The Allure Of The Royal Wedding

April 29, 2011 is a date that goes down in history. Unless you have been living under a rock, you will know this was the date of the "Royal Wedding," the union of Prince William to Miss Catherine Kate Middleton. As the future King and Queen of Britain, all eyes and ears were glued to this royal affair.

So what is the allure of the Royal Wedding? Perhaps it is the longstanding history of England or the mere fact that security for this event alone had a price tag of $35 million dollars or the glamour of Britain's next reigning couple (who have been dubbed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge by Her Majesty the Queen on the morning of the wedding.)

As the first-born son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and the late, beloved Princess Diana, Prince William is the second in line of succession to the throne. It is only natural, human curiosity that the world was eager to know exclusive details about the royal wedding- and the royal bride.

Fairy Tale Wedding

Every little girl dreams of growing up and marrying a Prince Charming. For Kate Middleton, that dream is a reality. The mystery of the details surrounding her wedding gown, her bridesmaid dresses, and what the royal wedding cake would look like had the world buzzing with excitement- perhaps because, through the soon-to-be Princess Kate, we are all permitted to live out our fantasies of being a commoner marrying into royalty.

A Wedding For The Whole World

Nearly anyone who was alive in 1981 remembers the infamous wedding of Prince Charles to Princess Diana. Now, twenty years later, the world eagerly watches as their first-born son embarks on his own marriage. Unlike his parents marriage before his, Prince William's wedding is the first royal wedding to take place in the "Digital Age." In an era when all forms of multimedia are right at our fingertips, it is only natural that William and Kate's wedding would be receiving so much news coverage. The wedding is an event that goes even beyond them; it is an excuse for the UK's embassies, high commissions and consulates in the Commonwealth and around the world to plan a vast array of activities in order to celebrate the Royal Wedding. It is also a great opportunity to explain why modern Britain is such an open, connected, creative, and dynamic country.

Many countries around the world joined in with the celebration, including street parties, receptions, live screenings to web chats, quizzes and competitions. The Foreign Office even has shown support for the official Royal Wedding coverage through its website and social media channels, such asTwitter and Facebook. This enables people all over the world to post well wishes for the couple, a form of interaction that was just not available in the past.

British Pride

From the floral arrangements to the music that William and Kate selected, everything about the Royal Wedding was distinctly British. William and Kate chose to use all indigenous flowers, cut directly from estates, giving their reception a romantic, natural feel. The couple also put a considerable amount of thought into selecting the music, with choices that blended traditional British music with newly commissioned pieces. Two choirs, one orchestra and two fanfare teams performed the music at the initial wedding service.

The royal ceremony began with the hymn "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer", a subtle tribute to the groom's late mother, as it was also played at Princess Diana's funeral. The Ceremony, Reception and Beyond

As the world eagerly counted down the minutes to this regal union, bits and pieces of the mystery surrounding the wedding unfolded as nearly 2,000 guests arrived at Westminster Abbey. The wedding party consisted of Kate's younger sister, Pippa, who served as Maid of Honor, Prince Harry, Best Man, 3 year-old Grace Van Cutsem, 8 year-old Margarita Armstrong-Jones, 7 year-old Lady Louise Windsor, and 3 year-old Eliza Lopes (all bridesmaids); as well as 8 year-old Tom Pettifer and 10 year-old William Lowther-Pinkerton as page boys. All of the bridesmaids looked stunning in matching white gowns and floral wreaths. The Maid of Honor wore a simple, but elegant white gown with a plunging neckline.

Prince William wore a regal red military uniform (as Colonel of the Irish Arms). The bride wore an intricate gown with lace sleeves, a plunging neckline, and a two meter train, designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director at the (late) Alexander McQueen's Fashion House. The bride paired the dress with an elegant tiara, which she borrowed from the Queen herself.

The couple exchanged vows comfortably, while the ceremony was officiated by Reverend Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual head of the Anglican denomination.

After the ceremony, the royal couple rode back to Buckingham Palace in the same 1902 State Landau open carriage that Prince William's parents had left their wedding ceremony in two decade earlier. Back at the Palace, the newly-weds exchanged a kiss on the balcony, obliging with a second peck after crowds of onlookers chanted for more.

The wedding cake was an 8 tier cake featuring 900 flowers, ivy leaves and lace work, topped with the newly-weds cipher. The cake was designed by Leicestershire-based cake designer Fiona Cairns and took 5 weeks to put together.

For the private reception hosted by Prince Charles, Kate Middleton changed into a strapless, white satin gazar gown embellished with silver diamante at the waste and featuring a circle skirt. The lovely bride paired the second dress with a cropped angora sweater. Donations can be made to five different charitable organizations in lieu of gifts for the royal pair. Meanwhile, thousands upon thousands of spectators from all over the world pave the streets and tune in via the Internet or television as we continue to celebrate the marriage of Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton, Britain's future King and Queen.

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