The Count & The Heiress: Inside Europe's First Big Royal Wedding Post-COVID

The glamour! The romance! The spectacle of it all! 

After over a year of fluctuating lockdowns in Europe, over-the-top royal weddings are finally back on the social calendar. What did we ever do without them?

Officially marking the occasion was this weekend's blowout celebration honoring the union of two of Spain's most aristocratic families. On Saturday, Carlos Fitz-James Stuart, the Count of Osorno and son of the Duke of Alba, wed Belén Corsini, heiress to one of Spain's wealthiest business dynasties.

The gorgeous young couple appeared to step straight out of a fairy tale, with the Count dressed in traditional military regalia à la Prince Charming himself, and the bride wearing a puff-sleeved princess gown by Spanish brand, Navascués, which came complete with a dramatic, yet delicate, flower-dotted detachable train.

The ceremony was held at Madrid's Liria Palace, an expansive 18th century estate that has been in the groom's family for hundreds of years. After the couple said "I do," an al fresco reception followed in the palace's dazzling gardens, calling forth a runway-worthy procession of fashionable attendees who have us dying to match our masks to a fascinator. 

Click through for a look inside Europe's first big society event of the year - and get some much-needed wedding guest outfit inspiration while you're at it!

[Photo via Getty/by Alejandra Ortiz Photo]