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Who: HRH
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson When: July
23, 1986 Where: The
bride and groom pledged their devotion to each other at Westminster
Abbey in London, England. The Engagement:
As the couple shared their first kiss at Floors Castle, the
Scottish venue was a romantic choice for the prince to ask for
Sarah's hand in marriage. The prospective groom had requested
a Burmese ruby as the focal gem of the engagement ring, to match
his beloved's Titian tresses. The Ceremony: Five hundred million television viewers throughout the world watched as, like Princess Diana before her, Sarah Ferguson left Clarence House in a glass coach drawn by bay horses, waving enthusiastically to the assembled crowd that lined the route to Westminster Abbey. Once inside the 900-year-old house of worship, the woman affectionately referred to as "Fergie" took hold of her father's arm for a four-minute walk to Elgar's Imperial March down a navy blue carpeted aisle to her intended. The couple exchanged
vows in a forty-five minute ceremony steeped in tradition, with
the bride opting to recite a passage that has fallen out of
fashion in modern times, to "love, honor and obey"
her husband. Officially the Duchess of York, the bride's floral
headpiece was set aside for a tiara before the couple emerged
from the chapel. The Dress:
Just as the prince had designed his bride's engagement ring
with her in mind, so The Duchess of York's wedding dress was
created to showcase Sarah's love for her husband. Created by
designer Lindka Cierach, the gown was fashioned of ivory duchesse
satin with a scooped neck, elaborate embroidery and bugle beads
adorning the bodice, padded shoulders accented by bows, and
a large bow at the bustle which flowed into a 17-foot-long train
emblazoned with an "A" for Andrew, as well as Sarah's
personal coat of arms, which consisted of a bumble bee, an anchor
(chosen to represent the groom's naval career) and a rose. The
bride's veil was attached to a perfumed coronet of gardenias--
again, expressly chosen to please the groom. Known for her fascination
with Queen Victoria (Sarah would go on to write books on the
former Queen of England, and name her children after the monarch's
daughters) it was not surprising that the bridesmaid's attire
harkened back to The Gilded Era. The four bridesmaids, all children,
wore pale peach ballerina length dresses trimmed in lace with
ruffles and a bow decorating the back. The girls padded down
the aisle in slippers fashioned by Baboucha Shoes, and in their
hands the attendants carried wooden hoops festooned with flowers.
Completing the look, flowered wreaths tied with a ribbon adorned
their hair. The groom looked
distinguished in his naval uniform while the young pages, including
Prince William, donned tiny sailor's outfits, complete with
boater hats. The Reception:
A turn of the century Landau carried the newly betrothed couple
to Buckingham Palace, where the bride and groom indulged in
a playful kiss on the balcony for the appreciative crowd of
wellwishers before enjoying a traditional wedding breakfast,
complete with lobster, lamb and a six foot tall white wedding
cake embellished with pastel sugar flowers. Later, 300 guests
would converge at Claridges Hotel for another party before the
bride and groom escaped on a honeymoon to the Azores. 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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