Understated Elegance . . . my take on the Royal Wedding

Yesterday morning, like many others I awoke at 3am to partake in the Royal Wedding Festivities. Although I listened to the commentators and watched the guest arrive, I was much more interested in the decor, the protocol of a British wedding and of course the dress. There are several differences between English and American weddings. Obviously, there are several difference between a Royal Wedding and a Commoners wedding, too.

The Floral Design. I loved the trees in the Abby, what a great idea. Very simple, yet very impactful. I thought it changed the feel of the church and made it seem "happy" and "inviting." Maybe, a reflection of the couple's personality? The only other flower arrangements that I say were the altar flowers and even in those it was simple greenery with white flowers and not out of the ordinary. With a church as beautiful as Westminster Abby you do have to be careful that you only enhance the churches beauty and not cover up or try to compete with it.

The Bridal Bouquet. The bride's bouquet took me back, but it fit perfectly with everything else in the decor. Her flowers were lily of the valley, sweet william, white hyacinth and myrtle. Very small and simple, but just enough to accentuate her beauty and her dress.


Take Away: 1) Look at your canvas and bring out the strong points of your venue with your decoration. If you try to cover up or compete with the natural look you will, most likely, not be pleased with the outcome. 2) Put your personality into every part of your wedding, even the flowers.


British/Royal Wedding Protocol. The few main items that caught my attention 1) The bridesmaids are very young 2) A Best Man, but no groomsman only two page boys 3) The bridesmaids and Maid of Honor and Page Boys walk in behind the bride 4) The parents and Grandparents just walked in, they were not seated as part of the ceremony 5) The Bridesmaids did not stand with the Bride, they sat down front

I should probably do a little research to find out the differences between a Royal Wedding and a Common Wedding in England.

The Dress. Understated Elegance seems the best way to describe this dress. It was very simple, but absolutely perfect. I also loved the way the bride looked, she looked like herself. She very tastefully chose a simple tiara and simple drop earrings.

Take aways: 1) Be you on your wedding day. 2)Simple can be very impactful. 3) The dress is always a big deal. 4) Be choosy when picking your jewelry.


Understated Elegance does not necessarily mean understated cost or impact. I don't know what the dollar amount was for this wedding, but I doubt it was understated. I can definitely say the wedding made an impact.

It was fun watching this wedding and all the "pomp and circumstance", but royal or not a wedding is the same for everyone, a celebration of a God-ordained union/covenant between one man and one women, who have devoted themselves to one another.

the barefoot bride

Are you really going barefoot? Well, yes and this is why . . .

It takes a lot of trust to say, "Here I am, the good, bad, and ugly. Please love me through it all." Marriage is choosing to love each other even though you see the good, bad and ugly.

I knew that on my wedding day I was saying to my husband that I submit to the authority that God has given you over me and I trust you to love me as Christ commanded. I wanted him to know that I choose to be "naked" before him, on our wedding day and throughout our marriage. I expressed this through my "barefeet." To me it was the perfect picture of laying myself bare before him. Marriage is such an amazing picture of Christ love for us. He sees the good, bad and ugly and still chose to die on the cross to save us from eternal condemnation. He desires for us to come "barefoot" before Him and accept his free gift of salvation. I leave you with the verse Rick and I had read at our wedding. Ruth 1:16-17 But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me."