now my impression of the wedding, which I saw on television saturdaymorning:
First of all, the old city/fortress of Naarden (a fortress which was build after the Duke of Alva, henchman of Phillips II of Spain, slaughtered all the inhabitants of Naarden by ordering everybody to go into church. When everybody was inside he put the church on fire) is a beautiful setting for a minor dutch royal wedding as this. The narrow streets and the houses and the church make it all seem very dutch and pittoresque. I visited Naarden in June, and I got the same impression then.
The churchservice was the best one I can remember of any (dutch) royal wedding, this is the first vicar (Anne van der Meijden) which kept me consentrated through the entire service. I liked his voice, his jokes and especially his sermon. I wish the Queen would use him more often instead of C. ter Linden, who I find a bit boring, and whoe accent is annoying.
The music was delightfull, the Hallelujah sung by the Czech choir was impressive and I prefer this Ave Maria over the more famous one (Laurentien and Aimee were emotional during this song). The music the birde and groom used to enter the church was, I believe, Handels 'Arrival of the Prince of Denmark', also used by the late princess of Wales and 'exitting' music for Marilene and Maurits. I would have preferred it if the bride was given away by her father though. The only thing I missed (or cannot recall) was a piece by Bach, as the church in Naarden is used annually for THE Mattheus Passion (there is a waiting list and the tickets are sold for monstrous prices) it would have been appropriate.
---
The bride looked unaffected, at first the dress reminded me of a catholic girl going to her first communion but later on I appreciated the dress, it looked very good on her slender figure, especially her waist was accentuated. The only thing she could have changed was the hair over her forehead.
The queen looked better on pictures then I can remember on television, I guess the outfit was ok.
Irene looked strange in (velvet?) trousers, and I did not like her hat either.
Christina just doesn't know how to dress, and never did. My 91-yo great-aunt comented again: 'Why doesn't anybody help the poor girl'.
Margriet and Eleonoor Sohngen were the best dressed ladies again! As mothers of the bride and groom I wouldn't expect anything less from them.
I was a bit shocked when I saw Marilene, the worst thing she ever wore. The coat was way to long and not flattering for her figure (she looked like a broom). The hat made her face look tired and old.
Annette looked great again, though she could have worn a hat. Anita's hat was very nice, as was the neckline of her coat, but in overall the outfit was to heavy for her.
Maxima seemed to take fashionadvice of Anita, I think the outfit was designed by the same designer as Anita's outfit for her civil wedding. The embroidery near the neckline seemed the same. On television Maxima looked great, one of the most 'royal' guests. The turban was funny and for once her hair was in order.
Laurentiens outfit was a bit heavy on the hips, the hat was weird.
Mabel reminded me of the bellboy of the Martini commercial who is listening to the parrot saying 'ouh baby, yeah baby etc'. As I like th commercial I had a good laugh about the outfit. I think the problem was that there were to many excentricities and styles in one outfit. A) a short skirt, B) the wideness of the dress reminded me of the 20-ties C) the pillbox seemed like a bellboy's hat. D) the colour of the fabric was shiny. It would have been better to select one excentricity instead of so many.
Margarita looked nice for a change, her sister Maria-Carolina dressed a bit old for her age, especially the necklace would be something older women would wear. Juliana Guillermo looked great, though a hat wouldn't hurt.
Final remark: I think it was the first wedding that the ENTIRE royal family was present, all the sisters, children and children-in-law, which was very nice.
..
