Saturday is the big day, and the whole world will be watching.
The world is preparing to see Prince Harry and Meghan Markle say "I Do" at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle Saturday.
Up to 150,000 people are expected to line the streets of Windsor, England, but if you can't get there, here is a breakdown of how to watch the ceremony from the comfort of your own home.
How to Watch
The wedding will begin at 7 a.m. ET, but many outlets like BBC America, ABC, Fox News, NBC, CBS, PBS, MSNBC, will begin pre-show coverage at 4 a.m.
The wedding will also be streamed online on websites like CBSN, ETOnline.com, People.com, BBC America, BritBox and VanityFair.com.
HBO is running a comedy special with Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon in character as Cord Hosenbeck and Tish Cattigan. The parody special, called "The Royal Wedding Live with Cord and Tish!" will bring commentary and laughs to the austere and dignified affair. It will air at 7:30 a.m.
In addition, some movie theaters are making the wedding a large event, airing the wedding at 10 a.m., commercial free and in surround sound. Fathom Events is teaming up with BritBox and ITV to show the wedding on 200 screens across America. For more information, check out FathomEvents.com.
The Royal Wedding Timetable
Guests will arrive at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle between 4:30 and 6 a.m. ET.
At 6:30 a.m., the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth, will arrive to the church by foot after spending the night at Windsor Castle. Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland, will arrive by car from another facility where they will sleep the night before the wedding. Media cameras are expected to follow Markle from her overnight venue to the chapel.
At 7 a.m. ET, the church service will begin at St. George’s Chapel. The service is expected to last an hour.
At 8 a.m., onlookers will get their first glimpse of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as the couple embarks around Windsor in a carriage to greet well-wishers who hope to catch a glimpse of the couple sharing a kiss.
Unlike Prince William and Kate Middleton's 2011 wedding, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not pose on Buckingham Palace's famous balcony. Since Windsor Castle does not have a balcony, Prince Harry and his bride will not pose following the ceremony.
The couple will then return to Windsor Castle for their reception. They will also reportedly spend the night there.
Who Will Attend
The royal wedding is one of the hottest tickets in the world and it will be a who’s who of British royalty and A-listers.
While the palace has not released an official guest list, those expected to attend include some members of the Spice Girls, David Beckham, Sir Elton John, Serena Williams, Priyanka Chopra, Joss Stone, Ellie Goulding, and select cast members of Markle’s show "Suits."
Other high-profile guests expected to attend are British actress Millie Mackintosh, stylist Jessica Mulroney, designer Misha Nonoo and Soho House consultant Markus Anderson. Soho House London is where the couple had their first date.
Since Meghan Markle's father, Thomas, will not be attending the wedding, Prince Harry's father, Prince Charles will walk his future daughter-in-law down the aisle.
Prince William will serve as Prince Harry’s best man and Meghan Markle has opted against selecting a maid of honor.
At the "Suits" actress' side will be none other than Harry's 3-year-old niece, Princess Charlotte, and his goddaughter, 3-year-old Florence van Cutsem.
Markle's 6-year-old goddaughter, Remi Litt, will also be a bridesmaid, as will Remi's 7-year-old sister, Rylan. Ivy Mulroney, the 4-year-old daughter of Markle's best friend, Jessica Mulroney, will be in the ceremony and so will the prince's 2-year-old goddaughter, Zalie Warren.
Complementing the bridesmaids will be Prince Harry's retinue of page boys. Charlotte's big brother and the likely future king, 4-year-old George, will be there. At George's side will be Prince Harry's godson Jasper Dyer, 6, and Jessica Mulroney's 7-year-old twin sons Brian and John Mulroney.
Kensington Palace notes that details about the bridesmaids’ dresses and the page boys’ uniforms will be made available on the day of the wedding.
The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, the 27th Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church of Chicago, Ill., will give the address at their wedding. He will join The Dean of Windsor, The Rt. Rev. David Conner, who will conduct the Service.
The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, will officiate as the couple exchanges vows.
"The love that has brought and will bind Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle together has its source and origin in God, and is the key to life and happiness. And so we celebrate and pray for them today," Rev. Curry said in a statement.
Music at St. George’s Chapel will be provided by James Vivian, the director of music at the church. He will conduct a choir of 23 schoolchildren who attend St. George’s School.
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, 19, of "Britain's Got Talent" fame, will also perform, as will Gospel stars The Kingdom Choir.
The couple will also have an orchestra led by conductor Christopher Warren-Green.
It has been rumored that the Spice Girls will perform at the reception; however, it has not been confirmed by Kensington Palace nor the iconic girl group.
What They Will Eat
The staff of the royal kitchens at Windsor Castle are preparing for one of their biggest events in years as the reception will take place on the castle's grounds after the ceremony.
"All the staff are delighted to be involved on the day," Mark Flanagan, head chef of the royal household, said in a statement. "We've even had old staff contacting us if we need some extra support,"
Harry and Meghan attended several tasting trials held in the Windsor Castle kitchen in March, sampling each of the dishes made from scratch in the castle's kitchen.
Flanagan said much of the produce used in the dishes, that will be served up to the 600 guests attending the reception, will be delivered from farms across counties like Kent, which is known as the 'garden' of England and Norfolk.
“Luckily the seasons have just fallen perfectly and that's become the main focus in the decision-making of the menus," Flanagan said. “The couple have been very involved in every detail of it.”
The full menu has not been revealed.
Pastry Chef Selwyn Stoby will make chocolate truffles, which is a favorite dessert served at receptions throughout the year at Windsor Castle. The pastry team will also make bite-sized Crème brûlée, biscuits with mango panna cotta topping and yellow macarons.
RELATED STORIES
