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Home / Lifestyle

Behind the scenes look at Pippa Middleton's lavish wedding reception

Daily Mail
21 May, 2017 02:41 AM3 mins to read

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Pippa Middleton and James Matthews kiss after their wedding at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England Saturday, May 20, 2017. Photo / AP

Pippa Middleton and James Matthews kiss after their wedding at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England Saturday, May 20, 2017. Photo / AP

Pippa and James Matthews' spared no expense when it came to their lavish wedding reception and guests ate £40,000 (NZ$75,000) Russian caviar, supped magnums of expensive Champagne and some even enjoyed a game of ping-pong with seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, the Daily Mail reports.

However, photos of the society wedding of the year were not plastered all over the internet as guests were banned from using their mobile phones.

The newly-weds even employed 'phone police' no enforce the rule and ensure not a single snap appeared in social media, reports the Mirror.

READ MORE
• Here comes the bride: Pippa Middleton's stunning wedding
• Prince George gets a royal telling off
• Couple to honeymoon on private island in French Polynesia
• Meghan Markle a 'no-show' at Pippa's wedding but arrives at reception
• Prince George and Princess Charlotte steal the show

Federer was reportedly among the hundreds of guests who enjoyed a game of table tennis at the reception at the Middletons' £6m family estate in Bucklebury, Berkshire.

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Roger Federer and his wife Mirka leave after the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews. Photo / AP
Roger Federer and his wife Mirka leave after the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews. Photo / AP

But, putting on the party of the year doesn't come cheap - with Pippa's nuptials estimated to have cost £700,000 (NZ$1.3 million).

That figure includes the bride's £200,000 (NZ$376,000) engagement ring - a dazzling 3.5-carat Asscher-cut diamond set in a halo of smaller stones on a platinum band.

British designer Giles Deacon was paid about £40,000 (NZ$75,000) to produce two dresses for Pippa's big day, which she paired with custom-made £2,000 (NZ$3700) heels by Manolo Blahnik.

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Guests sipped £75-a-bottle sparkling wine from Sussex vineyard Nyetimber and tucked into £40,000 (NZ$75,000) worth of caviar, reportedly donated by a Russian millionaire.

While the church ceremony was a modest £500 (NZ$940), the stunning 150ft-long glass marquee specially shipped in from Belgium cost a further £100,000 (NZ$188,000).

Pippa Middleton and James Matthews kiss after their wedding at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England. Photo / AP
David and Jane Matthews, parents of the groom, attend the wedding ceremony of Pippa Middleton to James Matthews, at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England. Photo / AP
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, right, walks with the flower boys and girls, including Prince George, second right, and Princess Charlotte after the wedding of Pippa Middleton. Photo / AP
Britain's Prince William, left and Prince Harry, arrive for the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England. Photo / AP
Carole Middleton and her son James arrive for the wedding of her daughter Pippa and James Matthews at St Mark's Church in Englefield. Photo / AP
Pippa Middleton and father Michael arrive for her wedding to James Matthews, at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England. Photo / AP
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge speaks to Princess Charlotte after the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England. Photo / AP
Pippa Middleton arrives for her wedding to James Matthews, at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England. Photo / AP
Michael Middleton, left, stands with his daughter Pippa Middleton, as they arrive for her wedding to James Matthews, at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England. Photo / AP
Pippa Middleton, background right, kisses James Matthews after their wedding at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England. Photo / AP
Pippa Middleton, centre and James Matthews smile, after their wedding at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England. Photo / AP
Pippa Middleton and James Matthews kiss after their wedding at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England. Photo / AP
Britain's Prince Harry, right, leaves St Mark's Church after the wedding ceremony of Pippa Middleton to James Matthews, at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England. Photo / AP
Pippa Middleton and James Matthews smile after their wedding at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England. Photo / AP
Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, right, smiles at her daughter Princess Charlotte, after the wedding of her sister Pippa Middleton to James Matthews, at St Mark's Church. Photo / AP
Britain's Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, right, stands with her children Prince George and Princess Charlotte, following the wedding ceremony of her sister Pippa Middleton. Photo / AP
Pippa Middleton, centre right, walks with James Matthews after their wedding at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England. Photo / AP
Pippa Middleton, second right and James Matthews walk, after their wedding ceremony, at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England. Photo / AP

Image 1 of 18: Pippa Middleton and James Matthews kiss after their wedding at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England. Photo / AP

The three-course wedding breakfast for 320 guests at up to £200 (NZ$380) a head was laid on by a crew of 30 chefs followed by a performance by one of the groom's favourite jazz bands.

The stunning six-tier cake by Fiona Cairns, who made the cake for the Royal Wedding, is thought to have cost up to £15,000 (NZ$28,000), while the groom's party wore £900-a-pair hand-made shoes (NZ$1700) from Edward Green.

Discover more

Royals

Pippa's big day perfect as a picture

22 May 12:00 AM
Royals

Pippa Middleton 'is pregnant'

21 Apr 11:37 PM

Luxury caterer Table Talk, Pippa's former employer, was in charge of feeding some 300 guests, including Prince Harry's American girlfriend Meghan Markle who did not attend the wedding ceremony.

The lavish five-course, sit-down dinner reportedly included haggis along with Scottish lamb and whisky.

Nods to the grooms Scottish roots were also included in his wedding attire and the entertainment.

Earlier in the day the couple had held a champagne reception was held at Englefield Estate, near St Mark's Church, before moving on to the brides family estate.

Guests were said to have dined on costly canapes, that included mini haggis, foie gras, langoustine, steak and king prawns.

The couple's parents must at least have been relieved that the Spitfire flypast by the Boultbee Flight Academy was donated for free!

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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry attend the wedding. Photo / AP
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry attend the wedding. Photo / AP
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge speaks to Princess Charlotte after the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews. Photo / AP
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge speaks to Princess Charlotte after the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews. Photo / AP
Pippa Middleton and father Michael arrive for her wedding. Photo / AP
Pippa Middleton and father Michael arrive for her wedding. Photo / AP
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