are made out of lace, Military uniform, The Royal family pays for the wedding, Special seats, Children are an important part of the wedding, Appearance at Buckingham Palace, Women are required to wear hats, A princess is not always a princess, Princes also have bachelor parties

Which goes against many cultures' traditions where the bride's family usually pays for the wedding. 

Special seats

There's an engagement announcement, There's an interview, Royals can't marry Catholics, The most traditional site for a royal ceremony, Wedding dresses are made out of lace, Military uniform, The Royal family pays for the wedding, Special seats, Children are an important part of the wedding, Appearance at Buckingham Palace, Women are required to wear hats, A princess is not always a princess, Princes also have bachelor parties

Traditionally, the royal family sits on the right side of the church during the wedding ceremony. Unless the groom is not royal, in which case they sit on the left side.

Children are an important part of the wedding

There's an engagement announcement, There's an interview, Royals can't marry Catholics, The most traditional site for a royal ceremony, Wedding dresses are made out of lace, Military uniform, The Royal family pays for the wedding, Special seats, Children are an important part of the wedding, Appearance at Buckingham Palace, Women are required to wear hats, A princess is not always a princess, Princes also have bachelor parties

Royal weddings have designated page boys and bridesmaids.

Appearance at Buckingham Palace

There's an engagement announcement, There's an interview, Royals can't marry Catholics, The most traditional site for a royal ceremony, Wedding dresses are made out of lace, Military uniform, The Royal family pays for the wedding, Special seats, Children are an important part of the wedding, Appearance at Buckingham Palace, Women are required to wear hats, A princess is not always a princess, Princes also have bachelor parties

Following the wedding, newlyweds make an appearance and kiss in front of the crowd.

Women are required to wear hats

There's an engagement announcement, There's an interview, Royals can't marry Catholics, The most traditional site for a royal ceremony, Wedding dresses are made out of lace, Military uniform, The Royal family pays for the wedding, Special seats, Children are an important part of the wedding, Appearance at Buckingham Palace, Women are required to wear hats, A princess is not always a princess, Princes also have bachelor parties

Hats are a big part of royal weddings. Most women wear them. 

A princess is not always a princess

There's an engagement announcement, There's an interview, Royals can't marry Catholics, The most traditional site for a royal ceremony, Wedding dresses are made out of lace, Military uniform, The Royal family pays for the wedding, Special seats, Children are an important part of the wedding, Appearance at Buckingham Palace, Women are required to wear hats, A princess is not always a princess, Princes also have bachelor parties

Women who marry royal male heirs get their husbands' titles, but do not automatically become princesses. 

Princes also have bachelor parties

There's an engagement announcement, There's an interview, Royals can't marry Catholics, The most traditional site for a royal ceremony, Wedding dresses are made out of lace, Military uniform, The Royal family pays for the wedding, Special seats, Children are an important part of the wedding, Appearance at Buckingham Palace, Women are required to wear hats, A princess is not always a princess, Princes also have bachelor parties

Or as the British call it: a stag party. 

Post Related