Saturday May 18th is the day that Prince Harry and American Actress Meghan Markle will say their "I do's." Will you be watching the Royal Wedding and hosting a Royal Wedding watch party? If you do watch, you'll be among an estimated more than 3 billion other viewers tuning in to witness Great Britain's Prince Harry wed his bride, Meghan Markle.
Since my invitation obviously got lost in the mail, I won't be in attendance at St. George's Chapel, in the grounds of Windsor Castle. I paid a visit to this site on my first ever trip abroad, as a recent high school grad traveling with friends. I remember how lush and green everything was and how knowledgeable I felt after having just finished my senior year of high school honors English, which was all about British history. What a nerd I was/am.
Just because
How to Watch the Royal Wedding
The Royal Wedding will be shown on several networks, including NBC and PBS. Most coverage begins around 4 a.m. EST.
Decor for a Royal Wedding Watch Party
Set the tone for your Royal Wedding party with some festive decorations such as Union Jack flags and anything with crowns, British symbolism or images of the monarchy on it.
I found a cool clock at the thrift store that said "London" on the face and thought it would be neat to use that as a decoration for my party, set to London time of course.
Food for a Royal Wedding Watch Party
Rumor is that the Royal Wedding cake will be a lemon and elderflower confection, which sounds perfectly heavenly and just lovely for springtime. I wasn't able to find anything about the history of this particular flavor combination. However, the elder tree is said to be a symbol of transformation, and "the crossing of thresholds." So that makes sense.
For a much simpler variation of this sweet treat, I opted to make lemon elderflower parfaits.
All you need are some good store-bought Madeline cookies, which I crumbled up in parfait glasses. Then I topped them with a bit of blueberry jam and some lemon curd. Drizzle some elderflower syrup or liquer over it and top with whipped cream.
As for other snacks, you might want to snag some authentic English goodies to nibble on. My local grocery store has an International aisle, but World Market is also a great place to visit for traditional British snacks and sweets. McVitie's Digestives, Hobknobs, and Walker shortbread are all tasty options. Here's a fun guide to British biscuits, in case you were wondering what's what.
As for drinks to serve at your Royal Wedding viewing party, tea is a must have! I have been drinking PG Tips, a popular brand in the UK. Make sure to serve plenty of milk and sugar too.
For a signature cocktail to enjoy during your Royal Wedding watching party, how about incorporating the elderflower again, which should pair nicely with the royal wedding cake. Belvoir is a good option and available at many grocery stores, including The Fresh Market and Whole Foods. Add a splash of Pimm's for a spirited cocktail or drink the Belvoir by itself. It's really tasty!
Favors for the Royal Wedding Watch Party
If your guests are good enough sports to get up early and come to your house at the crack of dawn, at least make it worth their while with some fun favors.
Butter mints or Jordan Almonds in little wedding favor boxes might be appreciated. You could also make DIY scented sachets using dried herbs or rice and essential oils.
I hope you enjoy the Royal Wedding festivities however you choose to partake. Some might think it's silly for everyone to get so wrapped up in it all, but there's a part of me that feels hopeful that something happy and joyous could bring so many people together. People celebrating love and wishing someone well...What's the harm in that?
