The wedding!

[dreamflower]

I didn't start watching at 3AM. I'm not as young as I used to be-- but we DVR'd it, and started watching at breakfast. The taped coverage is still going on, but now they are replaying highlights.

Highlights for me:

-I'm sure I'm not the only person on LJ who's immensely tickled that the bride's hometown is Bucklebury. *grin*

-ADORED the dress. Simple and elegant and manageable.

-Loved how easy the bride and groom were with one another; you could see they were clearly in love.

-The service was amazingly touching. I loved the music and the liturgy and the reading and the sermon. Do you suppose there will be a recording made available of the music?

-TWO kisses!!! *grin*

-When Robin was interviewing two of William's RAF crewmates who'd been to the service, they made a point of saying that their thoughts were with the people affected by the tornados in the US, and the search-and-rescue teams that would be busy there today. It was very touching and sincere.

-*giggle* Reporter Nick Watts taking credit for that second kiss...

Anyway, them's my thoughts on the subject...

Comments

[gayalondiel.livejournal.com]

I don't know if the Westminster Abbey choir have recorded that particular combination but the music was very standard fare to the point of being predictable and they probably have done all the anthems and motets. Countless other choirs will have. And the walton is probably one of the most recorded pieces in Britain.

[dreamflower]

LOL! Probably standard fare to a British Anglican, but very impressive to this American Methodist! Y'all really know how to do pomp properly!

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Wasn't that absolutely lovely and romantic and oh-so-perfectly-fairy-talish? I DVR'd it as well and enjoyed every minute of it.

I wondered if the music would be available on a DVD. If not, I suppose you could hunt it all down on the Internet and make your own DVD piecemeal through iTunes or Amazon. It was such a lovely service, I though.

And yes, TWO kisses!! Woot! *g*

[dreamflower]

It was utterly perfect.

I just loved the music. I am especially fond of boy sopranos in a choir-- they always sound so angelic!

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

Bucklebury, lol. I missed that part. I didn't pay all that close attention. Wasn't really awake when it aired since I had been on nightshift and was up way too early.

[dreamflower]

Yep. Her hometown is Bucklebury. I didn't realize that until they began interviewing guests from her hometown!

[bodkin-ra.livejournal.com]

You might like this -

http://princeofwales.gov.uk/content/documents/RWOP_V2.pdf

if you haven't already seen it.

[dreamflower]

Oooh! THANK you! That's wonderful!

I'm curious about something: it says Catherine's Coat of Arms is taken from her father's. I know that CoAs can be bestowed on commoners as well as nobility, but I was wondering *when* her father received his, since the allusions to the elements in it all seem to be fairly contemporary. Were his arms granted after the betrothal?

[bodkin-ra.livejournal.com]

He got his coat of arms about a fortnight ago or so. Very recent.

[dreamflower]

Ah! OK! The former SCA herald in me was interested-- it's very simple and beautiful-- I'll have to give a go at blazoning it, if I can remember all the terms...

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

The dress was really lovely, I thought!

[dreamflower]

It was absolutely gorgeous! Barbara Walters kept comparing it to the one worn by Princess Grace of Monaco back in the day-- I saw some elements in common (mostly in the bodice and sleeves being lace), but I think that Catherine's had a much more modern polish to it!

[shirebound]

Thanks for sharing! I must have missed the second kiss, but I've been away most of the day. That's the *most* elegant and gorgeous dress. I'm so happy for them, and especially glad that the weather stayed good.

[dreamflower]

Yep. He kissed her twice on the balcony! LOL!

They truly looked so happy and pleased, and not at all nervous! And yes, wonderful that the weather cooperated!

[baranduin.livejournal.com]

I am also totally stoked that the bride comes from Bucklebury though she's awfully thin for a hobbit!

Beautiful beautiful wedding from start to finish. Westminster Abbey never looked so wonderful.

[dreamflower]

I can't think *why* the Master and Mistress of Brandy Hall were not invited! ;-)

The Abbey is so beautiful! And the wedding was perfect.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

It was beautiful and stirring and I loved every moment of it.

[dreamflower]

*nods* I agree! It really was worth seeing!

[ellynn-ithilwen.livejournal.com]

Bucklebury! *lol* I had no idea about it. *giggles*
I love LotR details in real life. :)

[dreamflower]

Yep. They should have invited Merry and Estella!

I love LotR details in real life. :)

Me too! I always get great pleasure from them! I wonder if Catherine is a LotR fan...

[piplover.livejournal.com]

It was a lovely wedding! I DVR'ed it too, so I watched it this morning when I woke up. Her dress was just gorgeous, and two kisses! They both looked very happy and very much in love.

I loved Katherine's expression when she first stepped out on the balcony.

[dreamflower]

It really was a wonderful thing to see! Just gorgeous and solemn and happy at the same time!

I loved the way the two of them seemed so at ease with one another.

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

I watched it live on my computer while I was working. It was just wonderful. I really need a hat now.

[elandulin.livejournal.com]

I loved the trees in the Abbey. One of the things that quite distinguishes all the beautiful old churches in Britain is the stone of which they are made; we don't see much of that here, so it's really breathtaking to an American. It lends an impression of tremendous antiquity and weight to their sacred spaces, but it also tends to draw your eye away from the smaller religious objects, like altars and banners and gilt frames and so forth. When we went to see Westminster I left with an impression that even the banners and plaques and windows don't really make it a "colorful" place (not like St Paul's, which is uniquely full of light and color). The addition of those trees amid all that grey stone was magical--it made it seem sacred in a very ancient, almost primeval way. Quite wonderful.

If anyone is watching Camelot on tv these days (not all that good, but great sets) they have a Great Hall that is an ancient place of stone, with vines and moss and plants growing in and around it; very pagan, in this case, but it gives a marvelous feel of the Elemental, mystical aspects of history as it reaches further and further back.

[dreamflower]

I loved the trees as well. It was a marvelous touch, and a great way to add green and color to the Abbey without having tons and tons of cut flowers-- which probably would have just been swallowed up in all that space anyhow.

[telperion1.livejournal.com]

I only saw about twenty minutes of the wedding, which was showing in my barber shop while I got my hair cut. I too loved the dress - it made me think that it was doable to look beautiful while not looking risque or old-fashioned. She just looked classy if you know what I mean.

Though if my groom showed up in such a garish suit as William's bright colors, I'm not sure I'd take him. I don't care if it is a family relic, it was really ugly to my mind.

[dreamflower]

She just looked classy if you know what I mean.

Exactly. Barbara Walters kept comparing her to Grace Kelly-- who was class personified. Good call!

Well, it *was* a military uniform, and one he's apparently entitled to as a colonel in that particular regiment. (An Irish Army one, nothing to do with the RAF.) But I seem to recall that she told him she liked him in it, which is why he picked it. (Something one of the commentators said--not sure how true it is.)

But I find myself wondering how practical bright red is as a military uniform. You'd think that in 235 years, the Brits would have learned that, *giggle*.

[gentlehobbit.livejournal.com]

I know! I loved the mentions of Bucklebury too!

I loved the wedding, loved watching it, loved the whole thing. I feel happy and deeply contented.

:)