Catherine Middletons Wedding Dress designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen

Miss Catherine Middleton’s Wedding Dress was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen.  Kate and the dress are both gorgeous.

Beautiful English Cluny and French Chantilly lace ardorn the upper bodice and long sleeves,  the close fiting bodice features a deep V neck, the full box pleated skirt is made of ivory satin.  Wow factor - the train which is over two meters long.   The lace incorporates the rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock.

"  The dress is made with ivory and white satin gazar.  The skirt echoes an opening flower, with white satin gazar arches and pleats.  The ivory satin bodice, which is narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, draws on the Victorian tradition of corsetry and is a hallmark of Alexander McQueen’s designs.  The back is finished with 58 gazar and organza covered buttons fastened by Rouleau loops.  The underskirt is made of silk tulle trimmed with Cluny lace. "

Catherines is wearing for a minimum jewellry - The Cartier ‘halo’ tiara,  sapphire and diamond stylised oak leaf earings with a pear shaped diamond set drop with a pavé set diamond acorn suspended in the centre. Kate is carrying a simple shield shape cream bouquet which includes myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, sweet William and hyacinth. Her hair is half up and half down.

Miss Philippa Middleton’s  - Chief Bridesmaid,  short sleeved full length bridesmaid dress " was also designed  by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen.  It is of a heavy, ivory satin-based crepe, with a cowl front and with the same button detail and lace trims as the Bride’s dress".  

The younger bridesmaids dresses (4) were designed by childrenswear designer Nicki Macfarlane and are ballerina length, ball gown style with box pleated skirts in white satin gazar  with ivory overlays.

Wonder if many brides will now be damending trees in the aisles on their wedding day.





Source - The Official Royal Wedding Blog

Alexandrer McQueen


The Royal Wedding Live Feed

Bouquet.

Bouquet - an arrangement of flowers carried at a ceremony.

After the reception the bride throws her bouquet back over her shoulder where the unmarried female guests and bridesmaids group together. Tradition holds that the one who catches the bouquet will be the next one of those present to marry.
A parallel custom is for the groom to remove the garter worn by the bride and throw it back over his shoulder toward the unmarried male guests. Again the one who catches it will be the next to marry.

Photo Credit:
Image: Sharron Goodyear / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Confetti or sweets.....I know which I would rather have...

Confetti, Candy, Cakes and Sweets

Confetti is Italian for sweets which in Italy are thrown over the couple as they emerge from the Church in that same way we use paper confetti. Raisins and nuts may also be used.

Before the use of paper confetti the married couple were showered with flowers, petals, rice or grains. This was to bestow prosperity and fertility on the couple.

Winter wedding flowers

It is traditional in winter for the brides bouquet to consist of evergreens and berries. But many bridal flowers are available year round - but some are even winter blooms, but which are suitable winter wedding flowers ?

Flowers for a Winter Wedding

There are some great tips and help with winter wedding flowers in this article.  Their advice about the bouquet, buttonholes and even the wedding reception venue is very welcome .  I really liked that they also list what flowers should be available for November to February brides.  Much nicer than looking in a book only to find that the florist can't get them.  However, your flowers should keep better, in the cold.

Thanks to Arena Flowers who are based in London, W3
for guiding us in the right direction.