Weddings and Royal Weddings

If you are planning a wedding, you are experiencing all the decisions that have to be looked at to host your special day.  If you were marrying the future King of England, can you even imagine all the details that you would be faced with?

The pomp, pageantry and precision of this day was absolutely amazing! With strict etiquette and traditions that had to be adhered to,  it was surprisingly the guests who had a huge bulk of the work. The Queen issued a  22 page Etiquette book for all the invitees.

It covered everything from dress to cell phone and non-Twitter use.  Gentlemen had to wear a morning suit, lounge suit (business) or formal military dress, while the ladies had to be attired appropriately for the church;   shoulders covered,  a hat to cover one’s head and nothing inappropriate that would draw attention to themselves.

I won’t go into detail about all the things that you can and can’t do in the presence of the Queen but it is lengthy including not speaking to her unless spoken to first. There was a sentence about no ivory or white if you were attending; only the bride gets that option.  Her sister, Pippa, however was in ivory as were her flower girls.

The gown was stunning and simple;  elegant, vintage ivory with Chantilly lace appliqué sleeves and a V neck after so many years of strapless gowns. The train was simple and beautiful- not cumbersome. It was very reminiscent of the classic Grace Kelly look of the past.

And how about the hats and the Fascinators?  Some great looking head wear was worn. It may be the beginning of seeing hats worn again as a fashion accessory.

If you are planning a wedding, you are experiencing all the decisions that have to be looked at to host your special day.  If you were marrying the future King of England, can you even imagine all the details that you would be faced with?

Diamond earrings from her parents were the “something new” and are sure to be a trend-setter.

Did you notice that there was no wedding party except for Prince Harry and Ms. Middlelton?

Only one bouquet to be seen during the day and that belonged to the bride which had a sprig of the herb myrtle, a tradition that dates back to Queen Victoria.

The carriage that they rode away from the Abbey was a 1902 Landau.

And, the Abbey where they married, had trees as tall as in a park, gracing the aisles but nary a flower to be seen! The bride’s bouquet held a sprig of the herb myrtle; a tradition that began with Queen Victoria.

As opulent as the day was in terms of being steeped in grand tradition, it was a simple, quietly elegant ceremony.

What if anything did you find about the wedding that you may want to comment about?