The Biggest Lessons from the Royal Wedding

Now that Prince William and Kate Middleton have said their “I do’s,” there’s no more mystery about what dress she’ll wear, who will (or won’t) attend, and what the ladies will have on their heads. We may have tuned in at 4 a.m. to find out the answers to these questions and more, but what aspects of the royal nuptials will we actually remember 30 years from now? Here two bridal experts share their biggest takeaways from the wedding of the century. WHAT WAS A SURPISE? White Bridesmaid Dress According to Anne Chertoff, a contributing editor for WeddingWire, the biggest surprise was the maid of honor, Pippa Middleton, dressed in ivory, a hue that’s typically reserved for the bride only. But Kate made a strong sisterly statement by having her sibling’s gown match her own, says Sally Kilbridge, deputy editor for Brides magazine. “They looked very much a team, and that was lovely.” ‘Just Married’ Car You can also file the picture of the newlyweds driving themselves away from Buckingham Palace in Prince Charles’ Aston Martin (rather than the traditional horse-drawn carriage) under shocking - in a good way, Kilbridge adds. “We loved seeing the young prince in such a happy, understandable role - what guy doesn’t love a cool car?” Fun First Dance In another modern twist, the couple took to the floor at their evening reception for an energetic dance routine to “You’re the One That I Want” from the movie “Grease.” “I love the fact that these two people who commanded the world’s attention devoted time to being goofballs,” Kilbridge says. WHAT WAS A MISTAKE? DIY Makeup Kate decided to do her own makeup and took private lessons to get it right, but Chertoff feels the result made the bride look much older than she is. “The money she spent on the classes could have been put toward a professional makeup artist instead.” A Bantam Bouquet Chertoff also thought that Kate’s bouquet and the blooms within it were too small for her bridal ensemble and the grandeur of the wedding venue. “It looked more like a tossing or bridesmaid bouquet.” Bumper Balloons Another misstep? The Mylar balloons and ribbons Prince Harry tied to the bumper of the getaway car, Kilbridge says. “They didn’t exactly scream ‘wedding of the century.’ We loved the “JU5T WED” license plate, but the rest of it? The royal family clearly needs to work on their car decorating skills.” Snubbing Sarah In Kilbridge’s opinion, yet another mistake, or maybe just a questionable judgment call, was not inviting Sarah Ferguson to the wedding. “She and her ex get along well and it would have been heartening to see the royals bury the hatchet for a day,” Kilbridge says. “Instead, Fergie hid out in Thailand, and [her daughter] Beatrice got even by wearing a beige picture frame on her head.” WHAT WAS ICONIC? Kate’s Look According to Kilbridge, Kate’s entire look was iconic: “The classic dress (so un-trendy, it was hard to believe it came from the House of McQueen), the simple veil, the small white bouquet - she could have been the model for the bride on top of the wedding cake.” The Royal Cake Speaking of cake, Chertoff thinks the couple’s towering white tiers will make for a truly memorable (and soon to be frequently imitated) moment thanks to the formal style and beautiful piped scrollwork. The Tone That said, both experts agree that the tone of the wedding as a whole was iconic. Brides for generations will reference Kate and William’s wedding if they want a very formal, regal feel, Chertoff says. And Kilbridge adds, “The prayers, hymns, and readings, the proud father walking his daughter up the aisle, the adorable-but-nervous children, the groom whispering to his bride, the brief struggle to fit the ring on her finger - you couldn’t produce a more iconic Big Church Wedding if you tried.” WHAT WAS REFRESHING? A Formal Affair As counterintuitive as it may seem, Chertoff found the celebration’s formality refreshing. “So many couples have been going the rustic, DIY route for the past few years,” she says, noting that she thinks more couples will now start opting for formal details such as a modest wedding dress and engraved invitations. She was also a fan of the format: daytime “I do’s” with guests sporting elegant, colorful dress suits, followed by a formal luncheon, then a break in the day during which the couple can have a moment alone together, and, finally, a fun evening party. Family First Kilbridge liked that family and friends came first. “The vast majority of guests were people we’d never heard of, and that made it seem much more like a family wedding than a gathering of international heavyweights.” She also appreciated the ceremony prayer written by the bride and groom. “It sounded sincere and personal, particularly the hope that they keep their ‘eyes fixed on what is real and important in life,’” Kilbridge says. “It’s probably an issue they’re already coping with, and including it in a public prayer was a sweet, humble moment. You don’t see many of those at royal weddings.” WHAT CAN TODAY’S COUPLES REPLICATE? Meaningful Arrangements It isn’t necessary to spend a fortune on fancy flowers to fill your bouquet with meaning. As Kilbridge explains, Kate chose lily of the valley (which means trustworthy), hyacinth (play), ivy (fidelity), myrtle (love/marriage - Kate’s stems were plucked from a bush planted by Queen Victoria), and Sweet William (awww!). Be Eco-Conscious It’s also nice to know that it isn’t difficult to be both elegant and eco-friendly. “The couple, possibly inspired by the groom’s father, who is a well-known environmentalist, insisted on using seasonal, locally grown flowers,” says Chertoff. “In addition, the arrangements were to be donated to various charities, and the trees that lined the abbey aisle were replanted at one of Prince Charles’ estates.” Ease into the Honeymoon Finally, when all is said and done, consider following in the savvy footsteps of the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and don’t immediately jet off for the honeymoon. “Open presents, drop the dress at the dry cleaners, and get your luggage in order,” says Kilbridge. “After a week or two of civilian life you’ll be rested enough to actually enjoy yourselves on that tropical beach, rather than just sleep away the first few days.”