By Maureen Young
Apologies for the rather lack lustre image quality of the collage above, I’m afraid a hand held digital camera isn’t sterling quality! Last week Infused Studios’ Facebook, Twitter and blog were all abuzz with the Royal Wedding and for those who didn’t get the exclusive coverage on Facebook, this is a curated collection of images that I felt best reflected the atmosphere, the love story and the pomp and circumstance the British are so well known for.Â
After 6 hours on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace, having climbed over fences and gone through gates (all while wearing a pencil skirt!), being there for the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge’s first public kiss was incredibly heart warming because, like all newlyweds, they faced a crowd shouting for a kiss, albeit their crowd was a fair bit larger than the average wedding!
Things I loved about the Royal Wedding:
- It was an absolute expression of the bride & groom; Kate + Will were actively involved in the decor, flowers etc
- Individual components had a lot of meaning; Kate’s dress was embroidered with the national flowers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- It suited the venue and occasion. I (and I’m incredibly sad to admit this) saw some of The Big Fat Gypsy Royal Wedding where the gown was too large to go down the aisle. Similarly, with a venue the size and height of Westminster, trees were appropriate
- The heritage; the engagement ring was a family heirloom, the wedding band made of Welsh gold as all Royal wedding bands in the past were. The car taking Kate to Westminster was the one used by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall on their wedding day & the carriage taking Kate + Will to Buckingham Palace was used by Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Kate & Pippa’s earrings were commissioned by their mum, Kate’s incorporating design elements from her newly minted crest.
- She managed to keep The Dress a secret. Love it when the groom and guests are all equally wowed when a bride enters the venue
Ideas that inspired me:
- Peronalised favours. Granted these were made by companies looking to cash in on the Royal Wedding, but there are some fantastic ideas for wedding favours; mugs, flags, plates, playing cards….
- Have multiple parties. Yes, cost is a major consideration but not all parties need to be created equal. For destination couples especially, a low key celebration back home means the world to family & friends who couldn’t make it. It gives greater opportunity to be inclusive with the guest list.
- Incorporate your history. There is something especially magical about including elements that belong to family members, or your personal history
- a DIY scrapbook with a sense of humour, ref Kate Middleton for the Win.
- Having a photobooth? Include fascinators as part of the fancy dress items for guests to enjoy.
Did you watch the Royal Wedding? What are your favourite moments, ideas and inspiration?
xo
Maureen
PS – thanks to everyone who Liked the Royal Wedding album! Your encouragement meant I got to take part in one of the biggest love stories of this decade – being on The Mall last Friday was incredible! Check out http://www.facebook.com/infusedstudios for a video I took of the second kiss (the first one did happen super quick!)