Finally! A royal wedding with personality and charm. Kate and William surprised us with two balcony kisses and a joy ride in an Aston Martin decorated with fun balloons and "Just Wed" sign. I close my Royal Wedding coverage with an album of the moments I found most special for the glimpses they gave us at the newlyweds' relationship and personalities. What a sweet start to the weekend! This wedding was a little balm after quakes, tornados, mindless politics, and violence in the Middle East. It is refreshing to celebrate beauty and love, and that is something naysayers cannot deny.
c e r e m o n y
Kate and her dad rode to Westminster in a nearly transparent Rolls Royce. Princes William and Harry arrived in a Bentley.
Watch the full ceremony here, or see highlights below.
The bridal procession was like a Jane Austen novel. The suspense was thick as the groom waited for the bride to reach the altar before seeing her. The best man, however, took a peek for him. "Wait 'til you see her." The love and excitement was palpable when William and Kate saw each other. Her expression here is priceless.
Only Kate received a ring, a Welsh gold band. Everyone knows William is married, but it should've been an exchange for the ceremony. It felt lopsided. The sermon was lovely, though. "It is possible to transform so long as there's no ambition to reform [but allow] the Spirit to flow freely....In the busyness of each day keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy." The Bishop of London, who gave the sermon, also spoke at Diana's funeral. Read the full sermon here.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Duke prefers to remain "Prince William" and that his wife become "Princess Catherine".
So cute that Prince Harry rode with the flower girls ("bridesmaids"). See a resemblance? Lady Louise Windsor is Prince Edward's daughter.
Sweet and spontaneous! Prince William surprised us and Kate with a second smooch on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Little Grace (front, center) tolerated the first kiss. Watch the video to see what she thought of the second one.
a good brother helping his sister-in-law
Fun! Quite a departure from the Queen's style. Charles and Camilla wouldn't mind if we beelined straight to William and Kate, right? From Buckingham to Clarence House in Prince Charles' Aston Martin DB6, which runs on E85 bio-ethanol derived from English wine wastage. Charles moved out of Buckingham years ago and made Clarence House the official residence for his sons and himself.
Youthful and playful! William sticks his tongue out at his new wife.
p o r t r a i t s
This is my favorite, because it is more candid and, therefore, full of personality. Her hand is on his knee, Grace is daydreaming, Louise is distracted, Margarita is enjoying the experience as much as the bride, and the boys just want to be done with their duties.
Photographer Hugo Burnand bribed the little ones with jelly beans. Notice the pink toy worm in 3-year old Eliza's hand? When she was frightened on the balcony by the roar of the crowd, Harry pulled it out of his pocket to make her laugh. She refused to let go of it.
e a t s
All in the details: Thirty round tables, dressed with white flowers and candles, were each named after a place special to the couple. Guests enjoyed vintage pink champagne, elderflower cocktails and peach bellinis amidst the stunning backdrop of the palace’s State Apartments, feasting their eyes on paintings by the Old Masters, including Velazquez, Rubens and Van Dyck. Wines served with dinner, white Meursault Burgundy and Pomerol claret, were probably from Palace and Clarence House cellars. The menu, created by Chef Anton Mosimann, continued the "local and organic" approach the couple applied with floral décor:
terrine of dressed crab and tiger prawns
Aberdeen Angus beef fillet from Longoe Farm, the Castle of Mey, Scotland
Welsh lamb from the Highgrove estate
Spring vegetables grilled and blanched (not cooked in butter or cream)
trio of chocolate puddings
seasonal fruits
ice cream in brandy snap baskets
Aberdeen Angus beef fillet from Longoe Farm, the Castle of Mey, Scotland
Welsh lamb from the Highgrove estate
Spring vegetables grilled and blanched (not cooked in butter or cream)
trio of chocolate puddings
seasonal fruits
ice cream in brandy snap baskets
petit fours with coffee
2am bacon sandwiches
s w e e t s
s p e e c h e s
William was very gracious at the first reception, thanking everyone from the florist to the chef. Although modest, a thoughtful gesture like that does not go unnoticed. (Several of my wedding clients thanked, hugged and even raved about me during their speeches. One bride's mother thanked me with a very special necklace. I will never forget the clients who valued the vision, hard work and close collaboration that went into crafting their special day.)
Guests of the evening reception report that Harry's speech was affectionate and peppered with his characteristic good humor. He referred to the couple as the Dude and Duchess. Describing his brother's relationship with Kate as "inspirational", Harry added that "William didn't have a romantic bone in his body before he met Kate, so I knew it was serious when he suddenly started cooing down the phone at Kate." Harry told friends and family that he loved Kate like a sister.
William’s closest friends from his school days at Ludgrove and Eton delivered line after line about “gags about William”, which threw guests into fits of laughter.
b i g b a s h
The big surprise? The throne room (as in the portraits above) was converted into a "massive nightclub" with a stage, a dance floor, plenty of sofas for lounging, and an expansive cocktail bar serving champagne, spirits and mojitos. The room's stately chandelier was retrofitted with laser and strobe lights to enliven the dance floor. The evening culminated with fireworks as the couple exited in a convertible vintage Fiat 500 with “RAF” emblazoned on its side.
Hardcore partyers continued the celebration at The Goring Hotel, which the Middletons hired out in its entirety. Some who did the five-minute walk from the palace to the hotel raced piggy-back style through the empty, blocked-off surrounding streets. (I would have been among them.)
p l a y l i s t
William and Kate invited only one singer to perform at the reception, up-and-coming pop artist Ellie Goulding. She played a two-hour set that included "Starry Eyed" and her lovely cover of Elton John's "Your Song" for the couple's first dance:
In honor of the occasion, George Michael released a special cover of Stevie Wonder's "You & I" for free download, encouraging listeners to donate to the couple's charitable gift fund. The playlist included club, rave and '60s music, as well as:
You're the One that I Want (Grease)
Pass Out (rapper Tinie Tempah)
I Like the Way You Move (Body Rockers)
Sex on Fire (Kings of Leon)
Mr. Brightside (The Killers)
She Loves You (Beatles) - last song to which everyone sang along
h o n e y m o o n
The couple postoned their honeymoon; possible locations include Mauritius Seychelles, the Greek island of Corfu, and Richard Branson's Necker Island. Here they are leaving for their secret weekend getaway, after which William returns to work as a search and rescue pilot.
p.s. - I want her shoes! These Steve Maddens come maddeningly close.
p.s. - I want her shoes! These Steve Maddens come maddeningly close.
l i v e e x u b e r a n t l y™
1-6 Kate's Rolls, procession, carriage & Prince Harry, William & Kate kiss, reuters video of 2nd balcony kiss, Harry fixes Kate's train, William & Kate's get-away Aston Martin, William sticks out tongue, official royal wedding portraits, William & Kate's wedding cake via British Monarchy , William's chocolate grooms cake, reception details, royal wedding cocktails, playlist, menu, Goring Hotel, after-party, William & Kate leaving Buckingham, William & Kate new titles, Prince Harry best man speech, royal wedding speeches
