Duke and Duchess of Windsor's Wedding
Who: The
Duke and Duchess of Windsor When: June
3, 1937 Where: Vows
were exchanged in both a civil ceremony and a religious blessing
at Chateau de Cande in France. The Ceremony:
Less than six months after abdicating the throne, the former
King Edward VIII stood by the woman he loved in the salon of
the Chateau de Cande, which was lavishly decorated for the service
with a sea of pink and white peonies gathered in vases as well
as tiny American flags to make the Duchess feel at home. After
pledging their devotion in a French civil ceremony, the newly
betrothed and their guests converged in the music room for a
formal religious blessing. The bride walked down the aisle to
the tune of Dupree's "Wedding March" before professing
her love yet again, at which time a band of Welsh gold, which
would accompany an engagement ring composed of a rectangular-cut
emerald on a platinum band, was placed upon her finger. The Dress: Although a crown would never grace her head, Wallis Simpson
looked regal on her wedding day in a hat adorned with pink and
blue feathers by French milliner Caroline Reboux, renowned for
inventing the cloche. The colors of her headdress harmonized
with the striking hue of her bridal attire, which American-born
haute couture designer Mainbocher dubbed "Wallis blue".
The full-length gown and long-sleeved jacket was constructed
of silk crepe fabric which, along with the tightly cinched,
buttoned waist, emphasized the bride's svelte physique. A jeweled
brooch pinned on the gown's high collar added a touch of glamour,
while a dainty pair of gloves provided an aristocratic accent
to the ensemble. Tradition:
The Reception:
In 1998, a single slice from the couple's wedding cake, protected
in a silk-lined cardboard box bearing the autographs of the
bride and groom, would fetch $30,000 in a Sotheby's auction.
The portion had been cut by Wallis herself from a six-tiered
wedding cake which was sampled by guests after a meal consisting
of lobster, chicken a la King, salad, and strawberries and cream.
The Honeymoon: After a whirlwind tour of Venice and Milan, the couple turned
their sights on Austria, where the gallant groom carried his
new bride across the threshold of Schloss Wasserleonburg, a
fifteenth century castle reportedly inhabited by the restless
spirit of the "Bluebeard Duchess". The fortress would
hold the world at bay from the newlyweds for a period of three
months. Read about other celebrity weddings; search by the celebrity's last name: | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I - J | K | L | M | N - O | P - Q | R | S | T - V | W - Z |
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Lovetripper.com Romantic Travel Guide
The
world watched these royal nuptials held at London's St.
Paul's Cathedral.
