How you can get married at Kensington Palace - without joining the royal family
The home to Prince William and Kate Middleton doubles as a stunning wedding venue
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Your support makes all the difference.If you’ve always felt your dream wedding had to be fit for a royal, you can say “I do” at an actual palace – the home of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
In addition to the official home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Kensington Palace also happens to be an incredible wedding venue – where fairytales can transform into real life for your special day.
The palace, set in Kensington gardens, has been a residence of the royal family since the 17th century and it is currently home to a number of royals, including Prince Harry.
Although the official royal apartments are understandably off-limits, couples can choose from multiple stunning venues inside the grounds for their very own “royal” wedding reception.
If you are planning a summer wedding, Kensington Palace offers the choice of three of their gardens and lawns – the East Front Gardens, which can fit 400 guests, the Sunken Garden, which can hold 80 guests for a more intimate affair, or the Orangery lawn, which can host a reception for 1,000 of your closest friends and family.
Or, if your fairytale wedding will take place in the winter months, the palace offers four inside reception venues.
Couples can choose from the Entrance Hall, the Cupola room, King’s Gallery, or the King’s Drawing Room.
The Entrance Hall offers the space for you and 300 guests to mingle and sway to a small band, whereas the Cupola room boasts incredible views of the palace gardens and orangery for 100 guests.
The largest of the palace’s spaces, the masterpieces from the royal collection that line the King’s Gallery offer the potential for the perfect backdrop. Or future newlyweds can opt for views of the Kensington gardens from the windows of the King’s Drawing Room, which can hold 100 guests.
While the reception choices are numerous, the official wedding ceremony must take place in the Orangery – as it is the only location on the grounds officially licensed for civil ceremonies.
However, saying your vows amidst the “world’s most beautiful orangery,” built in 1704 by Queen Anne doesn’t sound so bad – especially considering the space has room for dinner and dancing for 120 guests.
And if your special day requires fireworks, the nearby Orangery gardens allow for pyrotechnics.
If you decide to undergo the royal treatment at Kensington Palace, brides and grooms do have to choose from a list of pre-approved vendors – but with plenty of choices, including 13 caterers and six florists, we imagine everything will be flawless.
Although it won’t make you a member of the royal family, getting married at a royal palace sounds like a perfect start to your very own happily ever after.
This article was originally published in April 2018
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