Most people assume a royal wedding must happen at Westminster Abbey. Charles and Diana, however, chose St. Paul's Cathedral. Why? Simple: it was far larger than the Abbey. They needed the extra space to accommodate 3,500 guests and a global audience of 750 million TV viewers.
The choice also made a statement. St. Paul’s iconic dome, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, offered a more dramatic backdrop than the Abbey’s gothic arches. The couple walked down a 280-foot aisle, one of the longest in any British cathedral. As Diana took that slow, deliberate walk, the world watched, holding its breath.
Fun fact: The cathedral’s famous Whispering Gallery, 100 feet up, wasn't part of the ceremony. But I like to imagine a few whispered prayers (or frantic last-minute questions) echoing up there as the organ started playing.
