A Wedding Fit For A Royal*

*This is a collaborative post*

With Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's nuptials fast approaching, brides-to-be the world over will be paying close attention as they look to the royal wedding for inspiration. Indeed Meghan's dress appears to be the topic on everyone's lips. Today on GirlGoneDreamer - along with the help of the girls at work - we've come up with some extravagant luxury wedding ideas that would be fit for any blushing bride, royal or not!

Make A Grand Entrance

It's traditional is it not that the bride arrives a little late? Nothing like keeping the groom on his toes! But how about making an even bigger, more dramatic entrance with a different mode of transport from the norm? Sure, a horse and carriage is very Cinderellaesque and would look beautiful, but imagine the look on everyone's faces if you were to land outside the venue in a helicopter! Typically you can hire a wedding helicopter for around the £1,500 mark. For those of you who think a helicopter is a little OTT and tacky, (Jason you know I'm talking about you ha ha!) why not opt instead for an elegant and classic wedding car such as a 1920's cream coloured Willys-Knight?

Roll Out The Red Carpet

Who says you have to be a celebrity to feel the magic of walking down the red carpet? And if you can't do this at your own wedding then when can you? You can purchase wedding aisle runners from various suppliers but if you want to really go all out then why not hire a full on 'VIP style' red or ivory carpet complete with rope and stanchions. You could even get creative with the photography and have your guests pose like celebs as they arrive!

Choose A Venue Fit For A Queen

You'll be spending most of your wedding day in your chosen venue so it's vital that you check out plenty of places both online and in person before you make a final decision or put down any money. I personally love the idea of a castle wedding as it would combine my love of history with grand beautiful architecture - the photos would look incredible! A country manor house or a picture perfect hotel set in the countryside or on a beautiful coastline would also make for an ideal wedding venue. If you're looking for wedding packages in Kent then The Hythe Imperial Hotel is a fine choice and is situated on the gorgeous Kent coast. Proving to be a popular choice for weddings, the team are renowned for being friendly yet professional. Their various packages boast many features, some of which I've listed here; a red carpet arrival, half a bottle of wine per person, a glass of sparkling wine for the toast, an evening buffet, private use of the ballroom, (plus sundeck and terrace) for the wedding reception, a complimentary nights stay for the bride and groom on their wedding night and personalised wedding advice. If you want a full list of features then pop on over to their website and download the relevant brochure.

Splurge On A Designer Dress

Doesn't every girl dream about their wedding dress? I know I do and I'm a huge fan of Vera Wang, Jenny Packham, Elie Saab, Oscar de la Renta, Monique Lhuillier and Maggie Sottero. I also loved Kate Middleton's dress with the lace detail and sleeves, it was classic elegance at its best. If like me you only plan to say I do the once, why not go all out and splurge on the dress of your dreams? Of course there are a few factors you should bear in mind before you part with your hard earned cash. For starters, make sure your dress fits in with the venue and theme, and obviously make sure that it fits you! Leave enough time for alterations as most brides need a tiny bit of adjustment around the bust area at the very least and wear your wedding lingerie when you go shopping so you can see how the dress sits over it. Other than your mum and best friend, take someone with you who will be brutally honest, after-all you want to look your best on your wedding day! As hard as it might be, don't buy the first dress you try on even if you love it, try on a few others too. It's easy to get wrapped up in the romance of the occasion.

And The Rest...

There were several other suggestions from the girls at work. Other than Lauren's suggestion of the helicopter, Dani said that she'd like the wedding party to have their hair and makeup professionally done, ideally the guests would also wear attire of her choosing! Natalie suggested a 'wedding bouncy castle' after she'd seen one on Facebook. Liz suggested a gorgeous wall of flowers similar to the one seen at Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's wedding. Jody loved the idea of luxury inspired decor; think plenty of silky drapes, flowers, Swarovski crystals and over the top floral centre pieces!

Above all else, when planning your wedding make sure you enjoy every moment. Your special day will be here before you know it!

*Photos courtesy of Pexels and Hythe Imperial Hotel