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    The Wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall

    As the year's second set of royal nuptials draw near, brush up on all the details...

    By Marie Claire
    Published 25 July 2011 In Features

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    Zara Phillips & Mike Tindall Wedding preparations - Marie Claire - Marie Claire UK
    Zara Phillips & Mike Tindall Wedding preparations - Marie Claire - Marie Claire UK
    (Image credit: PA Photos)
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    As the year's second set of royal nuptials draw near, brush up on all the details...

    The Wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall

    The wedding preparations

    With less than 24 hours to go until royal Zara Phillips ties the knot to her rugby player boyfriend Mike Tindall in Edinburgh, preparations are well under way.

    The wedding preparations

    The wedding preparations

    Zara Phillips & Mike Tindall Wedding preparations - Marie Claire - Marie Claire UK
    (Image credit: PA Photos)

    With less than 24 hours to go until royal Zara Phillips ties the knot to her rugby player boyfriend Mike Tindall in Edinburgh, preparations are well under way.

    The wedding preparations

    The wedding preparations

    Zara Phillips & Mike Tindall Wedding preparations - Marie Claire - Marie Claire UK
    (Image credit: PA Photos)

    Canongate Kirk, the couple's wedding venue of choice, has been a hive of activity all morning. Earlier today florists were spied ferrying beautiful white roses, beech tree branches, carnations and stargazer lilies inside.

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    The wedding preparations

    The wedding preparations

    Zara Phillips & Mike Tindall Wedding preparations - Marie Claire - Marie Claire UK
    (Image credit: PA Photos)

    Although photographers will no be allowed inside Zara and Mike's private family ceremony tomorrow, some snuck a peek at the royal preparations going on inside.

    The wedding preparations

    The wedding preparations

    Zara Phillips & Mike Tindall Wedding preparations - Marie Claire - Marie Claire UK
    (Image credit: PA Photos)

    Preparations for the couple's glittering reception are also in full swing, with deliveries coming and going from the royal family's Scottish home. A fleet of luxury cars - which it's thought will be used to provide transport for guests - has also been lined up outside.

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    The happy couple

    The happy couple

    The Wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall - Zara Phillips Wedding - Zara Phillips Mike Tindall - Royal Wedding - Marie Claire - Marie Claire UK
    (Image credit: Rex Features)

    The second royal wedding of 2011, Zara Phillips and her rugby-player boyfriend Mike Tindall will marry in Ediburgh on Saturday July 30 in a small, private ceremony. The 'delighted' couple revealed plans to marry in December last year - less than six weeks after Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement - after Mike popped the at their Gloucestershire home.

    The pre-wedding party

    The pre-wedding party

    The Wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall - Zara Phillips Wedding - Zara Phillips Mike Tindall - Royal Wedding - Marie Claire - Marie Claire UK
    (Image credit: Rex Features)

    As their wedding draws near, it's thought the soon-to-be married couple have arranged a pre-wedding cocktail party for 150 of their closest friends onboard the iconic Royal Britannia yacht. It's thought Zara - who reportedly set her heart on hiring out the craft - has fond memories of her childhood onboard.

    The venue

    The venue

    The Wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall - Zara Phillips Wedding - Zara Phillips Mike Tindall - Royal Wedding - Marie Claire - Marie Claire UK
    (Image credit: Rex Features)

    Zara and Mike will tie the knot in a private ceremony at the historic Canongate Kirk on Edinburgh's royal mile - described by minister Rev Neil Gardner as 'one of the simplest buildings in Edinburgh'. It's thought Zara and Mike chose the stunning location - next the Palace of Holyroodhouse after the royal revealed she was 'desperate' to marry in Scotland. Reports suggest another couple had already booked Canongate Kirk on Zara and Mike's chosen date, but were reportedly 'quite happy' to step aside for the royal event.

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    The dress

    The dress

    The Wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall - Zara Phillips Wedding - Zara Phillips Mike Tindall - Royal Wedding - Marie Claire - Marie Claire UK
    (Image credit: Rex Features)

    Although Buckingham palace have yet to comment on the designer of Zara's all-important bridal gown, the rumour mill is already abuzz with whisperings the royal could have chosen the Queen's favourite designer Stuart Parvin. Other contenders include Paul Costelloe - who designed the silver dress Zara wore to William and Kate's April wedding - and Marchesa. 

    The guests

    The guests

    The Wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall - Zara Phillips Wedding - Zara Phillips Mike Tindall - Royal Wedding - Marie Claire - Marie Claire UK
    (Image credit: Rex Features)

    It's thought Zara and Mike have set their heart on a small, private wedding - with nowhere near the 1500-strong guests who attended the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's lavish nuptials. The newlywed royal couple are expected to attend - alongside the rest of the royals - with Mike's rugby team mates and Zara's eventing pals also on the list.

    The reception

    The reception

    Holyrood House - The Wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall - Zara Phillips wedding - Marie Claire - Marie Claire UK
    (Image credit: Rex Features)

    It's thought lucky guests will celebrate Zara and Mike's royal nuptials at the Palace of Holyroodhouse - the Queen?s official residence in Scotland. Rumour has it the monarch has has reimbursed the £40,000 which could be lost by the venue being closed to the public during the busy tourist season, and arranged for it to be off-limits for five days.

    The magazine deal

    The magazine deal

    The Wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall - Zara Phillips Wedding - Zara Phillips Mike Tindall - Royal Wedding - Marie Claire - Marie Claire UK
    (Image credit: Rex Features)

    It's thought Zara and mike have decided against selling the rights to their wedding - and are have turned down up to £1 million in magazine deals - after Buckingham Palace vetoed the coverage. It?s thought officials have been keen to steer clear of selling Zara's wedding pictures from the start, after her brother Peter Phillips upset several members of the royal household back in 2008, for selling the rights to his wedding to Autumn Kelly.

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