Wedding of William & Catherine: Reflections on the Royal Wedding

[olebabs]

It was a lovely wedding, but perhaps a bit too solemn. I missed that we did noy hear any speaches. I know they are British, but it lacked a little emotion.
I loved her dress and her fathers proud lokk on his face :-)

[PrincessKaimi]

We watched a different camera feed last night (on Reelz), not the BBC feed. It was great to get a different perspective and I hope they show it again. For one thing, there was a shot from a low angle of Kate coming out of the Abbey and I could finally see the lace on the lower part of her skirt really well.

There was also more of a focus on the people who were in the front row of the main aisle, saw many dresses and outfits I had not seen before and felt I got a much better view of the fashion of the whole event (as opposed to Elton John so many times - he was still featured, but maybe only one or two shots). The up close pictures of the bride and groom singing the hymn were so sweet.

I thought there was so much emotion there, some people looked choked up at trying to sing the hymn and at other points in the service too. We teared up again at the solemn reading by Kate's brother. We believe that this was a very moving and emotional ceremony and that people's faces really reflected that. Kate looked so relieved, really, when it was over and in the Reelz version of the wedding, you can see them chatting happily once in their coach.

Pippa did such a good job managing that train - and so unobtrusively. Maybe the BBC feed had the same shot (from above) of Pippa arranging the train at the altar, but I was just too caught up in the moment to notice. Anyway, that has to be my sixth or seventh viewing of the wedding.

[Maria527]

I LOVED the way Catherine calmly got out of the car then took the time to smile and wave to the crowds on one side, then then other side; then as she walked forward with her father she looked over her shoulder and waved one more time.

I also noticed after the balcony kiss when they headed back into the palace she looked back over her shoulder and smiled.

I just think that is so cute of her. She is always aware of the cameras and always smiling for them. I don't think she can take a bad photo. She is extremely photogenic.

[Maria527]

Originally Posted by Maura724

I don't know why so many people are upset about Pippa's white dress. The reason you aren't supposed to wear white to a wedding is so you don't upstage the bride. However, the bride always either chooses or approves the bridesmaids' dresses, so Kate obviously wanted her sister in white. If Kate didn't care and didn't feel she would be upstaged, then why does it matter to other people?

I thought the dress was lovely and appropriate too.

But speaking of upstaging...

I wasn't sure where to ask this, but when Pippa gets married do you all think she will ask Catherine to be her Matron of Honor? I just wondered how it would be looked upon. Would it be appropriate? Would Kate be focused on more than the bride in this case?

Just pondering....

[IloveCP]

Now that the wedding is over,let the baby rumors begin!

[HRHduchesskate]

Originally Posted by IloveCP

Now that the wedding is over,let the baby rumors begin!

I believe they already have. Apparently if Kate is not pregnant in nine years she will be breaking a two hundred year old tradition, Not sure if this is true!

[MRSJ]

Originally Posted by HRHduchesskate

I believe they already have. Apparently if Kate is not pregnant in nine years she will be breaking a two hundred year old tradition, Not sure if this is true!

Nine months, not years

[MARG]

I loved the way Pippa suddenly appeared at the car when Catherine arrived and told her she looked beautiful. Pippa looked stunning too and I thought "how many brides would have the supreme confidence to dress their bridesmaid in an absolutely knockout white dress". Not that it detracted from the bride for one moment but I thought the obvious love between the sisters overwhelmed any other consideration.

I was misty eyed as Pippa took the hands of two sweet little flower girls instead of carrying a bouquet. Yet another new and touching approach to "The Bridal Party". I loved the old fashioned way her father walked her up and down the aisle by hand rather than arm in arm. It was like she was being handled like something precious. When he lifted her veil he had such a tender look on his face.

The music was a triumph and the glorious old 1662 service (sans "obey") deeply moving. So much so that when William and Catherine were taking their vows the atmosphere was one of such close intimacy, it almost seemed like a small family wedding. The world just faded away.

Catherine's curtsy to HM was beautifully executed and the smile on HM's face said it all. When William walked her back down the aisle, again by the hand it was very romantic and very touching.

[miamifla]

Originally Posted by PrincessKaimi

Thank you for starting a thread up about the "wedding in general," and from a positive perspective. There's been so much talk about titles, tiaras and dresses, surely there needs to be a thread about the wedding in general

Some of my impressions may need to be corrected, but here they are:

The female guests really got into the notion of hats and fascinators (I do not remember quite so many at the last two Royal Weddings I watched). It was amazing to see, and quite entertaining. There was one lady, in her sixties I'd say, in all purple who looked quite stunning. I wish I knew she was. (And not to be too much off topic, but I didn't enjoy the woman in the purple wide brimmed conical hat with the red dress). Most people showed respect or reserve in their choice of headgear - or creativity. I was disappointed in the prime minister's wife.

The chorale music and orchestral music was amazing. What a treasure this is for England, everyone must be so proud. The choirs (combined from two places as I understand it) were amazing and so well-rehearsed. The orchestra was so good, one forgot it was a live performance. The one mistake by the trumpeter as HM entered was not commented upon by the BBC commentators - which was nice, no need to cause a trumpeter to feel badly on television.

The service itself was moving, religious and I believe the young couple really paid attention and felt it. They were getting married, and Prince William looked very much as if he felt the responsibility and the awe of the long linkage such an act is supposed to make. The bride can't seem to look at him in any way except with adoration. That was lovely to see.

Her Majesty, the Queen, looked lovely, although a bit tired and Prince Phillip was nothing short of amazing, in his handsomeness (for such an elderly man). Such bearing.

I enjoyed watching Prince Harry walk up the aisle, with his slightly bandy-legged, almost goofy walk - he is not a charmer, but he is so dear and natural, and a perfect companion to his more self-possessed elder brother.

All those camera views (from BBC, anyway) were amazing, and we felt like we really there. It was very moving, open and elegant. The trees were a great touch. On the whole, it was the greatest ritual of recent memory, and I think we all needed it.

Thank you, Great Britain and Commonwealth, for making this possible.

Except for one, and to me it was one of the more magical moments of the day, which was forever missed by the BBC, and that was when The Duke of Cambridge laid eyes, 1st time on his soon to be bride. They had a faraway shot on that one, and I could have killed the director for missing the closeup on that moment. It would have been so very special to see.

[Mia_mae]

Originally Posted by miamifla

Except for one, and to me it was one of the more magical moments of the day, which was forever missed by the BBC, and that was when The Duke of Cambridge laid eyes, 1st time on his soon to be bride. They had a faraway shot on that one, and I could have killed the director for missing the closeup on that moment. It would have been so very special to see.

YES! Why did he/she/they did that??
I wanted to see THE encounter, but the person operation the whole thing thought that zooming out would be better.!
But, the way the music was perfectly played when she reached the altar! Almost movie-like.
Maybe they will released a DVD of the wedding with different angles and shoots! I can't get enough of it!

[Mia_mae]

Originally Posted by MRSJ

Nine months, not years

Nine YEARS
they already waited a long time to get married, let's hope they don't do the same with starting a family.

[miamifla]

Lots and lots of great moments in the service, but the one that shone out of all was Prince Harry's cheeky look at Kate, and then turning to his brother and smiling and saying, "Wait til you see her"......that was amazing.

[miamifla]

Originally Posted by Mia_mae

YES! Why did he/she/they did that??
I wanted to see THE encounter, but the person operation the whole thing thought that zooming out would be better.!
But, the way the music was perfectly played when she reached the altar! Almost movie-like.
Maybe they will released a DVD of the wedding with different angles and shoots! I can't get enough of it!

We can only hope, but I suspect that the BBC had all the exclusive copywrite to everything and unless some rouge guest had their phone cam out and shot the "Duke meets bride" moment, we'll never see it, ever. What a shame.

[IloveCP]

The wedding was beautiful but Im not a fan of british royal weddings.Other royal weddings show emotion and love but when it comes to the british no emotion is allowed.I was hoping Will and Kate would break this rule but I was disappointed.

[angieuk]

Royal Wedding 2011: Does Kate Middleton score higher in the style stakes? | Mail Online

[Skippy]

Originally Posted by IloveCP

The wedding was beautiful but Im not a fan of british royal weddings.Other royal weddings show emotion and love but when it comes to the british no emotion is allowed.I was hoping Will and Kate would break this rule but I was disappointed.

It is not a case of not allowed, the British simply do not show their affection in public like others do. They have their own, more subtle way of letting their emotions out.
So yes, if you expect a big "showy" display then you are bound to be disappointed - IMO.

[MRSJ]

Originally Posted by angieuk

Royal Wedding 2011: Does Kate Middleton score higher in the style stakes? | Mail Online

Article is wrong about Sarah's tiara- Queen did not lend it to her, the Queen bought it for her as a wedding gift-

[grevinnan]

Originally Posted by IloveCP

The wedding was beautiful but Im not a fan of british royal weddings.Other royal weddings show emotion and love but when it comes to the british no emotion is allowed.I was hoping Will and Kate would break this rule but I was disappointed.

Any service, including the wedding service, in the Church of England (and the US Episcopelian high church) is a somber ceremony. But there certainly were not any lack of emotion. Both the bride and groom showed love and emotions throughout the ceremony.

A beautiful wedding that suited the couple perfectly.

[katherine2001]

Originally Posted by miamifla

Except for one, and to me it was one of the more magical moments of the day, which was forever missed by the BBC, and that was when The Duke of Cambridge laid eyes, 1st time on his soon to be bride. They had a faraway shot on that one, and I could have killed the director for missing the closeup on that moment. It would have been so very special to see.

Personally, I am glad that they have that moment to themselves and that the whole world didn't get to see that moment. That will be their little moment for them to remember for the rest of their lives.

[katherine2001]

Originally Posted by grevinnan

Any service, including the wedding service, in the Church of England (and the US Episcopelian high church) is a somber ceremony. But there certainly were not any lack of emotion. Both the bride and groom showed love and emotions throughout the ceremony.

A beautiful wedding that suited the couple perfectly.

I agree. Both of them are very private people, and I think that they were saying a lot to each other when they looked at each other. There are a lot of ways of showing your love and emotions for each other without a word being spoken. I could tell that each of them meant every word of their vows, even if they weren't wearing their hearts on their sleeves for everyone to see.