The OurWeddingDay Blog

Prince William and fiancé Kate Middleton proved that they are determined to go against Royal tradition and declined to use their long time family wedding cake designers from Andrew Davidson’s bakery. The Andrew Davidson Bakery has baked big wedding cakes for the Royal family for nearly forty years, including all four of the Queen’s children, up until now.

On a side note, did you know that the Royal family doesn’t have to bother with wedding cake prices? Andrew Davidson’s students, who took six weeks to bake Charles and Diana’s wedding cake, did so for free. The five-tiered towering wedding cake was one of 23 cakes chosen from various wedding cake bakeries for their wedding, all of which were created free of charge.

The reason the couple declined to use the traditional bakery is due to the fact that Kate is taking a hands on approach to planning her wedding, and intends to put her own unique stamp on it instead of using Buckingham Palace courtiers. In fact, it’s been rumored that the couple has been using this approach in all aspects of their wedding, including the design of her wedding gown.

Regardless of which cake designer Prince William and Kate Middleton choose, I don’t doubt that it will be absolutely stunning and representative of their unique style and taste.

Read more:

• Prince William and Kate Middleton Update
• What Will Kate Middleton Choose as Her Wedding Gown?
• First Look: Prince William Gives Kate Middleton Diana's Wedding Ring!

Ever since Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton the fashion industry has been clamoring to predict her wedding gown pick. This topic is so much fun to discuss, because not only is Kate Middleton going to be modern day royalty, but, she’s expected to follow in the late Princess Diana’s footsteps by wearing a wedding gown that will shock and amaze the world.

A fashion expert predicts Kate will hit the aisle in a hand embroidered, high necked, lace couture gown. Other fashion experts think she’ll go the traditional route but with a splash of modernism. Experts aren’t foreseeing too many embellishments such as a blanket of Swarovski crystals, but rather a gown with hand embroidering and lace.

It’s expected that Kate’s shoulders, out of respect for the Church and the Royal family, will be covered, at least until the reception. Ever since Kate’s been a public figure she’s done an excellent job at balancing fashion forwardness with classic and tasteful styles, so it’s not likely she’ll change her ways for her wedding.

Kate’s figure, petite yet curvy in all of the right places, certainly won’t hold her back from choosing any specific style. Kate could pretty much wear anything and make it work. She could very well choose a pillowy full skirt, but experts are expecting something more formfitting, like a fishtail style bridal wedding gown.

The fact that Kate has impeccable style indicates she knows how to make a look work. Princess Diana wasn’t as fashion savvy at the time of her wedding to Prince Charles, which most likely prevented her from putting her very own unique stamp on her larger than life wedding gown. Kate’s style is more sophisticated than Diana’s, who was more reserved and shy.

Of course the fashion designers of England are hoping Kate will remain loyal to her roots by choosing a British designer. The obvious pick of British designers would be Vivienne Westwood, who designed fictional character Carrie Bradshaw’s wedding gown in the film Sex and the City. For someone as fashionable as Kate, Vivienne Westwood seems like a perfect fit for her needs.

If Kate doesn’t choose a British designer, she’ll most likely commission either Vera Wang, who’s one of the most celebrated wedding gown designers in the world, or Oscar de la Renta, who’s designer wedding dresses are nothing short of jaw dropping.

Whatever exceptional creation Kate sashays down the aisle with, it will certainly gain public notice, and influence wedding gown trends for years to come. Designer of Sarah Ferguson’s gown, Lindka Cierach, has already warned the designer of Kate’s dress that they should brace themselves for an immense amount of fun, excitement, and pressure. Cierach also said that her experience was thrilling but she often felt as though she was in a pressure cooker and that secrecy was of the utmost importance. Cierach had friends carrying the gown’s embroidery and beads around town for her and that she couldn’t escape car loads of journalists who waited patiently for a glimpse of the custom wedding dress or any indication of it outside her home.

A fantastic place to find hip and gorgeous hairstyles for brides is in celebrity wedding albums. Celebrities often look flawless on set, the red carpet, and at various press events, so you can imagine how perfect their wedding day style must be. If you’re in the process of narrowing your wedding hairstyle down, or need more ideas, explore the following celebrity wedding hairstyles.

Messy
A lot of actresses go for the disheveled look on the red carpet, and also on the aisle. The “Bachelor” star Molly Malaney went with the messy bun look on her big day. Ken Paves created this look by pinning her hair up to the crown of her head and pulled out small strands of it to give it that gorgeous yet un-kept look. A diamond clip added sparkle and elegance to Molly’s amazing up-do.

Romantic Waves
Rebecca Romijn could not have looked dreamier on her wedding day. Her stylist set large pin curls to mold her long blond locks into romantic waves. Two white roses, which were pinned to the back, were the icing on this insatiable wedding cake.

Bohemian
Erin Bartlett took the Bohemian look to a whole new level on her wedding day. Her long blonde locks were parted in the middle and had a loose curl, giving her hair a casual yet classic Bohemian look. This style was topped off with a silver hippie-style headband that held her hair in place.

After announcing her engagement to Prince William, Kate Middleton showed off her engagement ring today, which used to belong to William's mother, Princess Diana. [via Gawker]

Read more:

• Budgeting for Platinum Wedding Bands
• Top 6 Wedding Ring Questions Answered
• Wedding Ring Trends: Style Your Own!

by Alison Rowe, Jewelry and Bridal Expert

When it comes down to engagement rings, celebrities can afford the best of the best, so what exactly are they choosing? Whether they opt for a vintage-inspired design with a white diamond like Nicole Richie or a more modern style with a yellow diamond like Kristen Bell, there is an overarching trend: a platinum setting.

The great news is that we can all have that same quality platinum setting on our everyday budget.  Engagement rings set in platinum start at approximately $2,000 from designers like Hearts on Fire and Jean Dousset, so the main variable is the size of your center stone.

Here are some tips on how you can get your favorite celeb engagement ring style in your price range:

• First of all, remember that smaller diamonds are your friend, too. Whether it’s a halo around the center stone, or a pavé setting, these smaller, more economical stones closely fit together give your ring a ‘big diamond’ look.  Stars like Katherine Heigl and Gwenyth Paltrow framed their center stone with pavé diamonds, complete with a pavé band. Also, instead of a diamond, you can opt for a colored center gemstone like a sapphire or citrine. Not only will it show your individuality, but they are far less expensive than a diamond…just ask Penélope Cruz!
• Go vintage!  Vintage rings have a sweet and elegant style – they reflect utmost sophistication, but without pretention.  Both Katie Holmes and Ali Landry chose a vintage-inspired setting for their engagement rings, but you can do one better – try incorporating heirloom pieces into your ring’s design to make that milestone purchase as sentimental as it is smart.
• Last but not least, possibly one of the most important things to remember is that it’s not all about the diamond. Obviously that’s generally the main focus when choosing a ring, but what’s holding it is just as valuable. Choosing a metal that’s going to stand up to the rigors of everyday life, while retaining its structure and beauty, is a very cost-effective, long-term option. Platinum won’t tarnish, is very durable, and doesn’t ever lose metal. Leading ladies Fergie and Beyoncé both opted for platinum to make sure their rings could withstand life on – and off – the stage.

Read more:

• Caring for Wedding & Engagement Rings
• Vintage Wedding Gowns
• What Satin & Sheer Wedding Dresses Say About You

It’s so much fun to follow the top celebrity weddings in all of their glitz and glamour galore. With the most up-to-date fashion and beauty trends at their fingertips, it’s no wonder that most celebrity weddings score an A+. Whether they happened 40 years ago or 5, the following top celebrity weddings have and will continue to serve as inspiration for future of weddings to come.

Jackie O’s wedding was ultra fab! Known as one of the twentieth century’s most celebrated icons, her wedding dress has ranked as the number one most photographed in American history. It was designed by Ann Lowe and fit her petite frame perfectly. Jackie’s dress now hangs in the Kennedy Library in Boston. Out of all celebrity wedding rings, Jackie’s 2.88-carat diamond mounted next to a 2.84-carat emerald with tapering baguettes takes the cake.

Gwen Stefani also made the “top” list, who married Gavin Rossdale in November 2002 in London’s Covent Garden. The musician turned designer fittingly chose a pink and white wedding dress designed by John Galliano. Gwen should be awarded first place for “best celebrity wedding hair." She boldly flaunted her signature Stefani twist up-do with a traditional veil.

How could I leave Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes off of this list? The couple, who wed in 2006 in an extravagant ceremony at an Italian castle, defined class and decadence with their wedding. Not only were Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Lopez in attendance, but none other than Mark Ronson provided music for the reception.

Read more:

• Wedding Gowns for Petite Brides
• Kelly McGillis' Wedding is Inspiring Even More Tom Cruise Jokes!
• Classic Hollywood Bridal Gowns for Inspiration

Although they are not officially engaged, rumors have been circling the media saying long-time partners Prince William and Kate Middleton are well on their way to having a traditional wedding in 2012. Given that William is indeed a Prince and has done a wonderful job of keeping an upstanding public image throughout his life, it’s a no brainer that they will probably have a traditional British royal wedding.

Because there are so many similarities between Prince William and his father, Prince Charles, it leads me to believe he could have a wedding that mirrors his father and mother, Princess Diana.

Royal Summer Wedding
Charles and Diana were married during the summer of 1981, so why wouldn’t William and Kate follow in their footsteps? A daytime summer wedding at St. Paul’s Cathedral with a royal reception under the sun and stars would be nothing less than dreamy.

Royal Wardrobe
I'm sure Kate will choose a traditional white, simple, yet gorgeous wedding gown with a classic train and veil. Prince William could dress in his Royal Air Force uniform, mirroring his father’s naval commander uniform. Given that a whopping 8 million viewers tuned in to watch Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding in 1981, Kate and William will want to look just as good, if not better for their viewers in 2012.

Whether they turn to traditional royal roots for help with their wedding planning or not, I’m sure William and Kate’s wedding will be absolutely beautiful.

Read more: The Tradition of White, Wedding Gown Trains: A Guide and Integrating Antique Jewelry into Your Bridal Look

Brothers & Sisters star Dave Annable and actress Odette Yustman are now man & wife.

The two were married Sunday (like a lot of other people) just north of L.A., in an outdoor ceremony.

The couple, who dated for a year-and-a-half before their engagement, are looking forward to becoming parents – sooner rather than later: "I want a little hockey team," Annable says. "I'm a little bit older than she is ... I'm going grey, I wear cardigans now. It's time, you know, I have the itch." [via People]

John Oliver and Kate Norley got engaged in the Caribbean last July!

"We were in St. Thomas on holiday," when The Daily Show correspondent, 33, decided to pop the question to his girlfriend of two years.  The couple, who met in 2008 at the Republican National Convention – Oliver was covering, Norley was campaigning – were friends first.

"I finally made a move," Norley, an Iraq War vet, laughingly admits. "I got seduced," adds Oliver.

"I was a medic in the Army," she explains. "It was difficult, but right now it's nice that I get to spend time with the love of my life."

"It's the most emasculating thing I could possibly do to go out with someone who has actually done something valuable with their life," Oliver adds jokingly.

"He's got a forum," Norley says on a more serious note. "We still have troops on the ground. No matter whether there are two or 200,000, we have to make sure our hearts and minds are with what they're doing."

The couple plan to wed "some time next year." [via People]

Check out Gawker's new profile of the one and only Vera Wang:

Who: The fashion stalwart may be best known for her wedding dresses, but she's branched out into fragrances, eyewear, shoes, home furnishings, and more.

Backstory: Vera grew up in a family of immense wealth: Her Chinese-born father, Cheng-Ching ("C.C.") Wang built a fortune in the pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and packaged goods industries as the co-founder of U.S. Summit, a company that Vera's brother oversees to this day; her mother, Florence, was the daughter of a Chinese warlord and a former translator at the United Nations, who took Vera with her on many a shopping trip. Vera attended Chapin, was a competitive figure skater (she narrowly missed a shot at the making the Olympic pairs team in 1968), and went to college at Sarah Lawrence, studying at the Sorbonne in Paris her junior year. When her dad wouldn't pay for grad school in design, she took a job as a sittings assistant at Vogue instead, working at the magazine for 17 years and ending up European editor.

After coming to the conclusion that she'd probably never be Vogue's editor-in-chief, Wang left the mag in the mid-'80s to take a job designing accessories and at-home wear for Ralph Lauren. A couple of years later, she convinced her father-who had long turned down her requests for capital-to finance a line of her own. He had one proviso: It had to be bridal wear. She reluctantly agreed, and it turned out to be a fortuitous decision. Bridal wear lacked a high-end brand name at the time and Wang redefined the industry during the '90s, replacing the once de rigueur frilly, poufy-sleeved dresses with sophisticated, intricate gowns. A decade later, with help from her (now deceased) right-hand Chet Hazzard and licensing chief Laura Lee Miller, the Vera Wang brand has expanded to countless other markets.

Of note: Wang's early buzz as a designer was a result of her pricey, custom bridal dresses, and she remains the brand of choice for many of the fussiest brides. Jessica Simpson, Mariah Carey, Karenna Gore, Sharon Stone, Melania Trump, and Jennifer Lopez (on two occasions) have all worn her down the aisle.

By 2000, she'd moved into the fragrance business with a scent for women to wear on their wedding day. She soon moved into dishes, flatware, stationery, and lingerie.  On Valentine's Day '11, her new bridal line, White, will exclusively hit David's Bridal stores.

Personal: After decades of being, as she describes it, a "fashion nun," Wang tied the knot just a few months shy of her 40th birthday. Her husband is Arthur Becker, a former Bear Stearns broker-turned-computer executive. After unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant, the couple adopted two Eurasian kids in the early '90s, Cecilia and Josephine. The family resides in the 740 Park duplex once occupied by Vera's parents. They sold their previous apartment, a six-bedroom spread at 778 Park, for $33 million in October 2007. [via Gawker]