THE BRIDAL BLOG: Get married like a Queen (literally)
Merry Christmas, it's an extra big, extra blog - Weddings can be excessive. Yes, we all know this. But let's face it, who doesn't want to be a princess once in awhile? or better yet a Queen? Today I traveled to the world of royal weddings, and I just don't want to come home.
Lets start with the biggies:
QUEEN ELIZABETH II
married to Prince Phillip of Greece and Denmark, 1947
The photo history that goes along with the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip is a wealth of goodness. Her gown was designed by Norman Hartnell, who deserves a blog of his own for his designs in fashion and theatre. He was one of her official designers, if you will, though I imagine the Queen of England's gown is your, ahem, crowning achievement. Okay, stop retching at my pun and feast your eyes:
A birds-eye view of the fairy tale veil:
You MUST visit the Royal Collection to get close-up detail of the wedding gown, and the even prettier (IMHO) bridesmaids' gowns.
(images in order courtesy of Fashion Era, Love Tripper)
PRINCESS DIANA
married Charles, Prince of Wales, 1981
This is an iconic dress, not only because it was GIANT, but because of the infamous marriage/divorce and further tragedy of the teacher-turned-Princess. The dress is also renowned for its absolute embrace of 1980s Power Bride Sleeves. It was designed by David and Elizabeth Emmanuel - the latter said in a CBS article (read it!) that she considered the dress to be "a beautiful butterfly emerging from a chrysalis." A really, really, really gigantic butterfly. Video here of the procession! Not my dream dress, but the woman wore it and lived up to it in her short life! Gown on display with flower girl gown:
Diana photos were collected from Your Best Wedding, Nibs, My Point of View (another bridal blog) and Cleveland Women.
GRACE KELLY
married Prince Rainier III of Monaco, 1956
What could be better than being one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood? How about being that AND one of Hitchcock's favorite leading ladies (I just viewed Dial M For Murder last night - excellent!)? How about being that AND that AND marrying the Prince of Monaco?? Also leaving the world too early and tragically, also representing The Bride like no other. Helen Rose of MGM designed this gown for the formal ceremony (which occurred after a private ceremony between the couple). The wedding blog Destiny's Bride did a wonderful spread with some excellent quality photos. And here is an epic photo of the wedding party
QUEEN VICTORIA
married to Prince Albert of England, 1840
Not too bad for a woman who is mostly responsible for the horrible repression of Victorian women, HA! Ok that might be an exaggeration. Victorian Magazine gives a great description of the Queen's wedding (scroll down to "Wedding Attire" for gown specified info) - Truly. Epic.
CATHERINE THE GREAT
married to Emperor Peter III of Russia, 1745
Catherine the Great was formerly Princess Sophia - from what I can surmise, the name change came with her religious conversion. Apparently, her groom was immature and sickly, but the Russians dressed her well:
It has feather lining the sleeves!! Feather lining!! yum.
And here are some "lesser known" but notable royals for further inspiration:
PRINCESS MARGARET
Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister, married photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones, 1960
She took a cue from her sister, and had a Norman Hartnell gown as well.
(Photo borrowed from Charlene Day Photography.)
PRINCESS LETIZIA
married to Crown Prince Felipe of Spain in 2008
This is not one of my favorite gowns, but kudos to her for going sleek and still getting in an epic train (above photo from BlissTree.com). The wedding in general was appropriately ROYAL - check out some wonderful photos over at My Royal Wedding.
PRINCESS METTE-MERIT
married to Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, 2000
This photo from Kere Wedding Dress is fan-frickin'-tastic:
The gown was made by Ove Harder Finseth and seamstress Anna Bratland. It's that veil that makes it - not only the length, but its texture! *drool*
QUEEN WILHEMINA OF THE NETHERLENDS
married to Hendrik, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1901
Nothing like the Gilded Era! EVERY gown was a wedding gown! (Photo from The Royal Forums)
And now for some Epic Headwear by QUEEN FARIDA OF EGYPT (King Farouk on 20 January 1938):
(wikipedia photo)
I've always felt close to Egypt - that is why.
Lets start with the biggies:
QUEEN ELIZABETH II
married to Prince Phillip of Greece and Denmark, 1947
The photo history that goes along with the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip is a wealth of goodness. Her gown was designed by Norman Hartnell, who deserves a blog of his own for his designs in fashion and theatre. He was one of her official designers, if you will, though I imagine the Queen of England's gown is your, ahem, crowning achievement. Okay, stop retching at my pun and feast your eyes:
A birds-eye view of the fairy tale veil:
You MUST visit the Royal Collection to get close-up detail of the wedding gown, and the even prettier (IMHO) bridesmaids' gowns.
(images in order courtesy of Fashion Era, Love Tripper)
PRINCESS DIANA
married Charles, Prince of Wales, 1981
This is an iconic dress, not only because it was GIANT, but because of the infamous marriage/divorce and further tragedy of the teacher-turned-Princess. The dress is also renowned for its absolute embrace of 1980s Power Bride Sleeves. It was designed by David and Elizabeth Emmanuel - the latter said in a CBS article (read it!) that she considered the dress to be "a beautiful butterfly emerging from a chrysalis." A really, really, really gigantic butterfly. Video here of the procession! Not my dream dress, but the woman wore it and lived up to it in her short life! Gown on display with flower girl gown:
Diana photos were collected from Your Best Wedding, Nibs, My Point of View (another bridal blog) and Cleveland Women.
GRACE KELLY
married Prince Rainier III of Monaco, 1956
What could be better than being one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood? How about being that AND one of Hitchcock's favorite leading ladies (I just viewed Dial M For Murder last night - excellent!)? How about being that AND that AND marrying the Prince of Monaco?? Also leaving the world too early and tragically, also representing The Bride like no other. Helen Rose of MGM designed this gown for the formal ceremony (which occurred after a private ceremony between the couple). The wedding blog Destiny's Bride did a wonderful spread with some excellent quality photos. And here is an epic photo of the wedding party
QUEEN VICTORIA
married to Prince Albert of England, 1840
Not too bad for a woman who is mostly responsible for the horrible repression of Victorian women, HA! Ok that might be an exaggeration. Victorian Magazine gives a great description of the Queen's wedding (scroll down to "Wedding Attire" for gown specified info) - Truly. Epic.
CATHERINE THE GREAT
married to Emperor Peter III of Russia, 1745
Catherine the Great was formerly Princess Sophia - from what I can surmise, the name change came with her religious conversion. Apparently, her groom was immature and sickly, but the Russians dressed her well:
It has feather lining the sleeves!! Feather lining!! yum.
And here are some "lesser known" but notable royals for further inspiration:
PRINCESS MARGARET
Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister, married photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones, 1960
She took a cue from her sister, and had a Norman Hartnell gown as well.
(Photo borrowed from Charlene Day Photography.)
PRINCESS LETIZIA
married to Crown Prince Felipe of Spain in 2008
This is not one of my favorite gowns, but kudos to her for going sleek and still getting in an epic train (above photo from BlissTree.com). The wedding in general was appropriately ROYAL - check out some wonderful photos over at My Royal Wedding.
PRINCESS METTE-MERIT
married to Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, 2000
This photo from Kere Wedding Dress is fan-frickin'-tastic:
The gown was made by Ove Harder Finseth and seamstress Anna Bratland. It's that veil that makes it - not only the length, but its texture! *drool*
QUEEN WILHEMINA OF THE NETHERLENDS
married to Hendrik, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1901
Nothing like the Gilded Era! EVERY gown was a wedding gown! (Photo from The Royal Forums)
And now for some Epic Headwear by QUEEN FARIDA OF EGYPT (King Farouk on 20 January 1938):
(wikipedia photo)
I've always felt close to Egypt - that is why.