The Fair Bridal

On Friday morning, I found myself tweeting the royal wedding. As anyone who watched the wedding knows, it was like the most wonderful film ever made...except that it was real. I was uplifted by the beauty of the event and the sense of connection with the ages. I enjoyed being one of the many crazy Americans who rose before dawn to join millions around the world witness the marriage vows of two young people. There are few young people today who have escaped the stains of scandal, tragedy and worldliness. Seeing such an attractive and very prominent couple dare to accept the challenges of matrimony, in spite of everything that has gone before, is a sign of hope. I was glad to read the following words in The Catholic Herald:

Speaking in an interview with the Catholic Herald in Rome this afternoon, Archbishop Vincent Nichols went on to compare the beatification of Pope John Paul II, which takes place tomorrow morning, with the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge which he attended yesterday.

He said: “Tomorrow, in a way, is a celebration of the same love that William and Catherine promised to each other – yesterday in marriage, today in service of priest, bishop and Pope – but it’s the same well-spring of love that comes from God that we see on both days.”

Describing yesterday’s events in Westminster Abbey, Archbishop Nichols said that the crowd cheered at two points during the wedding ceremony. He said: “It was very remarkable when it happened. The first [instance] was when the two exchanged their promises. So when Catherine said ‘I will’ there was a great cheer. People recognised the solemnity of the promises that were being made. The second was when the Archbishop of Canterbury said ‘So in the sight of God and these people I now declare you man and wife’ and there was a great cheer.

“There is popular recognition that marriage is a fresh start. That this from now on was something different and it was a profound change in the life of both those young people. And everybody recognises it. I think that gives the lie to the idea that marriage is of little consequence in our society. It clearly is of great consequence in the eyes of people witnessing and taking part in that marriage yesterday.”

Congratulations and best wishes to Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge! I think that the new Princess William (not "Princess Catherine") was an exceptionally lovely bride. The gown was elegant, dignified and understated, recalling Grace Kelly's. It is rare to see such perfect poise and exquisite posture in anyone from the present generation.

Meanwhile, my friend Leslie Carroll, author of Notorious Royal Marriages, has been in London all week and has sent home some reports, HERE and HERE.

There are some wonderful photos from The Daily Mail, HERE. And even more HERE.

See the official wedding program.

Last but not least, have fun seeing some crazy wedding hats. Share