Kate: The day after the wedding

What a pretty outfit! I love her style.

Zara dress, LK Bennett wedges

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Kate: The official wedding photographs

Photographs taken by Hugo Burnand.

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Kate: A McQueen evening dress

Looking beautiful again (but how thin?!)...

Royal wedding: Travelling in style

In a Rolls Royce...

And a horse-drawn carriage...

Then leaving Buckingham Palace in a convertible Aston Martin.

Volante DB6 MKII in Seychelles blue

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The royal kiss(es)!

Congratulations!

Royal Wedding Jewelry: Catherine Wears Cartier & Robinson Pelham

The royal wedding jewelry shining from Kate Middleton (now Her Royal Highness Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge) was an understated display of elegance, grace and delicate diamonds.

The Tiara:

The subject of MUCH speculation, Kate 'borrowed' the Halo Tiara from The Queen's coffers, which was made by Cartier in 1936. The Queen's father, then the Duke of York, bought the bauble for the Queen Mother, then the Duchess of York (still with me?), who then gave it to her daughter - then Princess Elizabeth - on her 18th birthday.

Set in platinum, the priceless jewel is made from old and baguette-cut diamonds, with the upper part forming a range of lotus flowers and the lower 'zig-zag' part forming a removable piece that can be used as a bandeau.

No word yet on whether or not Catherine gets to keep it for her own collection - or if it's just a loaner. Stay tuned!

The Earrings:

Kate's understated earrings by Robinson Pelham were a gift from her parents - and were specifically designed to match her tiara. Nice touch.

According to Today Show blogger, The Windsor Knot, the earrings are diamond-set stylised oak leaves with a pear-shaped diamond drop and a pavé-set diamond acorn suspended in the centre.

Inspiration for the design comes from the Middleton family's new coat of arms, which includes acorns and oak leaves. Cool.


The Ring:

Kate's wedding band, which ALMOST didn't make it on her ring finger (nice work, Wills) is a rare band of Welsh gold by Wartski, who also crafted the Welsh gold wedding bands for Prince Charles and Camilla.

Prince William famously declined to wear a ring because he 'doesn't have a taste for jewelry'. It's a happy day. I'll leave this as a rare "No comment".

Overall, we witnessed a delicate diamond display that's in keeping with Kate's understated jewelry style. We'll see how long that lasts now that she has access to The Queen's stash!

Royal Wedding Fashion: Kate Wears McQueen!

I'm over the moon. As I had hoped, Kate or CATHERINE Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, I should say, wore a dress by Sarah Burton, creative director of Alexander McQueen! From Lady Gaga to the future Queen of England, it doesn't get any better for this designer.

"Miss Middleton wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterises Alexander McQueen’s work," Clarence House officials released in a statement.

The design includes hand-cut lace flowers hand-engineered onto ivory silk tulle that incorporates rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock silhouettes. French Chanitlly lace and English Cluny lace were used in the Irish Carrickmacross needleword tradition, according to the release.

Catherine also wore an ivory silk tulle veil held in place by the Cartier ‘halo’ tiara, lent to Miss Middleton by The Queen. (more on the tiara soon).

She's Audrey Hepburn meets Princess Grace! G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!

Here comes the bride (in McQueen)!

Wedding dress designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen.

Earrings are diamond-set stylised oak leaves with a pear shaed diamond set drop and a pavé set diamond acorn suspended in the centre.

Tiara by Cartier.

Shoes are by McQueen.

Bouquet designed by Shane Connolly. The flowers’ meanings in the bouquet are:

Lily-of-the-valley: Return of happiness

Sweet William: Gallantry

Hyacinth: Constancy of love

Ivy: Fidelity; marriage; wedded love; friendship; affection

Myrtle: The emblem of marriage; love.

(source)

Nails: Blended colours including Bourjois "Rose Lounge" and Essie's #423 "Allure."

Hair by James Pryce and Richard Ward of London's Richard Ward.

(source)

A glimpse: The Beckhams

Here they are, arriving at Westminster Abbey for the royal wedding. David looking very handsome and a pregnant Victoria looking smart with a simple ponytail and interesting hat by Philip Treacy. 

William and Kate: The royal wedding details

It's just been announced that

"Prince William thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge and Miss Catherine Middleton on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge." (source)

The schedule: 

8.15 - 9.45am The main congregation arrive at the Westminster Abbey

From 9.50am Governors-General, Prime Ministers, Diplomatic Corps, and other distinguished guests arrive

10.10am Prince William and Prince Harry leave Clarence House for Westminster Abbey, to arrive at 10.15am.

10.20am Members of Foreign Royal Families arrive at Westminster Abbey

10.20am James (Kate’s brother) and Carole Middleton (Kate’s mother) leave London’s Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey, to arrive at 10.27

10.25am Selected members of the Royal Family leave Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey, to arrive at 10.30am

10.35am Senior members of the Royal Family leave Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey, including: Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, The Earl and Countess of Wessex, Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence

10.38am The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall leave Clarence House for Westminster Abbey

10.40am The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leave Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey

10.48am The Bridesmaids and Pages leave the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey

10.51am Kate Middleton, accompanied by her father, leaves the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey

11.00am The service begins

12.15pm The carriage procession of Prince William and Kate Middleton, with a Captain’s Escort of the Household Cavalry, followed by The Queen’s Procession leaves Westminster Abbey for Buckingham Palace

12.30pm The Bride’s Carriage Procession arrives at Buckingham Palace

12.40pm Members of the Royal Family and Members of Foreign Royal Families arrive at Buckingham Palace

From 12.40pm Other guests for the Reception arrive at Buckingham Palace

1.25pm The Queen, Prince William and Kate Middleton and together their Families, appear on the Balcony at Buckingham Palace

1.30pm Fly Past by the Royal Air Force and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Source: Marie Claire UK

Kate Middleton at The Goring Hotel

Kate Hudson's Engagement Ring Details!

Bling, baby bumps and now - Mrs. Bellamy? Kate Hudson's engagement ring made its dazzling debut with Matt Lauer on the Today Show this morning - and boy is it a doozy. 

UsMagazine.com reports the ring is likely a 9-carat rock - which isn't in the Mariah Carey (17-carats) or Beyonce (18-carats) stratosphere, but it's certainly of a caratage befitting the A-list.

The center stone appears to be an emerald-cut gem (actually, it looks a lot like Beyonce's engagement ring) with baguettes on either side set in a white metal - which for this crowd means platinum. One of my favorite Tweeps, Jean from Francesca Fine Jewelry tells me it's worth an estimated $200,000!

Will be on the lookout for more specs, but it's surprising to see such a 'traditional' look on Hudson, who is known as the queen of alternative fashion and boho chic.

Click here to see a video of the big ring reveal.

Kate later told Lauer that wedding plans will be taking a back seat to all things baby, as she's expecting her second child with hubby-to-be, Matt Bellamy, in the next few months. 

Babies, bling and betrothal! Now that's a triumvirate worth babbling about!

What's the 'Key' To Mother's Day? Jewelry

Mother's Day has a  tendency to 'sneak up' on us, right? No matter how much we love our mums and how often we think of them - somehow the Mother's Day holiday comes along and catches all of us, well, empty-handed with no idea what to get the woman who started it all.

So here's a little helper. Get her jewelry instead of that last-minute flower delivery that costs more than starting your own nursery.

Yes, it's my business to talk up the jewelry world, and yes - you've often heard me blather on about how baubles are better gifts than sweater sets and perfume and the like. But, darn it! I'm right!

Jewelry is a lifetime treasure that just means more than a vase full of petals, people (no offense to flowers - you're lovely creatures - all of you).

To that end, I give you the KEY to Mother's Day.

It's trend-worthy (keys are a hot silhouette in celeb circles these days), it's mom-friendly (note, the Mother/Child design element) and it's budget-friendly ($49.95 on JewelClub's Daily Deal today).

Click on the picture for more details. And you can still get FREE SHIPPING in time for Mother's Day (which is MAY 8TH, MAY 8TH, MAY8TH).  Did I mention Mother's Day is Sunday, May 8th?

And if Mom isn't a key kinda gal - here's a link to an entire Mother's Day Sample Sale for your ticket to her good side.

Have at it, jewelry hounds!

The Groom With A View

Mike our July groom's blog on the run up to his wedding:

When I reflect on it now, it feels like I hit the jackpot. Not only was Amber the most beautiful woman in the world, she seemed to see something that she liked in me too. On a first date, sharing fish n’ chips, mushy peas, and a bottle of wine by the river, and to find hidden depths to interest, excite, and intrigue me…. I knew this girl would change my life forever.

I finally plucked up the courage to propose whilst on a weekend away in Brighton; the ring had been burning a hole in my pocket for hours while I nervously searched for the right moment to assume the bended knee position. I was confident the Tiffany Novo ring would be a success (Amber is nothing short of magnificent at hint dropping). The knot in my stomach came about through the magnitude of the question I was about to ask. In my previous 34 years I had never before felt the need to do this. I had always stood by the tried and tested male values of ‘commitment avoidance’, ‘living a little’ and ‘enjoying the independence’; but this time it felt different, it felt right.

I have always considered myself to be a confident person but as I looked up into her eyes, having just stammered my way through the longest question ever, I felt so completely vulnerable. My soul lay bare before her, ready and prepared to be trampled on. The feeling of assumed rejection went on for an eternity before…. One word…. The correct word… And the jackpot had once again been hit.

We have just three months to the big day. The previous 14 since Brighton having been filled with planning, mostly on the frantic side of meticulous, and there is still more to do. It appears I had naively underestimated the time spent on perfecting the finishes – stories to be told another time.

So we now look forward to Treviso with excited anticipation, a trip that will change our lives and, hopefully, live forever in our minds and in our hearts. Is it greedy of me to hope to hit the jackpot for a third time?

Mike

To read Amber, Mikes July Brides post, please click here

To read TIWP post on Amber and Mike wedding in Treviso, please click here

Destination wedding / Hats

I know it looks like we are going Royal Wedding crazy and I admit we are a little!  Kate Middleton will take up the baton for British and Irish fashion designers and become one of the most photographed women in the world.  As she steps in to this roll I am delighted to say she is already a great ambassador for the Milinery industry and promoter of the Fascinator.

 The summer social season is upon us and the wedding invitations are dropping through the mail box, women all over the world are thinking about what outfits to wear to this years weddings and social events. In the UK women women start hat hunting for the summer 'season' as soon as the boat race is over if not before. This year with the Royal wedding Milliners are going to be rocketed to stardom on the back of a hat! 

This summer, I am organising a wedding for a very stylish couple and I already know that a lot of their guests will be flying the flag for milliners, as they adorn their heads with works of art. There is just something so elegant and beautiful about a lady complimenting her outfit with a hat...

With the rise of the fascinator it  is now indisputably the formal head wear of choice. Whether it is at Ascot, christenings, Royal weddings or any other society event that demands statement headgear, it’s hats off to the fascinator.  It is also easy to pack for your destination wedding!

Destination guests coming to a wedding in Italy don't have to go for the more elaborate Philip Tracy creations, even the smallest bejeweled comb can change your outfit. Lets take a look at some ideas:

 Stunning curled goose feather fascinator by talented milliner Jane Taylor

Small and perfectly formed, this hat is perfect for any event.

I adore Gina Foster's hats!

Ispirato Silver Fascinator from Belles and Beaux

So ladies, be it a fascinator, a small, medium or large hat the main thing is to have fun with it and enjoy celebrating your friends wedding in style!

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