This post has been percolating in my brain since Friday morning, but hampered by two young men who fail to see the bliss of napping, and a hectic suburban weekend schedule, it took the Fortuitous Housewife a few days to recuperate after the Big Day.
Yes, that right my dears, the iPhone alarm was set for 4:15 AM on Friday, and I didn't dare touch the snooze! My teeth were brushed and I was headed downstairs by 4:19! The Cook's Illustrated "Sweet Milk Scones" were in the oven and the beverage & food buffets were all set by 4:45 (thanks to a little prepping the night before).
Yes, that right my dears, the iPhone alarm was set for 4:15 AM on Friday, and I didn't dare touch the snooze! My teeth were brushed and I was headed downstairs by 4:19! The Cook's Illustrated "Sweet Milk Scones" were in the oven and the beverage & food buffets were all set by 4:45 (thanks to a little prepping the night before).
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| Angophile beverage service - English Breakfast Tea & china, bubbly & crystal. |
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| Ham, scones & apple-spice muffins. Later, my pal, Kristen, added her super tasty Chili-Cheese Egg Bake to the buffet. |
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| Cooks Illustrated's Sweet Milk Scone Unfortunately, I rolled the scones out a tad too thin and baked them a tad too long. This means I'll be making them later this week - every treat deserves to be redeemed. I'll let you know how things turn out. |
Someday I will tell my grandchildren, maybe when we rise at dawn together to watch Prince William's coronation, that Grandma rose in pre-dawn darkness to watch William's Mum's wedding, her funeral and then Prince William's wedding.
I guess it's become a point of honor for me -- I must see it live!
So I joined the estimated two billion other "guests" (one ABC reporter, Diane? Barbara? David Muir? Nick Watt?, said "one in three people around the world"), settling onto my couch, still in my PJ's, prepared to savor every moment of this "historic" and "fairytale" moment.
I'm happy to report William and Catherine's carefully laid plans delivered! All the moments we'd been waiting for where served up on an enormous, highly-polished royal silver platter.
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| So glad my 3-week old pedicure was still presentable! Gonna have to add that to this week's agenda. |
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| The dress - PERFECTION a la Princess Grace I wish I had entered a contest! Though many may claim such "foresight", I honestly had envisioned Catherine in something along these lines. |
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| The morning repast. |
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| The Beautiful Bride ~ Catherine Elizabeth |
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| The pomp of The Ceremony |
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| For a little comic relief...the Vicar with "Andy Rooney" eyebrows! |
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| The Carriage Ride |
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| The Balcony Scene... |
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| and "The Big Kiss" |
But I must admit one major disappointment -- I so wanted William to turn around and watch Catherine's unhurried walk down that long Westminster Abbey aisle!
I wanted to see a spark in William's eye or the slightest widening of his smile when he first glimpsed his lovely bride! Isn't that part of the fantasy? Watching your groom waiting & watching expectantly as you leisurely make your way to stand beside him!
I thought I heard one of ABC's commentators (maybe it was Katie Nicholl or Nick Watt?) mention that English wedding tradition dictates the groom keeps his eyes straight ahead, only seeing his bride once she arrived at his side...well I say BOOO!
At one point as we were rewinding, or maybe it was fast forwarding, the broadcast, Kristen and I looked at each other and realized the ringing church bells weren't coming from the television, they were coming from the churches just down the road. A truly unique, personal moment I will always remember.
And if you're wondering why there is only a shot of my flip flop clad feet...there are no photos of Kristen & me in our jammers with morning faces! I didn't want to scare you, my cherished readers, and I didn't want Kristen to never speak to me again.
All in all, William and Catherine's wedding...SO worth a little sleep deprivation!
P.S. And oh what fun to watch those confections of English milliners! But those chapeaus will have to wait 'til tomorrow!
Photos via my Nikon, via our Sony, via ABC News
We watched it live, too, but not as grandly as you, my dear....only coffee for us! But, I was also bummed that William didn't get to see Kate walk down the isle....must be some stodgy British Church of England thang......still a bummer! A FABULOUS, FABULOUS wedding, though...I'd get up early again, fer sure.
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