Meghan Markle’s best friend Jessica Mulroney may not be in the wedding party — her three adorable children will be front and centre as page boys and bridesmaid — but the Toronto-based stylist, marketer and content strategist, knows a thing or three about dressing brides. Mulroney is thought to be acting as an unofficial behind the scenes support to Markle, attending dress fittings and advising on other wedding planning to-do list items.

And, given that Markle’s marriage to Prince Harry will be her second trip down an aisle, Mulroney’s expertise will help ensure that the royal-in-waiting’s gown will be appropriate, gorgeous and oh-so-chic.

Fun fact: during Markle’s Suits reign Mulroney selected the dress that her character Rachel wore when she was left at the alter before finally marrying her onscreen paramour seasons later.

Second fun fact: Markle’s real first name is Rachel as seen in the Queen’s official Instrument of Consent for the marriage.

In honour of Meghan and Harry we revisit some of our favourite second wedding tips from stylist Jessica Mulroney herself.

Jessica Mulroney
Playing dress-up at Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay, with Jessica Mulroney (centre). Photo: Chris Chapman.

Encore! 4 Stylish Second Weddings
While societal conventions once dictated second- or third-time brides (not to mention first-timers of a certain age) adhere to certain sartorial rules, like keep it understated and no white, today another trip down the aisle is one blooming with endless possibilities. “Anything goes,” declares Jessica Mulroney, PR, marketing and events for Kleinfeld at Hudson’s Bay, one of the largest luxury bridal retailers in the world, which opened its first Canadian location, a 20,000-square foot salon at the Hudson’s Bay flagship store in Toronto. “Bridal is so different today, and there is so much out there. As second marriages become more common, women are saying, ‘Why the heck not? I’ll do it better and bigger.’ ”

In other words, when it comes to their encore weddings, brides are breaking all rules and traditional matrimonial conventions.

The answer to what does a second-time (or more) around bride wear? It’s anything she wants. “Why should it be less meaningful or less important to look a certain way?” adds Mulroney, who believes the second or third time around should be just as important if not more than the first. “It should be a celebration of love and that time in your life.”

Read fashion director Derick Chetty’s full story, “Encore! 4 Stylish Second Weddings” HERE.

Tracy Moore
Jessica Mulroney officiates at the vow renewal of TV personality Tracy Moore. Photo: Instagram by Lio Perron.

Why Wedding Vow Renewals Are All the Rage
“We heard a lot about renewing vows, probably 15 years ago,” says Jessica Mulroney. “What is different now is that couples are starting with the idea of a vacation. A very relaxed setting with margaritas!”

She adds, “Destinations work for vow renewals because you are someplace out of time and place, away from the daily grind, where you and the small select group of people you love most can all enjoy each other.”

Mulroney also supports a brides decision to buy a brand new wedding dress. “They look back on pictures and see a dress they don’t like anymore, or maybe the dress was imposed on them by someone else, or maybe for religious or venue reasons they had to choose a specific style,” she says. But when they finally find the dress they secretly yearned for and finally get to have for a renewal: “It is a very emotional moment.”

Read Leanne Delap’s full story, “Why Wedding Vow Renewals Are All The Rage,” HERE.