This was one of my favourite published fashion(ish) articles. I wrote this piece just after the royal wedding in the summer of 2011 for the North Shore News.
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The style, the glamour, and the romance of the Royal Wedding, just over two weeks ago, charmed people all over the world.
Brides-to-be took notes of the décor, the floral arrangements, and of course, the now-Princess Kate Middleton’s dress.
Not every girl will walk down the aisle with a sparking Cartier tiara from the Queen herself, but most every girl will want to feel just like a princess on her own wedding day.
The brides of summer 2011 — all over the world and on the North Shore — will be looking to the royal wedding for inspiration for their very own princess wedding.
“I can see people wanting to recreate the feeling of their wedding,” says Alexandra Fischer, a bridal event planner at Hollyburn Country Club. “Everybody wants to be a princess for the day.”
Fischer says for upcoming weddings, couples are going to be choosing similar floral arrangements and brides will be picking dresses like Duchess Catherine’s.
She says the royal wedding’s green and white color scheme, from the trees in Westminster Abby to the bride’s bouquet, will be a new wedding trend.
Fischer says we can expect to see more traditional weddings with a modern twist, just like the royal one.
“Directly influenced by their wedding, (some couples might have) a wedding earlier in the day. It may be more budget friendly to have lunches instead of dinners,” Fischer says.
She also says the statement-making hats and fascinators worn by royal guests will be fashionable this year at weddings and showers.
North Shore residents planning or attending a wedding can find royal essentials closer to home than England.
Hats and fascinators covered in feathers, flowers, and bows, essential to any royal wedding, can be found at Jacques Vert ( http://www.jacques-vert.co.uk/) in The Bay at Park Royal.
The Jacques Vert line from the U.K. specializes in wedding attire, carrying similar clothing and accessories to those worn by royal wedding guests says Vaidehi Seth, area support manager for Jacques Vert at The Bay at Park Royal.
Adding a regal accessory to an outfit is a growing trend here in Canada says Seth.
“Since the wedding, we have actually been selling the hats and fascinators at a lot faster rate than we were before. There is definitely a lot of impact on the accessories,” she says.
The out-there fascinators, or headpieces, worn by the guests are making a big comeback she says.
“I think a lot of people were under the impression that it is just too much . . . Now it seems that this is a great accessory to just make the outfit, so if you just had a plain black dress and put on a green fascinator you’re done,” she says.
Of course the wedding day isn’t really about the guests’ attire.
Brides hoping to feel like a princess on their big day can find their very own royal gown in Vancouver.
Local designer Jason Matlo created a dress for his bridal line inspired by Kate’s.
Matlo says he maintained the silhouette of the duchess’ dress and replicated similar qualities, like the elaborate lacing.
He says similar gowns will be the choice of brides to be.
“I have learned that all girls seem to get caught up in the fantasy of being a princess on their wedding day, so I think it will resonate with a lot of women and it will definitely influence a lot of bridal trends,” says Matlo.
Some of the pieces from Matlo’s bridal line are available at La Novia Bridal in Vancouver and he says he also takes requests for custom designed wedding gowns.
But before any princess gets her wedding gown she must have a royal engagement ring.
North Shore residents can find their royally inspired ring at Stittgen Fine Jewelry in West Vancouver.
The handcrafted ring exclusively available at Stittgen Fine Jewelry was inspired by Princess Diana’s, now Kate’s, sapphire-and diamond-engagement ring.
The 19-karat white gold ring has a sapphire with a crown around it and diamonds to look similar to the princess’ ring, but not identical says Vanoula Steinberg, a gemologist at the jewelry store.
“Sapphires have always been one of the stones that the royals use as their engagement rings, it’s a traditional stone used in engagements in history before diamonds even became really popular,” says Steinberg.
Steinberg says she predicts that people are going to want sapphires and diamonds in their engagement rings to be similar to Duchess Catherine.
“Just a feeling that [the ring] is something they can share with the princess and princess culture is so big amongst little girls,” says Steinberg, calling the jewelry store’s ring “a big girl’s princess ring.”
With the royal wedding influencing wedding trends, not just little girls want to be princesses, but brides-to-be, too. From attire to décor, expect to see royal elements in many weddings this year.
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