Over two billion people watched Prince William and Catherine Middleton, now The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, say their “I dos” this morning at 11AM GMT/6AM EST today, April 29, at the Westminster Abbey in the London. Touted as the wedding of this century, the lavish wedding a decade in the making was as romantic, unforgettable and more regal than anything this generation has seen. The most romantic moment during the ceremony wasn’t the glimpse of the bride in her custom made Alexander McQueen gown. It was when Prince William saw her for the first time in the chapel and whispered to her, “You look beautiful.“
What the Bride Wore:
Catherine Middleton wore a long sleeved v-neck ivory and white satin gazar Alexander McQueen gown designed by the label’s creative director Sarah Burton. The decolletage of the ball skirt gown was adorned with intricate English lace and French Chantilly lace. The skirt of the gown had an elegant 6 foot train.
According to the official wedding website, “The skirt echoes an opening flower, with white satin gazar arches and pleats. The ivory satin bodice, which is narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, draws on the Victorian tradition of corsetry and is a hallmark of Alexander McQueen’s designs.”
The sheer veil, made of layers of soft, ivory silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers, was embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework. The bride wore her hair half up and half down. Holding the veil in place was the 1936 Cartier ‘halo’ tiara lent to her by Queen Elizabeth. The tiara was purchased by King George VI for the Queen Mother and was presented to the Queen on her 18th birthday.
Catherine chose minimal jewelry as not to compete with the delicate lace bodice of her gown. She wore leaf-shaped diamond earrings, inspired by the Middleton family’s new coat of arms, by Robinson Pelham match her tiara. They were a gift from her parents.
The wedding shoes were also hand-made by the Alexander McQueen team out of ivory duchesse satin with lace hand-embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework.
What the Groom Wore:
Prince William, commissioned in all three services of the Armed Forces, wore an Irish Guards Mounted Officer’s uniform in Guard of Honour Order with a Forage Cap. The Kashket and Partners fitted uniform included a gold and crimson sash and gold sword slings (sans sword), which are to be worn in the presence of a member of the Royal Family.
Best Man:
Prince Harry wore the Blues and Royals officer’s uniform in Dismounted Review Order, with a Forage Cap. He also chose not to wear a sword though the uniform did have sword slings.
Maid of Honor:
The bride’s sister, Philippa (Pippa) Middleton, who wore a custom made white Alexander McQueen body conscious cowl neck mermaid gown and earrings by Robinson Pelham.
The Queen’s Outfit:
Her Majesty The Queen wore an Angela Kelly designed single crepe wool primrose dress with hand sown beading at the neck in the shape of sun rays and a matching double crepe wool tailored primrose coat. An Angela Kelly designed matching crepe hat with hand made silk roses and matching apricot colored leaves. She wore Queen Mary’s True Lovers Knot broach.
Estimated Price of the Wedding:
No one really knows for sure how much the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton cost but there are reports that it ranges from $16 million to $64 million, with security accounting for a majority of the cost. After all, Prime Minister David Cameron declared it a Bank Holiday, thus doubling the wages for civil workers, police and security, working on that day.
The Royal Family footed a majority of the bill but the Middleton family reportedly shelled out a sum in the six figure range to cover their daughter’s high profile wedding. Their share included paying for lavish hotel rooms at the Goring Hotel for family members (standard room costs $550 a night but we’re guessing Kate Middleton probably stayed in a more lavish suite); they paid for Kate’s three dress – the Alexander McQueen wedding gown, a two other dresses for the post wedding parties.
Flowers: $800,000
Notable Guests:
The Queen
The Duke of Edinburgh
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall
Prince Henry of Wales
The Duke of York
Princess Beatrice of York
Princess Eugenie of York
The Earl and Countess of Wessex
The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Phillips
Miss Zara Phillips with Mr. Mike Tindall
The Prince and Princess of the Asturias
The Crown Prince of Bahrain
Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium
The Sultan of Brunei and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha
King Simeon II and Queen Margarita of the Bulgarian
The Queen of Denmark
King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes
Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece and Prince Constantine of Greece
Sheikh Ahmad Hmoud Al-Sabah of Kuwait
Prince Seeiso Bereng Seeiso and Princess Mabereng Seeiso of Lesotho
The Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia
Sir Clive Woodward
Mr. Ian Thorpe
Mr. and Mrs. David Beckham
Mr. Guy Ritchie
Miss Joss Stone
Mr. Mario Testino
Sir Elton John
Lunchtime Reception:
The Queen hosted a lunchtime reception for the newly weds at Buckingham Palace. The 650 guests noshed on a selection of canapés, Pol Roger NV Brut Réserve Champagne and a selection of other soft and alcoholic drinks.
Two cakes were served at the reception, a wedding cake and a grooms cake. The eight tier cream and white wedding cake, designed by Fiona Cairns, is made from 17 individual fruit cakes (12 of which form the base). It also has about 900 individually iced flowers and leaves of 17 different varieties. The chocolate biscuit (cookie) cake was created by Mcvitie’s Cake Company using a Royal Family recipe at the special request of Prince William.
Cakes:
The Wedding cake.
A groom’s cake (for which Prince William reportedly requested a chocolate cookie cake).
Post Wedding Reception: The groom’s father, Prince Charles, will hosts a private reception for the newlyweds at his residence, Clarence House.
