Inside St George’s Chapel for the royal wedding, the aesthetic was: Marvel Studios takes the storyline of a traditional British wedding and makes a 21st century blockbuster.

There was an all-star cast – George Clooney as the hero, Tom Hardy as the villain – and no expense spared on the wardrobe. Amal Clooney looked spotlit in vivid saffron yellow, Oprah Winfrey pulled no punches in a knockout hat, and Fergie strutted in alone with her collar flicked up.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest (L) Amal and George Clooney, and Tom Hardy (R) arrive at St George’s Chapel with other guests. Photograph: Chris Jackson/AP

The look was more Oscars red carpet than garden party. With the sun beaming down, it was like someone had turned the brightness of a late spring day up to 11. Idris Elba, one of the earliest arrivals, set the glamorous tone in a suit that was more black tie than morning dress. Recent American Vogue cover star Serena Williams looked ravishing in blush-pink gown with an asymmetric neckline. Victoria Beckham turned the aisle into a catwalk in her own image, wearing a severe high-fashion dark gown, which made no concessions to romance.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Actor Jacinda Barrett (L) and her husband the Suits star Gabriel Macht, arrive with other guests including Serena Williams (2nd R) and her husband Alexis Ohanian. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

In place of the usual sea of pale faces in polite florals, this was a diverse crowd making interesting choices. There were few straw hats with twiddly bits, and plenty of graphic pieces of millinery art, including Amal’s spaceship, and the panama-style of Suits star Gina Torres. Hemlines dipped rakishly (see Delfina Blaquier, the wife of the polo player Nacho Figueras, in turquoise) or fell grandly to the floor (the actor Abigail Spencer in polka dot Alessandra Rich with a sharp white collar).

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Suits actor Abigail Spencer (L) and Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra (2nd L). Photograph: Toby Melville/PA

Markle’s glossy American friends having raised the fashion game, the locals did their best to keep up. Carey Mulligan could have been sipping Aperol spritz and queueing for the street food truck at a hipster wedding, in her feathered hair clip and embroidered dress. Lady Kitty Spencer wore emerald Dolce & Gabbana, Princess Beatrice wore teal Roksanda, and the Duchess of Cambridge donned primrose yellow Alexander McQueen, the designer she wore on her own wedding day. David Beckham wore Dior Homme, by the British designer Kim Jones. While Sara Buys, arriving with her husband, Tom Parker Bowles, wore dramatic velvet by the coolest of labels, The Vampire’s Wife.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest L to R: Eliza Spencer, Louis Spencer, Victoria Aitken and Kitty Spencer. Photograph: Pool/Reuters

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Princess Eugenie, Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice. Photograph: WPA pool/Getty Images

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Meghan Markle’s mother Doria Ragland (3rd L) stands on the steps of the chapel with members of the royal family including the Duchess of Cambridge (2nd R). Photograph: Jane Barlow/AFP/Getty Images