The most extravagant event this century, the Royal Wedding is almost here! Glamorous traditions, crazed media attention, great nostalgia and of course-our undivided attention. But what do you really know about the wedding? Here is your royal cheat sheet to tomorrow's events. There have been pizzas with their faces on it (made of different ingredients), postcards, video games, stamps, dolls, etc. etc. etc.-- even a rumored sex toy just to to pay a tribute to the couple. But this is the stuff that matters:
The Location:
The St. Peters Church in Westminster Abbey, has been the traditional venue of Royal Weddings since the 11th Century. Prince William and Kate's ceremony will begin at 11 AM but the guest are expected to arrive at 8:45 AM.
The Photographer
Hugo Burnand will be The Royal Wedding's official photographer. He will be taking pictures at the Buckingham Palace and the wedding at Westminster Abbey.
The Flowers
Shane Connolly a London-based floral designer has been chosen to do the flower arrangements at the Royal Wedding. The bride-to-be's bouquet will be filled with gardenias, lily of the valley delphiniums, roses and of course a sprig of myrtle from the original bush in Queen Victoria's wedding. The floral arrangement will stay on display until the next day so tourist can view and even take pictures!
Fun fact-- Kate will not be doing a bouquet toss but instead she will lay her flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior- a grave marker on the church floor- honoring anonymous soldiers. [Image Via zimbo]
The Transportation
Kate will be the first royal member since 1962 not to arrive in a horse-drawn carriage. Instead she will be keeping it down-to-earth and arriving in a Rolls Royce but the Prince and Princess will make an unforgettable exit in the 1902 State Landau carriage that Princess Diana and Prince Charles drove away in on their wedding day.
The Ring
Prince William will not wear a ring but Kate will be given a special heirloom given by Queen Elizabeth to Prince William. A small nugget of gold mined from the Welsh Mountains which has been transformed into a simple gold ring.
The Dress
Though the design and the designer have been secret, some insiders say that the gown will be modest with a little skin showing. Bruce Oldfield, a British designer, has predicted that Kate will wear two dresses: a conservative one for the walk down the aisle and then a more daring one for the party.
The Guest list
The Royal wedding is expecting 1,900- he Royal Family, foreign Royal Families and some celebrity friends have been honored with an invite, including Victoria and David Beckham, Guy Ritchie, Elton John and a rumored Kanye West, and even the couple's exes like Kate's former beau Rupert Finch.
The Reception
From the 1,900 guests only 650 guest are invited to the afternoon affair at the Buckingham Palace, hosted by Queen Elizabeth. The Menu: two-bite hors d'oeurves, yorkshire pudding with roast beef and horseradish cream, bubble and squeak confit with lamb shoulder, smoked salmon, herbed crepes and cornish pasties.
Then Prince Charles will host 300 guest for a 3- course dinner catered by London restaurateur Anton Mosimann which will end with a lemon cake picked by Kate.
The Cake
Leicester shire- based chef Chef Fiona Cairns has been honored to be the pastry chef at Prince William and Kate's wedding. The wedding cake will be a multi-tiered traditional fruit cake. The cake, will have luxurious trimming: multiple leaf-and-flower encrusted tiers, English roses, Scottish thistle, Welsh daffodil and Irish shamrock. Each Layer will be enriched with icing and brandy and topped off with the couple's new cipher!
[Image via Officialroyalwedding2011]
Honeymooon Plans
The Prince and Princess will indulge themselves for two luxurious weeks on Necker Islands. Paradise will be all to themselves as a gift from, Richard Branson, owner of Necker Island, British Virgin Islands.
If the Royal Wedding isn't something you are going lose your sleep over, there are many other ways to join the Royal fun.
The Royal Channel
For the first time, footage of the Royal Wedding will be live streamed on The Royal Channel on YouTube.
The Royal Wedding App
There are many royal wedding apps but the newest app will give Android, iPhone and iPad users a chance to virtually tour of the Royal Church like never before. "The app opens at the Great West Door, the spot where Kate will start her walk down the aisle with her father to the High Altar."
Your Own Royal Wedding Name
Go ahead and give yourself a name fit for a monarch. Start with either Lord or Lady. The first name is one of your grandparents' names. Your surname is the name of your first pet, double-barreled with the name of the street you grew up on. Then cut and paste it into your status. I am: Lady Cleo Rusty of Devonshire. Get more Royal Wedding News:
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[The Royal Wedding Movie Drinking Game]
[Lords & Ladies Free To Tweet & Blog The Royal Wedding]
[Royal Wedding Viewing at the Trinity Church]