Now, don’t get my early rising morning motives confused with obsession. I got up at 4:30 a.m. to witness the first royal wedding in almost thirty years. Yes, 4:30 a.m.
I won’t sit here and tell you that the wedding was extravagant and head-over-heels exciting, because it wasn’t. However, the wedding was simply beautiful and honestly, perfect.
News coverage began at 3:00 a.m. central time in the good ol’ United States while the English flooded the streets surrounding Westminster Abbey. The wedding precession started as the wedding guests entered the looming church in anticipation of the arrival of the royal family.
Just as I stumbled downstairs around 4:45, the maid of honor, who also was the bride’s sister, was ushered into her coach along with the tiny, royally adorned flower girls and boys. I at first thought it was Catherine because her sister is a spitting image of the soon-to-be princess.
Regardless, the maid of honor finally reached the church and, hand-in-hand with the smallest girls, walked to the steps to be greeted by a church official.
Fast forward 10 minutes. It’s the moment everyone had been waiting for. The car door was open and ready. Cameras began to flash. She’s here.
Catherine Middleton, as well as her father, crawl into their cab as the crowd gasps and cries at the fleeting glimpse of the bride and her dress. With her father nervously arranging his daughter’s train and dress, the car heads towards the Abbey as Catherine waves to the frantic fans in the streets.
The reporters that were commenting on television made note of Catherine’s choice of hairstyle, train and her tiara. Pure elegance seeped from the future princess.
It couldn’t have been more perfect the way that Catherine and her father arrived. The clock chimed at exactly 11. The glorious bells ringing throughout the square welcomed the group.
Catherine emerged from the car and let me just say that she looked gorgeous. Due to common respect for the queen and her church, the dress was modest but nothing your grandmother would have worn. The bodice of the dress was close fitting and strapless. However, a lace top covered the top honoring the Westminster code.
The train of the dress was nowhere near Diana’s 25 foot long train. It was short but looked beautiful nonetheless. The bride wore a waist length veil, covering her face as she entered the church.
The service began as a smiley Harry glanced at his older brother and Catherine. The Queen and Prince Phillip smiled as the bride passed. The Middleton’s beamed as their daughter met William on the altar.
The service itself was very sweet. Several passages were read and the boys choir sang, which just happened to be my favorite part. Don’t judge.
Overall, I loved it. It was classy and elegant; everything I had hoped it would be. You could tell that the newlyweds were best friends and really shared a true love. It was precious.
The balcony kisses were simply adorable as Catherine giggled after the second kiss was induced by a crowd chant.
So here’s to the happy couple: welcome to the limelight, Catherine Windsor, Princess of Wales.
