Kate Middleton’s mother Carole’s wedding decor is even more elegant than we imagined

March 02, 2022 – 09:07 GMT

Nichola Murphy



Unlike the Duchess of Cambridge‘s wedding to Prince William, which was watched by a huge audience of around 17.6 million, not much is known about Kate’s parents Carole and Michael Middleton’s nuptials in 1980.

MORE: Royal in-laws: Meghan Markle, Sarah Ferguson and more eventful first meetings

However, we can get an idea of their elegant big day based on the wedding decor offered by their business, Party Pieces. Looking for inspiration for a DIY wedding day? Carole and Michael have got you covered, from smoke cannons to macaron stands.

Loading the player…

WATCH: Look Back At Prince William And Kate Middleton’s Royal Wedding

We wonder if any of their gorgeous products were secretly used at their children Kate, Pippa or James‘ private wedding receptions…

Calling all brides-to-be! Your first port of call will be investing in a wedding planner to keep track of your venue, food, flowers and more. We love this cute polka dot one, which contains countdowns, ideas and tips.

wedding-planner

Wedding planner, £16.99, Party Pieces

SHOP NOW

If you’re looking for that wow factor, then a smoke cannon is sure to make your wedding pictures memorable. It comes in white, blue or pink, so you can match your colour scheme.

spoke-machine

White smoke cannon, £5.99, Party Pieces

SHOP NOW

RELATED: Carole Middleton’s £800 jacket is flying off the shelves – Kate will so borrow it

READ: Kate Middleton’s parents’ £4.7m manor house hosted Pippa’s private wedding reception – inside

A clever way to ensure you don’t lose all your messages on your big day, this heart-filled guest book features white and brown wooden tokens for friends and family to write on.

wedding-guest-book

Heart guest book, £28.99, Party Pieces

SHOP NOW

Any couple who love botanical themes will want to get their hands on these foliage tiles, which can be put together to create a huge green backdrop for photos.

botanical-wedding-tile

Foliage tiles, £12.99, Party Pieces

SHOP NOW

And on the subject of foliage, how pretty is this botanical hanging chandelier? The pack comes with three bronze hoops that can be decorated with greenery, flowers, balloons, streamers and more.

foliage-chandelier

Botanical chandelier kit, £14.99, Party Pieces

SHOP NOW

Add this cute treat stand to your wedding buffet with your choice of macarons or cookies.

macaron-stand

Treat stand, £18.99, Party Pieces

SHOP NOW

MORE: The Queen’s cousin Princess Alexandra’s rare engagement ring is just like Princess Anne’s

READ: Why Duchess Camilla changed royal title following Prince Charles wedding

Carole met flight dispatcher Michael while she was working as a flight attendant for British Airways, and the pair married on 21 June 1980 in Buckinghamshire. The couple welcomed their first child Catherine in 1982, followed by Pippa in 1983 and their only son, James, in 1987.

Small details of Carole’s big day have been released following her children’s nuptials. It was reported that Duchess Kate paid tribute to her mother at her royal wedding with her choice of bridesmaid outfits – they wore pretty white flower crowns made of Lily Of The Valley flowers and ivy, which were reportedly modelled after Carole’s own bridal headpiece.

pippa-middleton-bridesmaids

Kate Middleton’s bridal party wore flower crowns modelled after Carole’s bridal headpiece

Meanwhile, James’ wife Alizee Thevenet wore her mother-in-law’s exact wedding dress for their Côte d’Azur wedding in September 2021. Pictures shared exclusively with HELLO! showed the 32-year-old looking ethereal in a white floor-length gown featuring a Bardot neckline and embroidered detailing  

“My something borrowed was in fact my dress from my mother in law Carole who last wore it 41 years ago on her wedding day in June, 1980,” financial analyst Alizée explained.

She added: “While talking about dresses with Carole and sharing ideas during lockdown for inspiration, I tried on her wedding dress and fell in love with it. 

“It fitted me perfectly and was exactly what I wanted. It always troubled me that wedding dresses are only worn once so it was amazing to give such a beautiful dress a second lease of life.”

LOOK: 21 royal engagement rings that are total show-stoppers: From Zara Tindall to Countess Sophie

HELLO!’s selection is editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items our editors love and approve of. HELLO! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. To find out more visit our FAQ page.

Planning your wedding? Sign up to HELLO!’s brand new Bride Guide newsletter for expert advice, budget help, wedding inspiration and real life stories delivered straight to your inbox.