For its latest PUB (a.k.a., pop-up bar) experience, Drink Company transformed one of its bars in honor of the royal wedding. The limited-run Royal Wedding PUB on 7th Street in Washington will be open until May 20 and is decked out in family crests, faux stained glass windows, and hand-carved replicas of St. George’s Chapel's vaulted ceiling and columns; it also includes a Buckingham Palace-inspired throne room and a mailbox for fans to send handwritten notes to the couple, which the British Embassy will deliver to Kensington Palace.
Plus, the bar will open early on May 19 for wedding watchers, with all proceeds from ticket sales benefiting the Invictus Games Foundation. Fans will also get a chance to win a replica of the couple’s wedding cake. The pub features 11 original cocktails that are inspired by the couple's background, past royal weddings, and English springtime and were created by Drink Company’s head of bar concepts Paul Taylor. (Pictured: the Kensington Garden Party is a mix of Pimm’s, raspberry quinquina, and sparkling lemon soda.) Cocktails cost $13 or $14.
Photo: Karlin Villondo
Drink Company's God Save the Queen is a classic martini with gin and dry vermouth, served with a souvenir crown.
Photo: Karlin Villondo
The Royal Wedding PUB's Markle Sparkle is a spritz-style cocktail with rose cider and edible glitter.
Photo: Karlin Villondo
Designer Debi Lilly and her company A Perfect Event in Chicago planned a royal wedding-inspired tea party that incorporated Meghan's favorite flowers—peonies in pinks and whites—into the centerpieces.
Photo: Nicole Jansma
A rose or champagne tower of vintage crystal coupes stacked on top of a gilded tray and garnished with edible blooms was a reference to the iconic gardens of Windsor.
Photo: Amanda Meg Miller
Mini lemon elderflower cakes were served under personalized, calligraphed glass domes at each table setting. Prince Harry and Markle will be serving lemon-elderflower cake with buttercream frosting on their big day.
Photo: Amanda Meg Miller
White and ivory balloon garland dotted with sprigs of eucalyptus and hints of glitter and gold hung across windows and walls.
Photo: Amanda Meg Miller
Mini garden party cakes, adorned with sugar blooms, honored the Queen's Windsor Castle gardens, where weddings have been celebrated since 1863.
Photo: Roots of Life
Victoria Eggs, a homewares and gifts brand in the U.K., created a limited-edition line of products for the royal wedding that includes aprons, tea towels, mugs, and a tote bag, all of which could be used as on-theme party favors as well as decor. The items are available on victoriaeggs.com, which ships internationally, and on Amazon Prime starting May 11. Prices start around $16.
Photo: Yeshen Venema
From mixologist Benny Hernandez at Area 31 at the Kimpton Epic Hotel in Miami, the Diamond Heart contains whiskey and is garnished with activated charcoal and micro flowers for a feminine touch in honor of the royal couple.
Photo: Benny Hernandez
Known for its afternoon tea, the Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto will be commemorating the royal wedding with a special service during the weekend of May 18 to 20. It will include tea with lemon and elderflower, as well as an elderflower mocktail and a tea kit takeaway. Plus, part of the proceeds from the afternoon tea service will be donated to a charity partner. The hotel’s weekend brunch menu will also feature new British items like coronation chicken, flapjacks, and puddings.
Photo: Rick Vyrostko
Strongbow Hard Ciders partnered with British designer and illustrator Stanley Chow to create a limited-edition Royal Rose Teacup Set ($100) for sipping the brand’s new Rose Apple Hard Cider, which is a semi-dry cider that gets its color from red-fleshed apples. The teacup sets are available for purchase on rosetheukway.com.
Photo: Courtesy of Strongbow Hard Ciders
Strongbow also created its own version of bingo to play during viewing parties.
Photo: Courtesy of Strongbow Hard Ciders
This royal engagement-inspired cocktail called the Princess and the Tea was created by lead bartender John Walter at Outlier in Seattle and features creme de violette from two flower breeds, including the “Queen Charlotte” blossom, and chamomile syrup, which is a nod to the British love of tea. It’s served in a teacup with saucer.
Photo: Aubrie Pick
The Lanesborough Hotel in London will host a Little Royal Tea Party on May 13 for children ages four and older. The mini royal fans will be given tiny tiaras and crowns upon arrival. Parents can sip on champagne and nosh on canapes. Afternoon tea service includes scones and pastries, plus chocolate and biscuits from Artisan du Chocolat. Rates begin at $35 per child, including a goodie bag.
Photo: Dominic James
The Martini Club in Toronto, in conjunction with the Great Britain campaign, created the Windsor Knot with gin, orange liqueur, lemon juice, cranberry juice, and cucumber slices.
Photo: Jodi Pudge
Another cocktail concoction from the Martini Club, the G & Tea is made with gin, orange marmalade, chilled Earl Grey tea, and bitters, and is garnished with an orange twist.
Photo: Ronald Tsang
Earlier this year, the Snowdonia Cheese Company in North Wales presented Prince Harry and Meghan with a five-tiered wedding cake made of five different cheeses.
Photo: Courtesy of Snowdonia Cheese Company
British retailer of luxury goods Halcyon Days has released commemorative items for the wedding, as well as a “A Very Special Relationship” collection, which features a design that combines the Union Jack and the Star Spangled Banner. The line includes enamelware and English fine bone china pieces such as mugs and teapots. Prices start at $20. The items are available at select retailers in the U.S. and on halcyondaysusa.com.
Photo: Courtesy of HalcyonDays
Created by bartender Laura Kruming at Sable Kitchen & Bar at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Chicago, the Message in a Bottle cocktail boasts a royal price tag of $75 and is featured in the restaurant’s “Lap of Luxury” section. It’s a modern twist on a classic Manhattan made with hibiscus tea syrup.
Photo: Alexander Gouletas
At the Fairmont Copley Plaza’s viewing party and breakfast, which takes place May 19 from 6:30-9:30 a.m. in Boston, guests will receive Sugarfina’s Royal Roses gummies ($7.50) as wedding favors.
Photo: Courtesy of Sugarfina
During the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner weekend last month in Washington, Politico’s brunch featured a British theme, with a menu from Occasions Caterers that included classics such as fish and chips, along with a full English breakfast, shepherd’s pie, and corned beef sandwich wedges. Tea stations featured scones with clotted cream, spring fruit tartlets, and shortbread cookies.
Photo: Courtesy of Occasions Caterers
On-theme props included a telephone booth, an Abbey Road sign, and a Union Jack-decorated Pimms bar.
Photo: Malcolm Brown
This royal cocktail from SpikedSeltzer called Slice of Spiked is inspired by the couple’s lemon and elderflower wedding cake and features SpikedSeltzer’s new flavor Ventura Lemon, elderflower liqueur, champagne, orange marmalade, lemon juice, bitters, and vanilla extract, and is garnished with an edible flower.
Photo: Courtesy of SpikedSeltzer
Stella Artois recently debuted its limited-edition Stella Artois Regal Chalice ($5.19) in celebration of the nuptials. The chalice’s gold design features 19 (in honor of the wedding date) icons that hold special meaning to the couple. It’s available for purchase at stellaartois.com/regalchalice.
Photo: Courtesy of Stella Artois
Stella Artois also introduced the Le Cidre Royale cocktail made with Stella Artois Cidre, rose champagne, gin, and elderflower liqueur in honor of the royal wedding.
Photo: Courtesy of Stella Artois