“So, where was your wedding reception?”

“Oh, Buckingham Palace.”

“…Oh.”

Seriously, is there anything else you need to say about your reception if its being held at Buckingham Palace?

Flickr photo by jimmyharris

I can’t even fathom what a wedding reception layout might look like if its being held inside Buckingham Palace. Well, I suppose I could imagine….would it be like ballroom scene out of the animated film “Anastasia,” where tables bordered an expansive dance floor in a gargantuan room, topped with a massive chandelier? Does Buckingham Palace even have such a ballroom? I would imagine it would, but maybe it doesn’t. Here’s what I found in Wikipedia:

State banquets also take place in the Ballroom; these formal dinners take place on the first evening of a state visit by a visiting Head of State. On these occasions, 150 or more guests in formal “white tie and decorations”, including tiaras for women, may dine off gold plate. The largest and most formal reception at Buckingham Palace takes place every November, when the Queen entertains members of the foreign diplomatic corps resident in London. On this occasion, all the state rooms are in use, as the Royal Family proceed through them beginning through the great north doors of the Picture Gallery. As Nash had envisaged, all the large, double-mirrored doors stand open, reflecting the numerous crystal chandeliers and sconces, causing a deliberate optical illusion of space and light.

So it seems there’s no way 900 wedding guests (shaving off 1,000 who are invited to the Westminster Abbey ceremony) can fit into one room or ballroom in Buckingham Palace. Just as well — can you imagine having a wedding reception at an amazing venue like Buckingham Palace and then guests have to be confined to one ballroom? That’s no fun! So, with this kind of set up, I would imagine that the food served will be what we call hors d’oeurves served by waiters and waitresses passing through each room. That seems like a good plan. Hey, if I promise not to eat, do you think I can go? No? Dang.

Virtual view of Grand Staircase, photography by Will Pearson

I haven’t been able to find much in the way of interior images of Buckingham Palace; personal photography by visitors is probably forbidden, like at Westminster Abbey. But the British Monarchy’s site was kind enough to provide virtual views of at least two areas within the palace — the Grand Staircase and the White Room.

Virtual view of Grand Staircase, photography by Will Pearson

Apparently, the Grand Staircase is one area that all visitors to Buckingham Palace see as they make their way to a reception or other event they’ve been lucky enough to receive an invitation. Check out those ornate staircases — I would feel not good about trying to drape those banisters and covering all those amazing details.

Virtual views of White Room, photography by Will Pearson

The other featured room is the White Room. I feel a little as though I should simply present a gallery here and try not to say anything that would take away from the sheer amazing-ness of this room.

The most details I’ve seen about Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding reception yet has been from the Daily Mail, which has the details on what the 900 guests will eat and more photos of the White Room and the Blue Room.