(Photo Credit: Mario Testino)
We can’t get enough of this beautiful couple! Today is April 29, 2012 which means that one year ago today at Westminster Abbey, Catherine Middleton married Prince William in a splendid royal ceremony officially making them the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. While Kate Middleton is often regarded for her impeccable taste in fashion, we love them more for their romantic love story spanning over 11 years! In Honor of Price William and Kate’s one year wedding anniversary mark, we’ve decided to take a look back at the most famous wedding of the century (that’s right Kim Kardashian, you heard us!)
Take a walk down royal memory lane with us!
The Royal Ring
(Photo Credit: Mario Testino)
After much speculation, Clarence House (the official royal office of the couple) announced the engagement of Prince William to Catherine Middleton on November 16th, 2010. The prince popped the question that October 2010 during a holiday in Kenya. The ring ,of course, was dazzling: an 18-carat diamond and sapphire ring from his late mother, Princess Diana’s, jewelry collection.
The Royal Venue
(Photo Credit: Toby Melville/Reuters)
The couple wed at Westminster Abbey, the official location of royal weddings since 1066 including, Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) to the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947. For the ceremony, an avenue of 20-foot tall trees, six field maple and two hornbeams, arranged on either side of the main aisle were arranged. Flowers for the wedding cost an estimated 512,814 GBP (that’s about $830,087 US!!). We could plan a star studded Weddingmoon® with just the royal flower budget alone!
The Royal Bride
(Photo Credit: AP Photo)
The bride’s dress was designed by London-based designer Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen. Her stunning gown was made of satin and featured a lace applique bodice and skirt. Kate’s veil was held in place by her “something borrowed” which was a Cartier Scroll Tiara, made in 1936 and lent to her by her grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth. In order to avoid her tiara falling off, Kate’s stylists “backcombed” the top of her hair to create a foundation for the tiara to sit around, then did a tiny plait in the middle and sewed it on.
The bride’s “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue” were her gown , which had the traditional Carrickmacross lace appointments (the old), diamond earrings given by her parents (the new), Queen Elizabeth’s tiara (the borrowed), and a blue ribbon sewn into the bodice (the blue). Her shoes were also from the late (and great might we add) Alexander McQueen, and had a lace pattern matching the dress with appliques made by the Royal School of Needlework. The bride’s shield-shaped wired bouquet was made of Myrtle, Lily of the Valley, Sweet William and Hyacinth.
(Photo Credit: AP Photo/ Martin Meissner)
Staying true to the down-to-earth girl she is, Middleton did her own makeup for the occasion. The look was described as a “soft smokey eye” with pink lips and cheeks.
The Royal Groom
(Photo Credit: AP Photo)
The dapper prince was dressed in a traditional Irish Guards Mounted Officer’s uniform in Guard of Honor Order with a forage cap. As a Knight of the Order of the Garter, he wore the order’s blue riband, to which were affixed his RAF wings and Golden Jubilee Medal (Fan-cy!). The uniform was made and fitted by Kashket and Partners. He did not wear the sword traditionally worn with the outfit.
The Royal Wedding
(Photo Credit: Flickr)
The service began with the procession of the Queen, Prince Philip and the clergy.
Then came the bride!
Kate Middleton arrived with her maid of honor, her sister Pipa Middleton and junior attendants. As the choir sang an anthem by Sir Hubert Parry, the bride made her three-and-a-half minute procession through the nave and choir on her father’s arm, to meet Prince William. The service was, as expected, very formal. In their marriage vows, they promised to “love, comfort, honor and keep” each other and the vows were sealed by the exchange of a single ring made from welsh gold. On leaving Westminster Abbey, to the pealing of bells, they passed through a guard of honor, and were greeted by cheers from the crowds. The couple entered a 1902 State Landau (carriage) drawn by four white horses with postilions and attendant footmen, and were guarded by a mounted escort of the Life Guard; literally a fairytale wedding!
The Royal Kiss
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
As is tradition, the couple made their official appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to a “flypast” and to the cheers of the millions of spectators, kissed for the first time as man and wife.
The Royal Reception
(Photo credit: AP Photo)
In the evening, the groom’s father; The Prince of Wales held a private reception, at Buckingham Palace for the couple and their close friends and family. Both Will and Kate slipped into something more comfortable for their reception. Kate’s second gown was also an Alexander McQueen original. Might we add, we L-O-V-E the idea of a reception dress after your formal vows! Singer-songwriter, Ellie Goulding performed at the event, singing her rendition of “Your Song” for the couple’s first dance. The event ended at 3 a.m., with a small fireworks display on palace grounds.
The Royal Cake
(Photo Credit: AP Photo)
What’s a wedding reception without a cake right? The wedding cake was an eight-tiered, traditional fruit cake decorated with cream and white icing and nine hundred (that’s 900!!) sugar paste flowers, designed by British luxury baker Fiona Cairns. There was even room for a “W and K” crest nestled in the middle. Additionally, popular British brand McVitie’s created a “groom’s cake” of chocolate biscuit made from a Royal Family recipe that was specially requested by Prince William.
The Royal Honeymoon
(Photo Credit: AP Photo)
The couple decided to honeymoon for 10 days in a secluded villa on a private island in the Republic of Seychelles.; an island country off Africa. The location of the honeymoon was such a well-kept secret that not even Kate knew up until they were scheduled to leave. While the wedding was estimated at over 20 million pounds, the honeymoon budget was scaled back; only $720,000!
The Royals: One Year Later
The couple settled into their marital home in November of 2011; an apartment at Kensington Palace in London and adopted a black cocker spaniel puppy named Lupo. It seems they’ve settled into their first year of marriage quite nicely and are enjoying their honeymoon period; every new couples dream. Happy One Year Anniversary Will and Kate!!