An Abbey Wedding: May 2011

Ok, so it wasn't a wedding at The Abbey Resort....but it was at Westminster Abbey, so close enough, right?

I think all the upcoming brides must have watched the festivities on Friday. Wow, those Brits set the bar high, don't they? Starting with the bride....

I can't imagine a more perfect dress for Kate. It suited her perfectly - both modern and timeless - and will be copied for years! I also loved her simple white bouquet. There was NOTHING in this wedding that took your attention away from her, and that's what every bride wants.

As one who facilitates weddings, there were a few things that struck me as different on the opposite side of the pond. One was that the bridal party was so young - mostly flower girls and "pages" - and also that they followed the bride down the aisle, as opposed to preceding her entrance as is common here in the States.

I heard that Kate did her own make-up for the wedding and I think she did an AMAZING job! She looked so beautiful and yet natural, didn't she?

One thing that everyone kept saying during the coverage on Friday morning was how "relaxed" everyone seemed and that is soooo refreshing. I really hope all the 2011 brides here are this relaxed. It showed on her face, didn't it?

As much as I loved Kate's dress and thought it was 100% appropriate for her role as future Queen of England, the dress I think I will see more of here in the States is her sister, Pippa's. She looked gorgeous, as well. I also think we might see more all-white weddings. It was such a clean, simple look.

Another trend I think might come out of this is hats - not for the bride, a la 1981, but for wedding guests. What a fun way to accessorize and really make a statement. We saw hats at a wedding last summer, but I really hope to see more of them coming up.

Although this one might make visibility a challenge...