Wedding Ideas and Inspiration Blog

Posts tagged Royal Wedding

Royal Wedding DVD Giveaway

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Don’t get me wrong, I love a royal wedding. And William & Kate’s day was certainly no exception, but there was no way that I was going to wake up in the middle of the night to watch it. Imagine my delight when I saw that the BBC has just released their coverage of the event so that I can drool over all the amazing details at a more reasonable hour! The BBC has donated a copy of this DVD, which also includes a documentary about William & Kate’s love story, for us to give to one lucky U.S. reader. To enter, just leave a comment with your favorite part about the royal wedding (Pippa? Kate’s dress? The scene-stealing flower girl?) and we will select a random winner next week!

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A Rockin’ Wedding Dress Inspiration Shoot from Assassynation and Brides Up North

When Sassy from Assassynation Photography contacted me about a punk princess shoot she had put together in the English countryside with Brides Up North, I knew I had to see it. And, dear readers, it is something to behold! The perfect antidote to all the prettiness of the Royal Wedding over the past few weeks, it has the edge and rock ‘n roll style British brides are so well-known for.

The gals headed to Darby Castle (where one of Henry the Eighth’s wives, Catherine Parr, resided) with an armload of gorgeous wedding dresses, a specially-commissioned Swarovski Union Jack tiara, and accessories to “rough up” the look a bit. Julia, the blogger behind Brides Up North, describes her transformation into an edgy bride as channeling Sandra Dee, post-makeover (and who doesn’t love a little “You’re the One That I Want”?). The effect is one of total coolness – and is making me think I might just be able to get away with wearing my wedding dress again if I can find the perfect tee, aviators and event to wear it to… Too weird?

Thanks, Ladies, for the rockin’ inspiration!

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Vendors:

Photographer: Assassynation
Wedding Dresses: The Harrogate Wedding Lounge
Accessories: The Harrogate Wedding Lounge, Tiararama & Wedding and Baby
Tiara: Tiararama
Bunting: Little Bundles Bunting
Location: Danby Castle
Styling: The Fine and Funky Events Company
Jackets, shoes, tee and shades: Team’s own

Inspiration from Real British Brides from Rock My Wedding

We’re thrilled to have Rock My Wedding stop by again to keep the Royal Wedding festivities going!

Well hello again!

Millions of people are waving their Union Jack flags, champagne corks are popping and bunting decorates the streets as we all celebrate the Royal Wedding here in England!

Of course, the Royal Wedding, despite Kate’s impeccably elegant style, is not within reach of the average UK bride and as we celebrate the wedding of what is set to become one of the most famous British brides in history, I thought I could share with you the trends and themes taking the UK by storm for Real British Brides…

1. The Vintage Gown.
With massive nostalgia for pre-war and wartime eras, what could be more romantic than a vintage gown? Most popular is the prom style fifties dress revival, however, beautiful examples may even be as old as Queen Victoria’s time, sometimes reworked or tweeked to add modern touches like this one from The Vintage Wedding Dress Company. vintage-wedding-dress-company

2. Beautiful Bottles
Table centres are becoming less and less formal and when the blooms are this gorgeous, why not? Try mixing a variety of shapes and sizes of glass and even add in some mercuried, recycled or cut glass for a mix and match look with single stems or tiny posies. peach-flowers david-long-15

3. The short dress
A relatively new trend to the UK is the shorter dress, tied in with the vintage trend, designers are offering more and more shorter designs like this Justin Alexander number 8465 and brides are cottoning on to the bonuses of being able to move freely and dance the night away without a cumbersome dress or train to deal with. tea-dress

4. Vintage decor.
With a wealth of history at our fingertips, UK brides are embracing the past with vintage decor. Desserts stacked with cake or treats, tables laden with photos of family weddings through the ages and my favourite? This vintage pharmaceutical cupboard converted into the cleverest seating plan display. tale-plan-1

5. The Side Headband
Glitz and glamour haven’t been cast aside although regal tiaras are no longer a common choice for the style savvy English bride. Instead the understated, face framing and modern choice is the side headband. With a multitude of designs available, some of our favourites come from Jenny Packham or for those on a slightly less generous budget, try Flo and Percy. bridal-make-up accessories

6. Cupcakes
Gone are the days of the traditional wedding cake. Instead, brides are opting for towers of traditional and local English cheeses, crispy creme donuts or the most popular, cute colourful and melt in the mouth cupcakes. Mmmmm! pink-cupcakes

7. The photo booth
Still a massive trend, brides don’t just want to capture the pomp and circumstance of the day, they want the fun of the dancing and evening reception captured too. Photographers are offering photo booth options and some brides are DIY-ing the trend, ranging from mocking up their own booths to providing frames and signs with dressing up boxes to provide hours of entertainment and laughter at the images on their return from honeymoon! frame-1

8. The veil
One trend that isn’t going anywhere and will no doubt be further fired by Kate’s bridal look, is the classic veil. Suited just as well to a slim line gown as to a fuller skirt, just make sure the proportions match your gown. More and more brides are opting for a full length and fabulous ethereal veil and after all, why not? When else are you going to get the opportunity to wear one!? harvey-11 glam-4

9. British blooms
One way for British brides to stay patriotic and Eco is with English roses, which now top the list of stunning blooms brides are lusting after. They also make a fabulous alternative to the ever popular peonies which often turn out to be out of season for brides marrying outside of spring. bouquet

Photo credits:

Vintage gowns: Full wedding: A Family Built Wedding; Photographer: Touch Photography
Beautiful bottles: {Image 1} Full wedding: Sky Blue and Peach; Photographer: Guy Collier. {Image 2} Full wedding: Effortless Elegance Photographer: David Long
The short dress: Full wedding: Made with Love; Photographer: Lee Robbins
Vintage decor: Full wedding: Teepee-tastic; Photographer: 1 Click Photography
The side headband: {Image 1} Full wedding: Vintage Inspired; Photographer: Carrie Bugg Photography. {Image 2} Full wedding: Peckforton Pink; Photographer: Lawson Photography
Cupcakes: Full wedding: Frill, Fabulous and Feminine; Photographer: Shoot Lifestyle
The photo booth: Full wedding: Fancy Dress = Fun Times; Photographer: Source Images
The veil: {Image 1} Full wedding: All Out Glamour…..part 2; Photographer: Shoot Lifestyle. {Image 2} Full wedding: Oh So Glamorous; Photographer: Shoot Lifestyle
British blooms: Full wedding: Frill, Fabulous and Feminine; Photographer: Shoot Lifestyle

Wedding Trends from the Royal Wedding (Didn’t Kate Look Gorgeous?!)

Well, the wedding question of the year has been answered – what will Kate wear? – and, personally, I don’t think she could have pulled it off better. Designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen (I had a feeling!) it was elegant, modest and totally modern. It felt a bit like Princess Grace came together with a touch of Nicole Richie to create a dress worthy of a princess. Why do I have a feeling we’re going to be seeing longer lace sleeves a lot in this upcoming season? kate-middleton-royal-wedding-prince-william-dress-590jn042911_590x393

And her classic simplicity extended to her accessories as well. I love that she opted for a shorter veil so we could still see the back of her dress. And, I’ve got to think there is a real temptation to go whole hog and wear every royal jewel in the palace. Instead, she manages to make a tiara look regal yet stylish while sticking with just the tear drop earrings means her dress was able to keep center stage. Britain Royal Wedding
And the train! You knew she had to have one for that dramatic walk down the aisle. I love though that rather than go lace-happy, she opted for a layered look – it was fresh while still keeping the simplicity of the lines. kate-waving-full-gown-tiara-veil

With a (very) small wedding party there was a lot of pressure on Pippa’s dress as well. I like the cowl neck and lace detailing and actually from afar it has a similar feel to some of Sophie Cranston’s designs that Kate was rumored to perhaps be wearing. I’m wondering, too, if this means that we’ll seeing wedding parties wearing all-white? It’s a very elegant look… pippa-arriving-flower-girls-simple-dress

And, of course, there were the guests! I have a bit of an obsession with Vicky B as I like to call her (I was probably the only person in the US who watched her reality TV show) and she didn’t let me down. Wearing one of the hot colors of the season – navy – she was elegant yet still ridiculously fashionable. I only wish American weddings would embrace the hat!

And the tails were out. The guys went all-out with vests, ties and tails and, I for one, am all for it. If your wedding is very classic, I think there is nothing more handsome than a groom in very formal wear. guests-royal-wedding-arriving-victoria-beckham Did you all have a chance to watch the festivities? What do you think? Will these trends stay in the UK or make the hop over the pond?

And, be sure to check back this afternoon when Rock My Wedding stops by and shares what real British brides are wearing…

All images via Royal Wedding at AOL.

William: How the Royal Wedding is Just Like Yours

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Just a few short days until the wedding of the century and I CANNOT WAIT!

All of my life I have been totally intrigued with the royal families of the world – especially the British. As I think back to the 1981 wedding of Diana and Charles and the excitement I felt then, Friday’s event has got me on the edge of my seat. The wedding of Catherine Middleton and Prince William is a romantic and joyful occasion for the entire world to enjoy.

If you think the details of your special day have you overwhelmed, just imagine being on the world stage in front of billions of people! While it seems that there is no way any wedding could compare to the Royal nuptials of William and Kate, certain elements pose the same concerns for common and regal marriages alike.

WEATHER
As an uncontrollable Act of God, the weather is at the top of the list of things that makes brides nervous. For London the risk of rain is always high, but for the Royal Wedding it could be disastrous! With thousands expected to line the streets for the dramatic parades, rain would positively SUCK!

The Plan B for Kate and William’s transportation is a closed top carriage vs. an open top one; a plan for bad weather must always be in place no matter how nice you think it will be. Consider using pashminas for cool evenings and paper fans for warm days to keep your guests comfortable during your special day.

CHILDREN
Little ones add something special to any wedding, but corralling them is never an easy feat. The choir boys at Westminster Abbey have been given strict orders to avoid chocolate and sodas as either could disrupt their voices. Over the past few weeks, they have also been practicing standing for long periods of time in heavy antique robes. Can you imagine having to practice standing?

While you probably can’t ask your guests to have their children practice behaving, you can offer them things to keep them busy during the ceremony (coloring books and crayons are a good option) or, if you’re really worried, keep your ceremony to adults only.

THE DRESS
If you are having problems selecting the one special gown for your day, consider the future Princess Kate’s dilemma. She has not only one, but THREE gowns. Kate has had to take special precautions just in case the secret of which one she was going to wear got out. Saying yes to the dress not only once but three times deserves a crown!

FUTURE MOTHER-IN-LAW
There’s the worry that your groom’s mother might be your number one nemesis, but consider having to write a formal request to your mother just to get a cup of coffee together! That’s what the future Mrs. William Windsor will have to do.

Next time you and the mother-of-the-groom find yourselves disagreeing, just remember to be thankful she’s not the leader of nation and you can work your problems out in a manner you both see fit.

Photo by Craig Williams Photography

Inspiration from the Rumored Royal Dress Designers

To say that there’s been some speculation about who will be designing Kate’s dress for Friday’s nuptials is like saying that your wedding day is “kinda fun” – just a little bit of an understatement. It’s been rumored that everyone from Victoria Beckham to one of our faves, Alice Temperley has the gig; three though have stood out as real contenders (with some serious rumors flying around that Sophie Cranston actually has the gig, although I just found an article that says she unequivocally does not have it, so who knows!?!).

I like to think of Kate as one of us, heading to different dress shops, trying on her selections for a panel of friends and family, honing it down to her three perfect dresses. Okay, maybe not. But, she is just like us in that she has an all-important decision to make – what’s her dress going to look like for one of the biggest days of her life?

The first contender to emerge was couture designer, Bruce Oldfield, who was a favorite designer of Princess Diana and is rumored to be dressing many of the wedding guests (there are more rumors swirling around this wedding than a high school Prom). A lot of his collection this season has that very streamlined, modern look, which fits the body without revealing too much. Very pretty and very glam (I especially like the one with all of the drop pleats). bruce-oldfield-wedding-dress-royal-wedding

And, because it wouldn’t be a Royal Wedding without some speculation of a totally over-the-top dress, Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen has been touted as a possible contender. Because, really, can you get any more dramatic than a McQueen dress? Easy answer – no way.

Her last collection didn’t actually include any wedding dresses, just wedding-inspired versions, but I think, if you’re going to go for a full Princess effect, McQueen is the only way to go. alexander-mcqueen-royal-wedding-dresses alexander-mcqeen-wedding-dresses-over-top-royal

Recently, though, Sophie Cranston’s name has been tossed into the ring and I have to say, her designs feel very Kate-ish, don’t they? They have beautiful, draped lines and an easy elegance about them; I just don’t know if they’re quite as dramatic as the space at Westminter Abbey is calling for… sophie-cranston-wedding-dresses-royal-wedding What do you think? Do you hope she picks one of the these three designers? Is there another contender I missed in the chatter? Or are you just holding your breath until Saturday when the entire affair is over?