If you haven’t heard of the wedding that took place on Friday April 29 at Westminster Abby, then you’ve lived under a rock. Prince William and Catherine Middleton exchanged and sealed wedding vows with a traditional kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as 2 BILLION people around the world watched.
It was really beautiful. Pure magic.
Prince William looked so handsome in his red tunic of the Irish Guards, while Princess Catherine’s dress was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen.
They say that she chose Alexander McQueen for the beauty and traditional 
workmanship and she worked closely with Sarah Burton in designing the dress. She looked so classy as well as SEXY! She reminded me so much of some of the classic Royal brides like Grace Kelley and Princess Margaret. Kate’s dress is very similar in design to both of those. I loved her lace appliqué and I hear it was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework. The veil was made of layers of soft, ivory silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers, again embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework. And how about that tiara? It’s a Cartier ‘halo’ tiara, lent to her by The Queen. It has great 
history. It’s from 1936 and was purchased by The 
Duke of York (later King George VI) for his Duchess (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) three weeks before he succeeded his brother as King (you know the one in “King’s Speech”) and was given to Princess Elizabeth by her mother for her 18th birthday.
Kate’s earrings, by Robinson Pelham, were a personal gift to her from her parents.
Her shoes were of ivory duchesse satin with lace hand-
embroidered by the team at Alexander McQueen and her Bridal 
Bouquet was a shield-shaped wired bouquet of myrtle, lily of the valley, sweet William and hyacinth. It was designed by Shane Connolly and incorporates traditions of flowers of significance for the Royal Family, the Middleton family. The flowers’ meanings in the bouquet are:
Lily of the valley – Return of happiness
Sweet William – Gallantry
Hyacinth – Constancy of love
Ivy: Fidelity; marriage; wedded love; friendship; affection
Myrtle: the emblem of marriage; love.
His Grand mum, The Queen gave a lunchtime 
Reception at Buckingham Palace for only 650 guests (including Kate’s postman and the butcher). Guests were served a choice of canapés, including:
Cornish Crab Salad on Lemon Blini
Pressed Duck Terrine with Fruit Chutney
Roulade of Goats Cheese with Caramelized Walnuts
Assortment of Palmiers and Cheese Straws
Scottish Smoked Salmon Rose on Beetroot Blini
Miniature Watercress and Asparagus Tart
Poached Asparagus spears with Hollandaise Sauce
for Dipping
Quails Eggs with Celery Salt
Scottish Langoustines with Lemon Mayonnaise Pressed Comfit of Pork Belly with Crayfish and Crackling
Wild Mushroom and Celeriac Chausson
Bubble and Squeak with Comfit Shoulder of Lamb
Grain Mustard and honey-glazed Chipolatas
Smoked Haddock Fishcake with Pea Guacamole
Miniature Yorkshire Pudding with Roast Fillet of Beef and Horseradish Mousse
Gateau Opera
Blood Orange Pate de Fruit
Raspberry Financier
Rhubarb Crème Brulee Tartlet
Passion Fruit Praline
White Chocolate Ganache Truffle
Milk Chocolate Praline with Nuts
Dark Chocolate Ganache Truffle
As for the booze, guests were served Pol Roger NV Brut Réserve Champagne and plenty of other soft and alcoholic drinks.
And now we come to a CAKE! And what a cake it was! Kate and Wills had his and hers cake. Kate’s wedding cake was designed by Fiona Cairns and is made from 17 individual fruit cakes and has eight tiers. It has been decorated with cream and white icing and there are up to 900 iced flowers and leaves. Each of the 17 different flower designs on the official wedding cake has their own individual meaning according to the Language of Flowers. They include:
White Rose – National symbol of England
Daffodil – National symbol of Wales, new beginnings
Shamrock – National symbol of Ireland
Thistle – National symbol of Scotland
Acorns, Oak Leaf – Strength, endurance
Myrtle – Love
Ivy – Wedded Love, Marriage
Lily of the Valley – Sweetness, Humility
Rose (Bridal) – Happiness, Love.
Sweet William – Grant me one smile
Honeysuckle – The Bond of Love
Apple Blossom – Preference, Good Fortune
White Heather – Protection, Wishes will come true
Jasmine (White) – Amiability
Daisy – Innocence, Beauty, Simplicity
Orange Blossom – Marriage, Eternal Love, Fruitfulness
Lavender – ardent attachment, devotion, success, and luck.
Wills had his favorite chocolate biscuit cake which was created by Mcvitie’s Cake Company using a Royal Family recipe. His cake was square and consisted of three tiers above its golden stand.
It was decorated with white chocolate water lilies, milk chocolate leaves and a mixture of white and milk chocolate feathers with flowers placed at the corner of each square on top.
HA! They say it’s a secret recipe, but I have Google on my side! So, here’s a recipe, so try to make your own.
Chocolate Biscuit Cake
Yield: 12 servings
For cake:
1 (7-ounce) package butter tea biscuits (sold in the cookie aisle)
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
16 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips (about 2 1/2 cups)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For glaze:
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup heavy cream
6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips (about 1 cup)
1. Make the cake. Coat a 7- or 8-inch round spring form pan with cooking spray. Break up
biscuits with your hands into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces; you want chunks, not crumbs.
2. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine 1 cup cream, honey and 1/4 cup butter. Microwave
on high for 1 1/2 minutes or until bubbling. Add 16 ounces chocolate and stir until smooth. Stir
in vanilla, then crumbled biscuits.
3. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan, using the back of the spoon to
smooth the top.
Gently tap the pan on the counter to eliminate any air pockets. Refrigerate for 3 hours or
until thoroughly chilled.
4. Once the cake is chilled, prepare the glaze. In a small saucepan over medium heat,
combine 2 tablespoons butter and 1/4 cup cream. Bring to a boil, and then remove from heat. Add 6
ounces chocolate, stirring until smooth.
5. Carefully remove the sides from the spring form pan (you may need to slide a paring knife
around the inside upper edge to ensure the sides come away cleanly from the cake). Invert the
cake onto a wire rack, and then remove the bottom of the pan. Set the rack over parchment paper to
catch drips.
6. Pour the glaze evenly over the cake, allowing it to drip down and completely cover the
top and sides. Allow to firm up, and then transfer to a serving plate. Refrigerate leftovers.
So if you want to inhale (505 calories; 33g fat; 19g saturated fat; 50mg cholesterol; 4g protein; 49g carbohydrate; 34g sugar; 3g fiber; 80mg sodium;) a piece,
go for it!
Interesting rumor during and after the ceremony:
Prince William told Kate, as she joined him at the altar: ”You look beautiful” and as they settled in the carriage, she turned to him and asked: “You happy’ and he said “Yes, you?” and she nodded and said “Yes”. When they stepped out on the balcony, she went “WOW” looking at the crowd, and what can I say about “THE KISS” or in their case TWO kisses! It was AWESOME!
What a day! How I wish Diana was there to see her son today…Made me cry thinking about it…Well, God Bless Wills and Kate!
