A very Royal Wedding

OK, so i don't blog very often, more of a blog-when-i-need-to-let-out-some-emotion user.
BUT as today is a remarkable day for the history of Britain and i felt that i should share a little about what i have been feeling, because quite frankly i am feeling uncharacteristically emotional about the whole thing!

Firstly, don't mistake me for someone who has been preparing for the Royal Wedding for weekends and getting steadily more excited about flag waving and facepainting as the weeks have passed. Not a chance. In fact i was completely and utterly disinterested in the wedding probably BECAUSE of the hype surrounding it. You can't help feeling that things that are built up to such a crescendo will inevitably be a complete let down in the end. I had been invited to various celebrations but due to work commitments this weekend i chose not to venture out and instead opted to watch it at home with my mum, who then decided she was going away instead...so watching alone! lol.

So why the hell are you blogging i hear you ask?? Well, being the nosy person i am..i was in fact quite eager to catch a glimpse of the anticipated dress. I'm not a fashion savvy kind of person, my knowledge of desginers is limited but i do like clothes and having been to a family wedding last weekend, i have come to appreciate just how monumental the wedding dress can be in the biggest day of a girls life.
So i tuned in, albeit NOT at 6am when BBC coverage began, i felt that was a little odd considering the ceremony wasn't kicking off until 11 and the major figures wouldn't be appearing until at least 10am but i guess if there is an audience the BBC are going to capitalize on it!
Plus, why have a bank holiday if you are going to wake up at normal work time?! duh!
But around 9.30am, i switched on and have to say i got quite caught up in the atmosphere almost instantly and continued to watch the entire ceremony.

I can only imagine that the atmosphere in London was electric, as it felt like it was building just watching on TV...waiting to see various Royals emerging from various locations was pretty exciting but the hook for me was still awaiting the dress.

I have to comment first, on William and his total relaxed air. Not exciteable, but quietly confident..and why wouldn't he be...he's got her against a wall really..you can't get jilted at the altar when 2 million people are watching!! Nice to see him and Harry together, easy to see they do have a genuine relationship and i imagine Harry, however irresponsible he has perhaps chosen to be in the past, has been a great support to him throughout the run up to the wedding!

How magnificent was Westminster Abbey looking? Just the right balance of grandeur and simplicity, something which i think represented the couple to a tee! Nothing too over the top, quietly understated, elegant and classy...just like our bride herself some might say!

Then, the moment about half the population had waited for, she emerges cool as cucumber and managed to look effortlessly stunning despite the fact that she was probably the most nervous person in history during that car journey. She styled that fear well, you wouldn't even know! Maybe she wasn't..but considering her normality is something the public have grown to love..you'd like to think she was harboring some 'oh my god i would like to scream or have a panic attack or something right now' moments.

HOW STUNNING WAS THE DRESS!!!!!!! simple to the point of normal but the hints of lace and the perfect shape of the train, the edging on the veil..the accessories..the hair. Sheer perfection. Helped by the fact that of course, our future queen is darn well beautiful and totally unaware of it! That in my book, just increased her perfection even more! Thought the fact that she chose something from the Alexander McQueen line supporting Sarah Burton in carrying on the late McQueen's legacy was quite poignant in itself. History of British fashion represented on such a historical day perfect combo!
She coped very well with the wind blowing the veil in her face too, carrying off even that with perfect ease and grace. Well Done Kate!!

Little bit sad we didn't get a glimpse of the shoes though. shoes are my life and i would have liked to scrutinise hers. Mind you..if Camilla was wearing Jimmy Choo, i'm sure Kates were of a similarly high calibre!

Let's not forget the stunning bridesmaid dress on her sister, Pippa. Totally utterly wonderful and so complimentary of the bride. Couldn't help but wonder if her sister was holding any kind of resentment towards her sister, because she will never be able to top this wedding..and surely that would make you a little pissed off??! But then i suppose looking so hot and being happy for your sister might take the edge off..that and being with Harry for the whole day (let's face it..great consolation prize)

I took to facebook throughout the build up and ceremony as i am not into Twitter, and was enjoying the updates from my fellow facebookers throughout the day. I found myself becoming pretty choked up at more than one point, when she got out the car, as she prepared to walk down the aisle and many other moments. I was suprised at how emotional i was feeling considering my previous disinterest in the whole affair. But luckily i wasn't the only one! Phew!! A friend of mine commented that it was weird, feeling so emotional..as though you 'know them personally' and my response to that, was that maybe that is why people love them so much. They make the Royal family that little bit more approachable and exciting.

The part of the actual ceremony i was most looking forward to, was seeing the look on William's face when he caught his first glimpse of his gorgeous bride. It is always my favourite part of the wedding (and yes it was my favourite before i saw the film 27 dresses in case anyone was wondering) I love the sheer happiness and love conveyed in just one look...
Much to my dismay, he remained resolutely front-facing. The only time i thought i saw him take a peek, none of the cameras were zoomed in enough to get a proper look. (although during the ceremony he did look at her in a way that made me post an 'omg he loves her soooooooo much' FB comment so that sort of compensated. Only just. But seriously..he really does!

My Royal Wedding Coverage was laced with a few wisecracks, the first being the disappointment that there were no songs-of-praise-type wording on the screen during the hymns for us to sing along with. Missed a trick there BBC!
The second, was the opening line.. "dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of god.." (you know he just wanted to add the byline..."and the presence of about a billion people all gawping at the lovely couple..and in particular a dress.."

Notice at the part which people can say they object to the wedding, you normally get a kind of nervous/relieved ripple of laughter once the moment has passed..not in the Abbey!! i bet people stopped breathing just in case! I did wonder how close Mrs Beckham is to birth, imagine interrupting the wedding of the century to go into labour! yikes! Bit gutted Elton and David didn't bring their bambino along either..supposed its quite disruptive to have children at a service. Although come to mention it, the pageboys and bridesmaids did a good job not making involuntary noises like children generally do when they are required to be silent.

The horse and carriage ride, topped of the ceremony, bet it was the best thing ever for all of those loonies who have been camped out for days although i know from the news a lot of them didnt really see much! shame!

The icing on the cake for me, has got to be the balcony. Firstly, i hope they had a little smooch before the public show..once they got indoors and had a little alone time - how annoying must it have been not to be able to kiss the person you love because of all the bloody people watching.

I love the fact that she was totally wowed by the crowds, again a little nod to her normality which i believe she will hang onto and will continue to charm the world for as long as she is in the public eye (hopefully forever!)

The kiss, agree the first one was too short, but loved the sneaky second one and the blushing Prince just upped the 'cute' factor even more. TI also love the photographs that captured the moment, with the little bridesmaid turning to peek with an overwhelming smile on her face, demonstrating how they have spread a whole lot of love and happiness to everyone watching their journey.

You can't comment on the wedding without turning a thought to Princess Diana, and you can't help but think that she would be loving the whole thing. Kate is just the kind of person you would imagine Diana getting along with, the new 'people's princess' i think is a sure thing. Perhaps Kate's similarities to Diana in her persona and the way she carries herself, is in fact something which attracted William in the first place, who knows. It is sad that she isn't here to see what wonderful children she has, and how happy her eldest son is in his life choice, but someone did say that at the point Kate reached the altar and the sun came out...that Diana was shining down her approval for all to see. Which is kind of sweet!

They are so in love, they are so normal (as normal as people so in the public eye can be) and they seem just so, grateful and humble and respectful and i just cannot see how anyone could dislike them, supporters of the Royal family or not. The couple, a breath of fresh air and a modern twist entwined with age old traditions and ceremonies, and such a wonderful balance. The wedding has managed to include the world without making it impersonal. It represented the couple and their characters, without ignoring the need for certain aspects of requirement and the importance of including the British public in celebrating something so extraordinary.

And whatever anyone says, it IS history in the making. He is our future king and seeing him make such a fabulous choice in a life partner is a fantastic way to encourage the people's faith in him in the future. Living through something monumental like that, is not something you can ignore. Brits make British history what it is, and you can't get away from that.

I am proud to admit, i thoroughly enjoyed the wedding, and look forward to following the couple's journey in the future.

Congratulations Will and Kate!!