She married producer Trevor Engelson in a beachfront ceremony in Jamaica.
Meghan Markle’s first wedding seven years ago and was a far cry from the opulence she will have on May 19 as she marries Prince Harry.
The celebration of her first marriage to TV producer Trevor Engelson took place at a beachfront resort in 2011. It was a casual affair with about 100 guests who enjoyed local beer and rum punch.
Markle’s first trip down the aisle was a four-day destination wedding in Jamaica. The festivities included a wheelbarrow race, with Markle leading the charge.
The suites at the hotel are clean, comfortable accommodations with doors leading right to the beach. The owner of the resort remembers Markle and says she could not have been nicer.
For the reception, Markle wore a simple white dress with a shimmery silver belt that cost an estimated $300. That's a far cry from the wedding dress she will wear as she marries Prince Harry. The gown has not been revealed, but it's expected to cost more than $100,000.
Alas, the marriage to Engelson did not work out. The couple were married for two years and divorced in 2013.
Markle’s estranged half-sister, Samantha Grant, told Inside Edition that the relationship may have ended due to the fact that they were often separated by distance.
“Long-distance relationships, especially in the entertainment industry, are very stressful,” she said. “From my observation, they just realized it couldn’t work."
Markle’s maid of honor from her first wedding was Ninaki Priddy, her friend since childhood. Growing up, they were inseparable. They even vacationed together in high school, even visiting Buckingham Palace.
Priddy has not been invited to the royal wedding. She and Markle allegedly had a falling out after the “Suits” actress blamed her for her split from Engelson.
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