THE Wedding: All Eyes on the Bride

Did you watch?

Who didn't?

The eyes of the world were on the Prince of Wales and his bride-to-be this morning, including mine!
What kind of blogger would I be if I didn't write about the wedding--and fashion show--of the decade?

I set my alarm for the same time I normally on a weekday-4:45 a.m. But instead of hitting snooze, I clicked the TV on, which was already tuned to abc (Thanks to Thursday night Grey's Anatomy) just in time to see Kate Middleton getting out of a 1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI in front of Westminster Abbey. And she looked BEAUTIFUL...

....We finally got to see the dress that everyone had been speculating about since the couple's engagement was announced in February. Kate chose to wear a long-sleeved Sara Burton gown (from the House of McQueen) with a sheer veil and a lace overlay.

The Cartier tiara Kate chose was the "halo" tiara, a delicate headpiece that looked almost like a simple headband of diamonds. It was, like Kate, elegant and understated. The tiara, which was made in 1936 and had been given to Queen Elizabeth I for her 18th birthday, was loaned to Kate by Queen Elizabeth II as her "something borrowed" for the big day.

Matching the tiara were Kate's "something new" earrings, a wedding gift from her parents.
The earrings were custom-made by Robinson Pelham to match the tiara, with acorn motifs and drew on the inspiration of the new Middleton Family Crest. Pelham also designed the earrings worn by Kate's sister and maid-of-honor, Phillipa (Pippa) Middleton.

Kate's wedding ring (which looked like it wasn't going to fit for a horrifying half a second) is a band of Welsh gold by Wartski, who also designed wedding bands for Charles and Camilla.

Kate's bridal bouquet, as Royal Tradition dictates, held a sprig from a Myrtle Bush, planted by Queen Victoria in 1845. Other flowers included in the bouquet were Lily-of-the-Valley (Kate's personal favorite) Ivy, Hyacinth, and Sweet Williams, an allusion to the groom.

The symbolism of the flowers used at the royal wedding has been much commented on. Sweet William means gallantry, lily-of-the-valley return of happiness, hyacinth constancy of love, while ivy signifies fidelity, marriage, wedded love, friendship and affection. Myrtle is the emblem of marriage and love.


All in All, I thought the bride looked spectacular. Her dress was elegant and chic, modern yet classic, somewhat reminiscent of the dress worn by Grace Kelly when she wed Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956.

The beautiful nod to the late Alexander McQueen, worn by Kate Middleton, now Catherine of Cambridge, this morning was one of a kind and, in my humble opinion, couldn't have been more perfect. Kate wore the dress, it didn't wear her. She also wore matching slippers, that helped her to glide effortlessly down the aisle.

She was poised. Elegant. Everything a princess is expected to be and more. The Royal Wedding, by all accounts, was worth the anticipation. I know that I put off leaving the house until after the vows were said!
And I turned the TV on the elliptical machine onto channel 5 as soon as I got to the gym, eagerly waiting for the moment that the bride and groom would appear on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to greet the world and, of course, for that KISS. Make that a KISS times two!

I, myself, am not by any means a "royal insider" or expert on the subject of royalty OR weddings.
But I know that I watched (completely transfixed) because, like every young woman who was once a little girl dreaming of her own happily ever after, it was a fairy tale. Kate Middleton is pretty, brainy, brunette who girls should look up to.

She IS the commoner who married a prince and became a princess.
But she is also a strong, independent woman in her own right. Poised. Gracious. Kind. In love.

CONGRATULATIONS WILL & KATE!