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UPDATED: Latest on Pippa Middleton’s Wedding (with time), Plus ME & EM’s America’s Cup Collaboration

We are back with a bit of background on this Saturday’s wedding (aww, c’mon, you know which wedding!) and a look at the ME + EM America’s Cup collection.

Of course, we’re talking about the wedding of Kate’s younger sister, Pippa, to financier James Matthews. The Daily Mail’s Rebecca English reports the event will have a Scottish theme. From her story:

..today the Mail can reveal one of the most fascinating aspects yet – the big day is going to have a Scottish theme.

James’s father, David, a former mechanic who made a fortune through the car trade, owns a castle and 10,000-acre estate 15 miles from Loch Ness in the Highlands. His acquisition of the property in 2008 also bought him the courtesy title of the Laird of Glen Affric, which will be inherited by his eldest son….that would make Pippa Lady Glen Affric one day.

And from The Sun‘s coverage, a report that the wedding will be:

….a tartan-tinged affair celebrating the groom’s Scottish heritage.

Expect haggis canapes, bagpipes and whisky galore.

THE VENUES:

The ceremony will be at St. Mark’s, Englefield.

BabelStone Creative Commons

BabelStone Creative Commons

More from The Sun:

The stunning 12th-century building is a local landmark and, conveniently, is situated just six miles from Bucklebury, where the Middleton children were raised…

With its gothic stained glass windows to its stunning embellished alter, it’s a picture perfect location for the couple to tie the knot.

This is a church we have seen the Cambridges and Middletons attend previously. Most recently, Kate, William, George and Charlotte went to St. Mark’s for Christmas.©Pool / Reuters / Splash

They joined Kate’s family for that service.©Reuters / Splash

The bride-to-be and fiancée at Christmas.©Andrew Matthews / WPA Rota / Nunn Syndication/Polaris

The families also went to Christmas services at the Church in 2012.

©Jesal Parshotam / Splash News

©Jesal Parshotam / Splash News

Preps have been underway all week at the church. Today the delivery of chairs, equipment and other items continued throughout the day.©Flynet Pictures / Splash News

From The Mirror’s coverage.

Around 150 guests are expected to attend, but some estimates have gone as high as 350 – which is the building’s capacity.

Signs are now up near the church.

The reception will be at the Middleton family home in Berkshire. From The NY Times:

After the service, the newlyweds and their expected 150 guests will then travel to Ms. Middleton’s parents’ Bucklebury home for a marquee reception. Carole and Michael Middleton bought the Georgian Grade II-listed manor house, which has an 18-acre garden, in 2012.

©Splash News

More from Hello!

….a large glass marquee was erected in the garden of her family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire. The bride-to-be and her fiancé James Matthews have chosen a huge conservatory-style structure for their nuptials rather than a traditional canvas marquee…

The marquee is certainly a showstopper; its glimmering glass façade can be seen from both the main road and a public footpath that runs alongside Carole and Michael Middleton’s estate

Additionally, a large canvas tent has been constructed on the Englefield Estate grounds near the church.  It is believed this will be where guests gather immediately after the ceremony.

THE DRESS:

Pippa’s gown has been broadly reported as being a Giles Deacon creation. More via Rebecca English’s Daily Mail story:

She has chosen a couture dress made by Giles Deacon, who has designed clothes for Ann Summers and New Look. Deacon, 47, is one of the most acclaimed British designers…

Hello! spoke with Giles Deacon about the rumors that Pippa Middleton will be wearing one of his gowns this Saturday:

The designer himself certainly isn’t giving away any hints. “I can never really comment on rumors,” he told HELLO! Fashion while promoting his new Ariel and Giles Deacon Eek! collection. “Until things are confirmed, it’s just rumors.”

The Telegraph offers this perspective:

While he still seems to be the current favourite, the bride is reported to have held meetings with many other designers, and yet more were asked to submit sketches of their ideas.

Other designers thought to be a possibility: Jenny Packham, Temperley London, Suzanne Neville, and Emilia Wickstead

And from Brides magazine UKUK:

…just days before the wedding, stylists were spotted with white garment bags outside Pippa’s London home that she shares with James Matthews. The size of the bags suggested Pippa will wear a slim-fitting gown, possibly accompanied by blush pink bridesmaids dresses. 

The bride’s shoes are reported to be by Manolo Blahnik, and milliner Stephen Jones is thought to be doing a hat for Carole Middleton. Also seen at Pippa’s home: Amanda Cook Tucker, Kate’s hair stylist. It’s not known if she is doing the bride’s hair, or perhaps other members of the wedding party. Brides reports that “Bobbi Brown senior pro artist Hannah Martin…is rumoured to be in charge of Pippa’s bridal makeup look.”

GEORGE AND CHARLOTTE:

Both children are in the wedding party; Princess Charlotte as a flower girl, and Prince George as a page boy.© /HRH The Duchess of Cambridge

A flashback to 1991 when Kate and Pippa were bridesmaids in their Uncle Gary Goldsmith’s wedding.

© SWNS / Splash News

© SWNS / Splash News

What will George and Charlotte, and any other children in the wedding party, be wearing? The styles seen on the children in Kate and William’s wedding party offer a clue.Both Photos © Nunn Syndication/Polaris

Prince William wore his Irish Guards dress uniform in 2011, and the page boys’ ensembles echoed that uniform with replicas of Regency-era Irish Guards uniforms. The girls’ bridesmaid dresses were created by upscale childrenswear designer Nicki Macfarlane, and they reflected elements of Kate’s wedding gown. More from CBS:

….incorporating French Chantilly lace with English Cluny lace finish. The ballerina-length skirt has a layering of ivory over white satin gazar. The puff sleeves and neckline are trimmed with the same English lace as the bride’s underskirt, according to the royal wedding website.

On Saturday I expect we will see outfits made to match the wedding theme. If there is a Scottish theme it’s possible (although unlikely) page boys could be in something akin to what Peter Phillips wore in 1981 for his aunt’s wedding, a traditional kilt.

KATE’S ROLE:

It is believed the Duchess will not be matron of honor for her sister, in large part because that role may take attention away from Pippa, something Kate would not want to happen. It’s possible Kate will do a reading; she may also want to personally supervise George and Charlotte.

THE GUESTS:

We return to the Times article:

There has been no further official comment on guests, though one can expect a loyal gaggle of Ms. Middleton’s friends from the University of Edinburgh, the cream of high society…

We don’t yet know who is attending the wedding and/or the reception. There is great interest in one particular guest, Meghan Markle. The actress has been dating Prince Harry for several months; the speculation is that she will be at the reception, but not the ceremony itself. Kate and Pippa’s brother James is expected to bring longtime girlfriend, Donna Air to the ceremony and reception.

TIMING/PHOTOS:

UPDATED: The Telegraph reports the wedding is at 11:30. 

There *will* be photos allowed outside the church, shot by a pool photographer(s). It’s my understanding pictures from the reception are an entirely different situation; hopefully, there will be some distributed by the family, but there’s no guarantee this will be the case. I will update with more information as it is released.

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Now to our other newsbytes, the first an update to Kate’s Calendar::

  • Monday, May 22: Kate joins a sizable contingent of Royals attending the Royal Chelsea Flower Show with HM and the Duke of Edinburgh. Also expected to attend: the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Princess Eugenie of York, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, and Princess Alexandra.

NOTE: I originally posted this with the wrong date; the correct date is the 22nd, *not* the 24th as I initially thought. (Thank you Christin for the heads-up!)

Next, news about one of Kate’s favorite retailers, Hobbs. The company has opened its first standalone US store in Greenwich, CT.  An exec tells Greenwich Time the new location is

… a “very British” space, according to Hobbs’ U.S. president Jim Walters. “We’re proud of our Britishness and celebrate it,” he said, adding Middleton’s choice to sport Hobbs clothing represents the type of women attracted to the brand.

The store opened in April, part of the company’s US expansion. More from the Greenwich Free Press, quoting Mr. Walters:

“Our clothing is wear-to-work and occasion wear dresses. Our price points are realistic,” he said, adding, “A lot of love is put into this product.”

“Kate Middleton wears our product a lot,” he said of the Duchess of Cambridge. “You cannot send the royal family product to wear. It’s not allowed. We do not style her or gift her.” Rather, he said, “She picks it.”

Kate in the Hobbs Sinead suit at an EACH engagement in January.©Splash News and Pictures

Back to the Greenwich Time article:

“It’s very important to us that Kate Middleton often chooses to wear our product,” Walters said. “Because she has to be put together at all times and be confident in her clothing. She’s the type of woman we aim to dress — where clothes don’t make her but she makes herself.”

In addition to the new retail location, the brand is available online at Bloomingdale’s and in 19 stores.

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Also today, word about a collaboration between one of Kate’s patronages and another retailer she is fond of, ME + EM. Below, the just-released Iconic Breton Top, a fundraiser for the 1851 Trust, one of Kate’s patronages.

ME + EM

ME + EM

We all know how much Kate has worn her ME + EM striped tops over the years.©i-Images/James Whatling

The classic design is a key element in ME + EM collections. The company even celebrated the 100th birthday of the Breton this spring. How cute is that cake?

ME + EM

ME + EM

This is from our June 2015 post on the history of the Breton top.

More about the French designer’s appreciation of the style from Wiki Fashion:

Inspired by sailors, after a visit to the French coast, Coco Chanel introduced the design to the fashion world through her nautical collection in 1917. The Breton top became a symbol of haute-bourgeois loveliness during the pre-war Riviera years.

The 1851 Trust is the charitable arm of Land Rover Ben Ainslie Racing. The Trust works to get young people from a broad demographic background involved in sailingOlympic sailor Sir Ben Ainslie and his Land Rover team hope to win the America’s Cup race, bringing the Cup to the UK for the first time. Here you see him with Kate at an America’s Cup event.Luke MacGregor/WPA-Pool/Splash News

A portion of proceeds from the new ME + EM top shown above will be donated to the Trust. ME + EM also created a capsule collection of pieces for Lady Georgie Ainslie to wear during Cup events this June. ME + EM on the collection:

We took the core values of this great race – British heritage, exceptional creativity and British design. Then we translated these into a beautifully crafted, bespoke collection for Georgie. 

A look at pieces in the ME + EM  collection.

Land Rover BAR

Land Rover BAR

Our thanks to Beth Ferguson for letting us know about the new ME + EM design.

We will see you bright and early Saturday morning. You can stay on top of all things wedding via our Twitter feed and Facebook page.

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Amanda

Friday 19th of May 2017

Thanks so much for the link to the Breton top, I just ordered one! (even though my husband says the fact that half my closet is striped tops means I don't need a new one--there is always room for a few more, LOL) Please let George be in a tiny kilt, the cutness would be too much :)

admin

Friday 19th of May 2017

Breton tops are kind of like black flats...how could you have too many?! :)

Brenda

Friday 19th of May 2017

Ha! That Sun picture has James and Pippa PhotoShopped onto Andy and Kim Murray's bodies. I know Saturday will be a long day so thanks in advance to Susan for what I'm sure will be extensive coverage.

admin

Friday 19th of May 2017

Thank you, Brenda, I know it will be loads of fun! :)

Bonnie

Friday 19th of May 2017

I find it incredibly presumptuous of the Daily Mail and The Sun to guess as to how Pippa's wedding dress will look and then superimpose it to a photo of her head. The public doesn't even know for sure, who the designer is...never mind what the designer created. Typical tabloid newspapers at their best, or worst.

Whatever Pippa wears, I'm sure it will be tasteful, as behoves the Middleton ladies. Also, due to Pippa not being a Royal, the dress could be more cutting edge and daring than Kate's dress was.

I love the glass marquee. Other sites show more closeups and it is truly an architectural marvel. I assume it is later dismantled, but I'd like to keep it up as a giant green house to supply my garden. :-)

It is going to be a lovely day for us to watch the fashions. Can't wait to see how adorable George and Charlotte look.

Cass

Friday 19th of May 2017

Great coverage! Super excited for Pippa & James' wedding and wish them all the best.

admin

Friday 19th of May 2017

Thank you, Cass! :)

Maureen

Friday 19th of May 2017

Purely speculation: does anyone else think the Scottish theme is a red herring? I don't think I've ever heard 'haggis' and 'canape' in the same sentence, but I admit I have been to exactly zero fancy Scottish parties. It would be cheeky to have planted that rumor :)

Katy

Saturday 20th of May 2017

Scottish person here: haggis canapés are definitely A Thing. They're delicious!

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