The 21 Traditions to Look Out For at a Royal Wedding

It all begins when the press are called together for an announcement from the happy couple. Pictures are taken, and the newly engaged pair usually answer a few questions from the assembled journalists. In recent years, the press call is usually followed up with a televised interview.

Following years of starchy engagement portraits, we all remember William and Kate's huggy images that were taken by Mario Testino in St James's Palace. Less well known is this 1970s-tastic official engagement portrait of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips in a meadow.

Not that the Royal Family have anything to do with this one, but before any big wedding, well-wishers pitch tents and set up camps days before the big day so they can get a good view of the wedding procession route.

Although there have been exceptions (Prince Edward, Peter Phillips, and Zara Phillips all chose lower-key options), the most traditional wedding venue has been the Abbey since 1053. The queen, Princess Margaret, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince William all had their weddings there.

This is a relatively new tradition, which was started by the Queen Mother.

When the then-Princess Elizabeth married, designer Norman Hartnell was inspired by Botticelli's Birth of Venus and wove flowers through the fabric of the gown to represent new life after the harrowing years of the Second World War. The dress also featured ears of corn to represent fertility. When Sarah Ferguson married, she had wave designs woven through her dress in a nod to her husband's naval career, and Kate Middleton's featured roses, daffodils, thistles, and shamrocks to represent England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

What better way to champion the best of the British on the world's stage than by selecting home-grown talent for the most signifiant dress of your life? Sophie Rhys-Jones chose her friend Samantha Shaw.

All royal men serve in the armed forces at some point, so they all wear their military regalia for their big day — along with any medals they have been awarded.

A notable exception was the wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones. The couple wanted a more low-key day and stipulated on the invites 'no hats.' However, the Queen Mother broke the rule and wore a hat anyway, while the Queen compromised and wore a feathery headpiece.

If they have never served in the military, then it's customary to wear a morning suit.

Usually borrowed from the royal collection — Zara borrowed her mother Princess Anne's for her big day — although Princess Diana wore her family's Spencer Tiara.

The tradition was started by Queen Victoria, and now the bouquet of every royal bride contains a cutting from the bush that was grown from Victoria's original sprig.

No sprawling gangs of bridesmaids and page boys here . . . There are usually just enough to give the day suitable gravitas, but not so many as to be inelegant. Princess Diana and Kate Middleton both had five bridesmaids and two page boys.

The newlyweds always ride in a carriage from the ceremony to the reception venue, followed by key members of the family in other carriages from the collection.

The tradition was started by Queen Victoria at the wedding of her daughter, but the kiss wasn't added until crowds called for it on Charles and Diana's big day.

It HAS to be traditional fruitcake for royals weddings! Prince William requested an additional cake — his nursery favorite, which is made of chocolate and bashed up biscuits. The Cambridge's main cake, however, was an eight-tiered affair iced with 17 different kinds of flowers.

Royal brides and grooms always go for local, seasonal produce as much as possible.

Although there will always be plenty of images taken throughout the public parts of the day, posed shots are always released to the press on the same day as the wedding.

A modern tradition was started by Princess Diana, who headed off on her honeymoon in a peach Bellville Sassoon suit. She was followed by Sarah Ferguson five years later, who was also publicly photographed as she left for her honeymoon. Although William and Kate didn't go on their honeymoon straight away, they did release an image of the two of them, with Kate in her "going away" outfit of a blue Reiss dress and black blazer.

The Queen Mother started the tradition of honoring the armed forces by laying her bouquet on the grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey, and every royal bride since has followed suit.

Soon after the big day, guests all receive a piece of wedding cake in a commemorative tin, along with a thank you card.