A pyjamas and tiaras royal wedding get-together in Papamoa. Photo / Leanne Brown
A pyjamas and tiaras royal wedding get-together in Papamoa. Photo / Leanne Brown
The right royal spectacle provided by Saturday's wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not disappoint Bay royal watchers.
From Meghan's opinion-dividing dress and unwavering smile to Harry's emotional reaction to seeing her and an evangelical preacher's passionate sermon, there was plenty to talk about at yesterday's Bay of Plenty Wedding Expo.
Vendors were also looking at the extravagant nuptials from a marketing perspective.
Craig Williams, the owner of Tauranga chauffered car hire service Prestige Rolls Royce, said it was a "good day for vintage British cars".
Millions viewing the BBC's television coverage were treated to many shots of Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland, on their 25-minute drive to Windsor Castle in the Queen's vintage Rolls Royce Phantom.
Yesterday Williams was showing potential customers photographs of his near-identical Rolls Royce Wraith.
"If I had known she was going to use that car I would have brought it with me," he said.
Bianca O'Connell, who runs Cakes of Eden, was serving samples of a lemon and elderflower cake - the same flavours featured in the royal couple's wedding cake made by London-based Violet Cakes.
"This was not planned," said O'Connell. "I didn't find out until last night that this was what they were having, and I had already planned to make it."
She said elderflower and lemon were trendy flavours but she expected the royal confection would make them even more popular in New Zealand.
Tauranga celebrant Christine Grant said she loved Harry and Meghan's service, especially the many nods to diversity and Meghan's mixed race heritage.
American evangelical Bishop Michael Curry "absolutely made the ceremony" with his passionate sermon, she said.
"As a celebrant, you always like to inject a bit of humour so that people can relate to what the day is really all about, and that's what he did."
It was a nice change from the usually very proper English royal services.
Tauranga-based wedding dress designer Nicky Hayward, of White Silk Bridal, hesitated when asked for her thoughts on Meghan's wedding dress.
"It was simple and classic but to be honest I did expect something more special," she said diplomatically.
Pukehina teacher Laurie Bonsor donned a wedding dress made from a tablecloth, two pillow cases and a food net to watch the big event. Photo/supplied
Other bridalwear retailers at the show also were not blown away but Crystal Gibbons and Jasmine Apisai, who were modelling wedding dresses at the expo, both said they loved the dress for its elegant simplicity.
"What I liked is that it was more about her personality. I loved the long veil," Apisai said.
Bride-to-be Emma Brown also liked Meghan's 5m long lace-edged veil and said she was looking at a long - but not quite as long - veil for her wedding next April.
She would, however, have a bridesmaid in charge of keeping it in order rather than the twin pageboys who tended to Meghan's and left it uncentred in the aisle.
"Meghan definitely needed a bridesmaid to look after her veil," Brown said.
She and her mum, Tauranga City councillor Leanne Brown, watched the wedding at a "tiaras and pyjamas" party at a friend's house in Papamoa. It included a high tea and bubbles served in floral teacups.
Meanwhile, in Pukehina, teacher Laurie Bonsor donned a wedding dress made from a tablecloth, two pillow cases and a food net to watch the big event with friends Julie Cross and Phylis Frost.
Scottish expat Bonsor said the wedding was a good watch, particularly the American preacher.
