Brit Wong and Drew Burant, both 29, are hockey fanatics. He’s an Edmonton Oilers fan who grew up with the game in Regina, and she’s a figure-skater-turned-hockey player who’s a Vancouver Canucks fan.
So when they tied the knot on September 3 at Killarney Ice Rink in Vancouver, it was a hockey-themed affair with a matrimonial faceoff.
“You walk into a church, and everything’s there for you. So there’s a lot of work that went into this,” said Brit, “and on top of that, the fear of people falling; or of me, falling in my dress.”
She hit on this idea during a typical night watching “Hockey Night” in Canada on a Saturday, wondering aloud if “it would be cool to get married on a rink.”
“Brittany plans special events for a living. She kicked me to the curb for a lot of events wedding-wise. It probably helped the process,” said Drew.
So the plan was put in motion, despite some “are you serious?” reactions and questions about how, exactly, the bride is supposed to skate down the aisle in a wedding dress.
“We had to alter the dress quite a bit. It was just high enough where you could see the tips of my skates,” she said.
As for the ceremony itself: The seven-person wedding party were all on skates, while the guests were seated in chairs adorned with rally towels and some blankets in case the guests got the chills. “We did write on our invitations, ‘Dress warm,’” said the bride. “We were prepared.”
The wedding took place at center ice, featuring some usual and unusual aspects to the vows. “After we did our rings, we did the ceremonial puck drop, we did our first kiss and then skated out to the Oilers goal horn and goal song,” said Brit.
Since they skated away to the Oilers’ goal song, the puck used during the ceremonial puck drop had a Canucks logo.
“The puck drop was … awkward. I don’t think our Justice of the Peace understood how to do a faceoff,” she said, “and Andrew was more concerned about winning the faceoff than smiling for the cameras. He’s like, ‘I can’t let my boys down and lose the faceoff.’”
The wedding photos took place around the rink, including some with the groom in the penalty box.
He also was able to live a “childhood dream” with a professional photographer: Teaming up with his buddies for the “snow shower on the camera” shot on the ice.
After photos, it was off to a local country club for the reception, where the hockey theme continued. Each member of the wedding party had a jersey with a number, and was introduced as being “from your Edmonton Oilers” or “from your Vancouver Canucks.” Brit and Drew were the captains.
The cupcake stand feature hockey sticks in a display created by a few friends.
The cupcake stand - note the hockey sticks
In the end, nobody fell on the ice, hockey was well-represented, and the bride and groom can cherish a memorable day at the rink.
“A lot of people say their wedding day was the best day of their lives. And this exactly was,” said Drew.
A marriage proposal on a London tube train has gone viral on YouTube after tailor Adam King hired a flashmob to help him pop the question.
With help from a show choir and some very meticulous planning, Adam popped the question to his 25-year-old girlfriend Lucy Rogers on Tuesday evening inside carriage number 2 of the 19.57 London Overground tube train from Euston to Watford Junction.
Shortly after it pulled out of London Euston, the choir broke into song, singing Bill Withers’ ‘Lovely Day’. One man first breaks the silence with an impromptu burst of “When I wake up in the morning love, and the sunlight hurts my eyes.” A blonde haired woman then casually follows with the second line, without raising her eyes from her Kindle. The entire carriage soon bursts into song, leaving other travellers open-mouthed with a perfectly tuneful and choreographed routine.
Adam King proposes to girlfriend Lucy Rodgers with the help of the Adam Street singers on board a train from Euston to Watford Junction
Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz tied the knot in a low-key secret wedding ceremony in New York last Wednesday in front of just four guests — Weisz’s five-year-old son Henry from her relationship with Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky, Craig’s 18-year-old daughter Ella from his first marriage, and two family friends.
Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig
‘Daniel and Rachel insisted on having a small, quiet wedding. They are madly in love and couldn’t wait to be husband and wife – but they wanted minimum fuss,’ a source said.
The Mummy star Rachel, 41, started dating Craig, 43, in November last year after she split from her long-term partner and the father of her son, Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky, while Craig reportedly broke off his engagement to longtime girlfriend Satsuki Mitchell before the two got together.
Darren Aronofsky & Rachel Weisz
Daniel Craig with Satsuki Mitchell (AP Photo/Nathan Strange)
The pair has been friends for years but allegedly fell for each other after they both starred as husband and wife in the forthcoming thriller Dream House. It seemed that they have taken the roles to heart.
They kept their romance a secret but it was exposed after they spent Christmas together, and then in May they were spotted together in Paris.
Craig rose to fame in 2006 when he became the sixth actor to play Bond in the film franchise and will star in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” Weisz won an Academy Award for “The Constant Gardener” and starred in “The Mummy.”
Robin Baun of Slate PR, which represents Craig, said Saturday that the actor and Weisz have married. She did not offer any details.
This is the first marriage for Weisz and the second for the James Bond star.
This is the most romantic and dramatic marriage proposals I have ever seen. The video of a carefully planned marriage proposal by Matt Still involving a Hollywood-style movie trailer, popcorn and an entire movie theater has gone viral on YouTube, attracting almost 3 million views since it was uploaded 3 days ago on Monday.
Matt, of Atlanta, USA, had hired wedding photographer Michael Escobar to create the action-packed clip titled “Greatest Marriage Proposal Ever!” for his girlfriend Ginny Joiner.
Matt begins his elaborate proposal to Ginny by getting her brother to take her to the movie theater supposedly to watch Fast Five. After the trailer for “The Hangover 2” has been shown, Matt’s trailer appears on the screen.
Ginny wasn’t aware that her reaction to the upcoming trailer was being secretly filmed.
‘This better be good’ she mouthed to her brother before Matt’s trailer began.
Giiny begins to suspect that her boyfriend Matt is on the screen and her astonished reaction can be seen via a separate camera embedded in the YouTube trailer.
The trailer begins with a deep voiceover proclaiming: ‘A love story so true it couldn’t have been written.’
The camera then pans to a conversation between two men, but only their bottom halves can be seen.
The faces of Matt and Ginny's father are not revealed when the tralier starts.
‘There comes a time when every father lets his little girl go to another man who loves her as much as he does,’ says the deep voice.
‘I want to spend the rest of my life with her. She has my heart, she is my friend, my everything. ‘She is nothing like any woman I’ve ever met before. She’s everything I’ve wanted and more.
‘I didn’t even know what real love is, but she is showing me and teaching me every day.’
Matt then asks Ginny’s father for permission to pop the question in a Godfather-style scene that doesn’t reveal either of their faces and Ginny’s name is not used, leaving Ginny momentarily unaware of what is going on.
Ginny’s father accepts Matt’s request and the two shake hands before the camera pans up to reveal her father’s face in focus.
The camera pans up to reveal Ginny's father who is now embracing Matt
Matt’s trailer continues.
Matt then runs out of Ginny’s house and jumps into his car before speeding off to the movie theater. At the cinema, he pauses at the counter to buy a bucket of popcorn before taking a deep breath and going into the screening room in dramatic slow-motion footage to find Ginny.
Matt buys a bucket of popcorn before taking a deep breath and entering the screening room where Ginny is.
Ginny turns around in her seat to find Matt actually entering the theatre behind her, engagement ring in hand.
The camera switches to a camcorder as Matt gets down on one knee and pops the question.
Matt asks her to marry him, she says yes, an audience member says bravo, before the cinema erupts with applause and whoops.
Giiny says yes, an audience member says ‘bravo,’ and the cinema erupts with applause and whoops.
The house lights come on, and Ginny can see the theater is actually full of her family and friends.
You must be wondering why the trailer is titled “Making The Movies Jealous”. On their second date Matt said they were going to be making the movies jealous. Oh yes,Matt really makes lots of girls jealous too.
On their second date Matt had told Ginny they'd be making the movies jealous...he made every girl in the movie theatre jealous too
See back now and enjoy this amazing marriage proposal on YouTube.
But Matt, I am sorry to let you know that this is not the first proposal of its kind however. Todd Cavanaugh asked former Miss New York, Elisabeth Baldanza, to marry him in a dramatic movie trailer while the couple were at the theatre together. Watch that trailer now.
Singapore Mandopop superstar Stefanie Sun, 32, wed marketing consultant Indonesian-born Dutch boyfriend Nadim van der Ros, 34, in a low-key private wedding ceremony on Sunday after a five-year relationship.
Mandopop superstar Stefanie Sun
30 friends and family members gathered at Sun’s home at Stevens Road while six security guards kept the foreign and local members of the media at bay.
Sun’s close friend, Taiwan pop princess Jolin Tsai was among the guests who attended the couple’s low-key wedding dinner held at the Capella Singapore hotel on Sentosa.
Jolin Tsai with the newly-weds
Although Sun said her wedding day was relatively stress-free, van der Ros couldn’t possibly have thought so.
He had to brave a slew of diabolical challenges Sun’s bridesmaids had set, such as performing a ‘lion dance’ and assuming some difficult yoga positions, before finally being able to claim his bride, undergo traditional rites and head to Sentosa for their wedding banquet.
The wedding invitation was made public recently when an invited guest shared a picture of it online. The invitation card was simple and elegant — a design befitting of the low profile couple.
Apart from including the Chinese traditional character which means ‘double happiness’ on the card, the couple also stamped a line that aptly sums up their relationship, “He met her and She met him.”
Stefanie Sun's wedding invitation card
Besides her wedding in Singapore, Sun will also hold a celebratory banquet in Taiwan for her friends and members of her staff at a later date after her nuptials.
The media was not invited to Sun’s wedding and she gave no interviews, but the singer’s music label Wonderful Music released a series of photos taken on Sun’s wedding day, along with a statement from the bride on Sunday.
Stefanie Sun and Nadim van der Ros
The happy couple
Beautiful bride Stefanie Sun
“Today is a happy day. It is the fifth anniversary of me and my other half’s relationship. It is also the most important day of my life.
“The decision to hold my wedding today is because we had dated for a long time. In addition, we are both very easy-going. It is a joyous ceremony, without any anxiety, without any special stress. The most stressful part was preparing for the wedding,” said Sun in her statement.
“Today is the beginning of a new chapter in my life. I hope from now on I can be a virtuous wife.
“Thank you everyone! Whether it is the blessings from friends in the media or my fans, it has all been received! Thank you!” Sun added.
“Hopefully, all the guests who turned up today are happy. The important point is today, I’m the most beautiful!”
Stefanie Sun in a Chinese wedding dress
If not for a nosey reporter, Stefanie Sun may have just kept her wedding under wraps. A Shin Min Daily reporter uncovered a marriage application while surfing the Registry of Marriages (ROM) website, showing that Sun had registered her union with Van Der Ros in a quiet civil ceremony on March 31, 2011. The ROM search showed details of Van Der Ros’ birthdate, as well as Sun’s dialect name, Sng Ee Tze.
Well, the cat’s out of the bag, and the timing could not be better as Sun has just released her new album named “It’s Time.” The irony of the album title is surely not lost on anyone.
The entire world seems to have been gripped by the royal wedding fever. Unless you are a hermit living in some mountain hide-away, you would know that Prince William and Kate Middleton will be walking down the aisle on April 29th, 2011 at the famous Westminster Abbey.
Ever since the royal couple announced their April 29 nuptials, merchandisers have been in overdrive creating everything from the usual china collectors’ items and t-shirts to weird and kinky stuff. The royal wedding frenzy has thus resulted in a glut of royal wedding memorabilia.
Royal wedding collectibles
There are the usual stuff like china ware, postcards, t-shirts, mugs, flags, ash trays, jigsaws, magnets, coins, stamps, and even food items like chocolates, pizza, donuts, roast dinners, cakes and whatnot.
Royal Wedding magnets
Royal wedding silver spoons
Royal wedding postcards
Royal wedding mugs
Royal wedding mouse pad
Royal wedding jewel boxes
Royal Wedding cuff links
Royal wedding T-shirt
Royal wedding chocolates
Royal Wedding bell
Royal wedding flag
Royal Wedding coin
Royal wedding jigsaw
Royal wedding ash tray
In terms of popularity, the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 broke all sorts of box office records in terms of sales of royal memorabilia.
The royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton could smash all previous royal memorabilia and merchandise sales figures thanks to the huge global excitement around the event and the opportunities to buy online. There was no eBay when Prince Charles and Lady Diana married in 1981.
To participate in the wedding of the decade, you can splurge on the wide choices of Prince William and Kate Middleton memorabilia.
Royal Wedding Collector’s Edition Condom
Crown Jewels Royal Wedding Condoms of Distinction
Like a royal wedding, intercourse with a loved one is an unforgettable occasion
The aptly-named Crown Jewels Condoms of Distinction has launched the “Royal Wedding Collector’s Edition” souvenir condom to celebrate to commemorate Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding on April 29.
The contraceptives are sold in packs of three with a picture of the royal couple in front. The condoms have been described as “combining the strength of a prince with the yielding sensitivity of a princess-to-be.”
There has also been negative reactions to the condoms, with Majesty magazine editor Ingrid Seward saying that it was tasteless and hurtful.
‘Lie back and think of England’
“Like a Royal Wedding, intercourse with a loved one is an unforgettable occasion.” So say the folks at Crown Jewels, who advise their customers to “Lie back and think of England.”
If you purchase a box of the condoms and actually used them – as opposed to saving them as souvenirs – don’t be surprised if a new kind of prince or princess enters your life in say nine months or so.
Crowned Jewels “condoms of distinction” may promise a “union of pleasure and style,” but they also contain a disclaimer stating that they are “a novelty product and may not be suitable as a contraceptive or barrier against sexually transmitted diseases.”
“Kiss Me Kate” Beer
“Kiss Me Kate”Beer
Kiss Me Kate available at Castle Rock pubs
England’s Castle Rock Brewery has created 70,000 bottles of Kiss Me Kate beer, which is available exclusively at Britain’s Morrisons supermarket. Those heading to England for the wedding can also sample the brew on draught in Castle Rock pubs throughout April. Cheers!
Royal Virility Performance Brew
Royal Virility Performance Brew
“Royal Virility Performance” is a brew which touts itself as “a beer to stir the loins of newlywed princes, summon the ghosts of long gone princesses and cure the stammer of stuttering kings.”
The Scotland-based BrewDog Brewery’s web site says the artisanal pale ale is laced with an “herbal Viagra,” chocolate, horny goat weed and “a healthy dose of sarcasm.”
Long live the Royal Dick!
William and Kate Greeting Card with Teabags
Kate and William Teabags
Oh, how the British love tea! So if you are a tea lover, you can dip either William or Kate in hot water. Fancy telling your friends that you have tasted Kate!
Royal Wedding Sick Bags
Lydia Leith poses for a photograph with some of her Royal wedding sick bags
British artist Lydia Leith from Carlisle has created a specially designed hand screen-printed “Royal Wedding Sick Bag”for those already sick of hearing about Prince William’s upcoming nuptials to Kate Middleton. Leith, 24, has already sold out of her first batch, available for Ł3 each.
Lydia, who now lives in Edinburgh and is a graduate from the city’s College of Art, admits she does not think it will be used as a sick bag.
Each bag features an illustration of Kate and Wills. Above their head hovers a regal crown and the words “Throne Up.” The bottom of the bag reads “Royal Wedding Sick Bag. Keep this handy on April 29th, 2011.”
“The bags are just a bit of fun, a sort of antidote to the hysteria surrounding the wedding,” Leith said. “I’m not an anti-monarchist in the slightest!
Royal Wedding Perfume
Here is a run-down of three of the perfumes dedicated to the royal wedding.
Roja Dove of Harrods Haute Parfumerie has commissioned Clive Christian to create a special luxurious set engraved with the initials of the betrothed. The crystal bottles are adorned with diamond solitaires and house an already existing perfume often advertized as being the most expensive one in the world, The No.1 Perfume. Only 1000 copies are reportedly released each year.
Harrods Haute Parfumerie
“Since this is Prince William’s great-great-great-great-grandmother’s chosen perfumery and No. 1 is inspired by the love of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the unique pair of perfumes will be an invisible connection between Prince William and Catherine and is an ideal way for them to pay homage to his royal ancestors on their wedding day.”
The set will be offered as a wedding present by Roja Dove through the royal house.
Floris, one of the oldest perfumeries extant in the world, established in 1730, have also insisted on paying homage to the momentous event. Simply called Wedding Bouquet, the perfume “has been created by drawing inspiration from the most popular Floris wedding fragrances from the past and introducing a modern twist using a white flower theme.”
Floris’ Wedding Bouquet
Grossmith of London have also taken the opportunity to re-create an ancient recipe used in 1893 to celebrate the betrothal and wedding of “a Princess who became Queen of England,” i.e., Queen Mary who married King George V. The floral bouquet is said to be “perfect for a modern princess.”
Grossman’s Betrothal
Outside of Great-Britain, German perfumer Kim Weisswange of Capital Cosmetics claims she has been commissioned to craft a duo of perfumes for Kate and William called William and Catherine. The royal house denies the claim but apparently Weisswange is a nose with celebrities credentials since Madonna, Prince Charles and the Queen are reported to wear her fragrances.
Hamburg perfumer Kim Weisswange creates wedding perfume for William and Kate
William is said to be strong and sporty while Catherine is a based on rose and magnolia.
Royal Wedding Apps
Numerous mobile apps for Apple iPhones, iPads and other iOS devices are being touted as indispensable for keeping track of and connected with The Royal Wedding. These are truly 21st Century souvenirs of the first 21st Century British Royal Wedding.
The Daily Mirror’s smartphone app is one of the best royal wedding apps. It gives a unique glimpse into the world of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Everything you could ever want to know about the couple can now be in the palm of your hand in an instant, on your iPhone, iTouch, iPad or Nokia smartphone.
The Daily Mirror’s Royal wedding app
And with 10 chapters packed with brilliant writing, stunning pictures – plus video and audio on Apple devices – there is enough to keep you riveted until the big day on April 29 – and beyond.
Narrated by the Daily Mirror’s legendary former Royal Correspondent James Whitaker, who has been reporting on the royals since 1968, the app, called Wills & Kate A Royal Love Story, tells the story of their romance in 10 chapters.
It follows William and Kate’s early years, their families and friends, as well as tracking their courtship from the moment they first met as students at university in 2001 to their much-anticipated engagement last November.
The app is packed full of unique pictures from formal and informal events, and each image comes with a detailed description.
The Franklin Mint Kate Middleton Royal Engagement Doll is a beautiful and authentic replica of the future Princess, featuring hand-painted, life-like portrait sculpture, jewelry and a reproduction of the blue silk jersey dress that was worn to formally announce the engagement. The Franklin Mint Kate Middleton doll also features miniature replicas of the jewelry the soon-to-be princess donned, including the necklace, earrings, and engagement ring, all outfitted with simulated sapphires, diamonds, and other jewels.
Kate Middleton Royal Engagement Vinyl Portrait Doll
The Royal Wedding Doll will feature an exact replica of the dress that will be worn in the wedding. The doll’s wig will reflect the hair style that is worn on her wedding day, and will feature a miniature tiara that Kate Middleton will wear as well.
Kate Middleton Royal Wedding Vinyl Portrait Doll
Commemorative China
England’s fine bone China manufacturers have produced a fine collection of official crockery. If you are a collector of such items, you are truly spoiled for choice.
Royal wedding china wares
KK Outlet’s Plates
KK Outlet’s plates boast funny, clever slogans, including “Thanks for the free day off,” “Economic crisis? What economic crisis?” and “It should have been me.” Thumbs up to the creative team at KK Outlet for designing something so cheeky and honest. The collection is available at kkoutlet.com.
KK Outlet Plates
Prince Harry & Kate Royal Wedding Mug
A souvenir company has come out with a Royal Wedding commemorative mug, but they put Prince Harry’s photo on it instead of Prince William’s. There are suspicions that the company did it on purpose, as an elaborate spoof. Others have speculated they did it to sell more of the supposed “error” mugs.
Prince Harry & Kate Middleton mug
On the back, an inscription reads: “The fairytale romantic union of all the centuries. 29th April 2011.”
The mug, supposedly designed by a Chinese firm Guandong Enterprises, can be purchased for the princely sum of Ł9.99 plus postage and packaging.
However, the fact that the company is apparently registered in Britain has led some to suspect it is all an elaborate spoof.
The website promoting the mug reads: “Crafted in the finest bone china, it features an exquisite design of the happy couple with ornate gold detailing to honour this great moment in history.
“Please be our guests to own this esteemed, limited edition heirloom to celebrate with your work associates, friends, family and loved ones on 29th April 2011.”
The company adds: “You are welcome to purchase now to avoid disappointment and regret.”
To avoid confusion, the small print states that the mugs “are not supplied to, or approved by, Prince William of Wales, Catherine Middleton or any member of the Royal Family.”
Jan Constantine’s Regal Cushion Collection
The Royal Wedding cushions are sophisticated and have the names of William and Catherine embellished in antique gold across the heart and adorned with the crown of Prince William.
Jan Constantine Regal Royal Wedding cushion collection
Prince William and Kate Middleton Commemorative Tapestry Cushions
If you want Prince William and Kate Middleton in your bed or your lounge, just order Prince William and Kate Middleton commemorative cushions.
Prince William and Kate Middleton Commemorative Tapestry Cushions
The Crown and Coronets Wallpaper
The Crown and Coronets Wallpaper by the wall-paper company, Graham and Brown, seeks homage to the British royals and is one of the more classy memorabilia out there.
The William & Catherine Commemorative Chair
The William & Catherine Commemorative Chair is elegant and also features the couple’s names and the wedding date.
The William & Catherine Commemorative Chair
The Royal Refrigerator By General Electric
The refrigerator has a giant-sized photo of Prince William and Kate Middleton plastered bang on the doors.
The Royal Refrigerator By General Electric
The Limited Edition Royal Wedding Sliding Door System
You can opt for the Limited Edition Royal Wedding Sliding Door System featuring Kate and William’s photo image on glass panels.
The Limited Edition Royal Wedding Sliding Door System
Kate and William Porcelain Throne
If you want a touch of royalty in your bathroom, you can order the Kate and William Porcelain Throne. A bit disrespectful, don’t you think so?
Kate and William Porcelain Throne
William & Kate Pez Dispenser
The royal wedding PEZ dispenser featuring Prince William and Kate Middleton was sold on eBay for a whopping $13,360. A Connecticut man placed the winning bid and PEZ has announced that the proceeds will go to charity.
Prince William & Kate Middleton Pez Dispensers
Royal Mail Stamps
Stock up on Britain’s Royal Mail commemorative stamps, featuring Mario Testino’s official engagement photos of Will and Kate.
Royal Wedding commemorative stamps
Niue Stamps
The tiny Pacific island of Niue caused a storm of controversy when they released their commemorative royal wedding stamp, featuring a tear down the middle of the happy couple. The complete stamp is worth $5.80 New Zealand dollars, but used separately, Will’s side is worth NZ$3.40 and Kate’s just NZ$2.40. Ominous signs of a future split? Let’s hope not!
Niue's Royal Wedding Stamp Prince William and Kate Middleton
Knit Your Own Royal Wedding Book
For those of you who love arts and crafts, you can even “knit your own Royal wedding” with Fiona Goble’s instructional book which offers knitting patterns for the entire royal family in their full wedding finery! The whole wedding party is included – even the Archbishop of Canterbury and the corgis!
KNIT YOUR OWN ROYAL WEDDING BOOK
Knit your own William & Kate
Royal Couple Knitted Toys
Kate Bevan, a Kate Middleton look-alike, poses for a photograph with a knitted toy inspired by the forthcoming royal wedding, at a toy fair.
Kate Bevan with her knitted toys
Royal Gloves
Handmade in Scotland, these 100-percent lambs-wool and camel-colored gloves feature the royal couple’s names and, of course, the engagement ring.
Kate Engagement Photo Session Dress
Fashion label Reiss has re-created the “Nanette” frock that the princess-to-be Kate wore for her engagement photo session with Mario Testino. As part of the Spring/Summer 2011 collection, the frilly white dress has been produced in a lighter-weight fabric (while still maintaining its original style).
Kate's engagement photo session dress
Butter London Nail Lacquer
Butter London is due to release a limited edition nail lacquer in honor of Kate Middleton’s engagement. The shade is said to be gray-blue with glitter galore and is cleverly dubbed “No More Waity, Katie”, a facetious play on the endearing “Waity Katie” nickname given to her pre-engagement.
Butter London Limited Edition Nail Lacquer
The Royals Comic Book
Veteran comic book scribe CW Cooke gives Will and Kate’s life stories a comic-book spin in Bluewater Productions’ 32-page tome, available in comic book stores for $3.99.
The Royals Comic
“The Royals” follows Prince William throughout his privileged upbringing, schooling, hardships and eight-year romance with Kate. The comic will also feature fictional details of the royal wedding, including Kate’s dress, the couple’s honeymoon location and more.
Royal Wedding Children Play Set
Early Learning Centre’s children’s play set includes the bride and groom sitting in a gold-trimmed horse-drawn carriage, flanked by the Queen of England, Prince Phillip and their favorite corgi, with a Royal Cavalry soldier and foot soldier standing guard.
Royal Wdding Children Play Set
Cupcakes & Ribbons’ Royal Wedding Cupcakes
The cupcakes are baked to order using Cupcakes & Ribbons’ scrummy, gooey vanilla sponge recipe – voted Country Life’s favourite. The Royal Wedding cupcakes are fondant iced with butter cream underneath to seal in the moisture so they will last up to 4/5 days once stored in an airtight container.
William and Kate cupcakes
Still can’t get enough of the royal wedding memorabilia? The watch this YouTube video on the royal wedding memorablilia
Feeling lost? Get yourself a copy of “The Royal Wedding For Dummies”.
Royal Wedding For Dummies
Come Friday, the whole world will grind to a stop to watch the wedding of the century. Get ready your Papa Johns' Royal Wedding Pizza, Royal Wedding Dunkin Donuts, Kate & Wills Roast Dinners and “Kiss Me Kate”,
Papa Johns Royal Wedding Pizzas
Royal Wedding Dunkin Donuts
Kate and Wills Roast Dinner Portrait
Let's us cheer to the Royal Couple with our Kiss Me Kate........ Yamseng!
The world will grind to a stop this Friday as the royal wedding fever reaches its climax. It is estimated that about 2 billions people will watch the royal wedding on television. It has been billed as the Wedding of the Decade and Wedding of the Century!
It’s such a pity that Princess Diana isn’t around to witness the wedding of his eldest son to Kate Middleton. Kate has captured the hearts of millions around the world with her beauty and her charm.
While we wait for Friday to come round, here are two royal wedding spook videos to keep you entertained…..enjoy!
Just when you thought you have seen it all in the world of reality TV, E! brings you “Bridalplasty”, the utter nadir of cultural decrepitude.
The new series, premiering November 28 at 9 p.m., will feature 12 brides-to-be pitting against each other each week in wedding-themed challenges (such as writing wedding vows and planning honeymoons) for nose jobs, implants, lipo and the ultimate prize: a celebrity-worthy dream wedding. All twelve of them will begin the journey living under one roof.
Bridalplasty
Bloggers refer to Bridalplasty as “The Brides of Frankenstein”, “horroreality”, and “the Final TV Show Ever Made Before Mankind Slips Quietly Into The Dust”.
The show, which appears intent on seeing a young brides-to-be transformed into plastic barbies, will be hosted by former Playboy model and Miss USA Shanna Moakler.
Shanna Moakler
Of course, “Bridalplasty” is not the first TV show about plastic surgery. “The Swan” and ABC’s “Extreme Makeover” both followed subjects who went under the knife to modify their appearance.
But “Bridalplasty” will be the first American reality show to have participants compete for plastic surgery, pushing the limits of medical ethics.
Despite “Bridalplasty’s” unsettling tagline — “the only show where the winner gets cut” — the reality competition follows a surprisingly standard format: Each week, the contestants will participate in a wedding- or relationship-themed challenge, such as picking the perfect dress, according to Jason Sarlanis, vice president of original programming and series development for E!
And like many reality competition shows, a winner is granted immunity each week and thus is exempt from competing the following episode. But, on “Bridalplasty,” immunity is also a form of “medical leave.”
Bridalplasty - The only show where the winner gets cut
“Contestants will wait until they’re ready to return — doctor’s orders,” Sarlanis said. “They won’t participate in any part of the episode that could mess with recuperation.”
But recovery time is not the only concern for Dr. John Diaz, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California, who is not affiliated with the show. Diaz says, “By competing in a show like this, patients might feel pressured to undergo surgeries they wouldn’t have under normal circumstances.”
That pressure, he says, can stem from contestants’ peers on the show, as well as the fact that the surgeries are free.
“If a contestant is only interested in her nose, but every other woman around her is talking about her breasts, all of a sudden, she may feel pressure to do her breasts, as well,” Diaz said. “It’s almost like a peer pressure spurred on by this competition.”
Supporters and critics alike agree that “Bridalplasty” will most likely be a hit.
Sarah Polonsky, senior editor at BettyConfidential.com, said she’s worried the show will send a negative message to viewers — “equating cash to plastic surgery.”
“Anyone emotionally unstable enough to desire that much plastic surgery really needs Botox for the soul,” Polonsky said. “They should be giving out therapy instead of nose jobs. … When you start planning a wedding to include lip injections and rhinoplasty in addition to flower arrangements, it’s almost as belittling to your groom as it is to yourself.”
“In today’s entertainment landscape, the most absurd and crazy idea wins,” Hall said. “This certainly feels like the most absurd and crazy TV show in a long time.”
Under the American Society of Plastic Surgeons code of ethics, “We’re technically prohibited from giving procedures away as a prize for a contest. It totally undermines the doctor-patient relationship,” says Dr. Gayle Gordillo, associate professor plastic surgery at Ohio State University. “The ethical and social implications of this show are frightening.”
From a medical and ethical standpoint, many plastic surgeons objected to the use of plastic surgery as a prize to be fought over in the new show.
“It’s a bad idea on two counts. One, they’re rushing a surgery which is dangerous, and more importantly it’s totally unethical to offer plastic surgery as the result of winning a contest,” says Dr. Garry Brody, professor emeritus of plastic surgery at the University of Southern California.
In the first episode, 12 eager brides-to-be from across the country move into a mansion where they live together and compete to collect plastic surgery procedures and fabulous wedding prizes along the way. But before the competition heats up, they first meet with Dr. Terry Dubrow for a private consultation to create a personalized plastic surgery “wish list” that they hope to complete before walking down the aisle – from muffin tops to crooked noses to flat chests, the perceived imperfections they hope to fix are extensive and dramatic. Each bride will leave the consultations with a clear vision of what her new body could be.
Dr. Terry Dubrow is a board certified plastic surgeon in southern California with over 15 years of experience. He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a Certified Expert for The California Medical Board. He was the plastic surgeon on the Fox television show “The Swan” and his surgical practice includes reconstructive cancer surgery as well as cosmetic surgery.
Dr Terry Dubrow in The Swan
The competition begins and the women go head to head in wedding-themed challenges, ranging from writing wedding vows to planning honeymoons. The winning bride receives the chance to choose a procedure from her “wish list,” which will take place immediately and be revealed at the beginning of the next episode. Each episode ends in a dramatic elimination with one bride being voted off by her competitors, possibly walking away with nothing and losing her chance to be the perfect bride.
The “Bridalplasty” champion will be named and viewers will follow her journey as she prepares for her dream wedding, which includes undergoing all of the procedures on her plastic surgery “wish list,” and her fiancé’s anticipation as he waits to see her full transformation. In a moment anticipated all season long, viewers will witness his emotional and possibly shocked reaction as they stand at the altar and he lifts her veil to see her for the first time following her extreme plastic surgery. The dramatic finale marks the end of her quest for perfection and reveals if her dream wedding does in fact become a reality.
Forget the Mao suits of a generation ago. Actually, forget about any clothes at all. Being photographed nude is the hot new trend of wedding photos among newly-wed couples in once deeply conservative China, irking the Shanghai Wedding Trade Association to call for a government ban on this new fad.
Mao suits
The association says posing nude as a memento of your big day is disrespectful of the institution of marriage.
“We don’t advocate such wedding photographs as they are out of keeping with the conservative traditions of Chinese people,” the association’s vice president He Lina was quoted as saying.
“Weddings should be holy ceremonies, so we hope young people can show respect.”
He also expressed concern over privacy issues, saying couples were running the risk of their intimate pictures being sold or put online by unscrupulous photographers.
Unlike in the West, Chinese wedding photos are normally taken months before the ceremony and show couples posing in Western and Chinese outfits.
Traditional Chinese wedding attire
Another traditional Chinese wedding attire
Some studios have begun offering couples the option of portraits of them wearing nothing at all or with strategically placed sheets or other objects covering their bodies. The naked wedding picture business is an open secret among many local photography studios.
Nude wedding photo
Though not included in the service menu, many studios allow new couples to choose from a number of options. These include wearing nothing at all or covering private parts with strategically placed decorations.
“Most of the people who come here to have the bold, naked photos taken are young, trendy and unconventional”, said a studio owner. He did mention that, in most cases, the photos were carefully taken to avoid displaying full-frontal nudity.
Another trendy wedding photo of a Chinese couple
Privacy concerns were also echoed by Zhao Jiaoli, secretary general of the Shanghai Commission of Consumers’ Rights and Interests Protection, who advised young couples to sign detailed confidentiality agreements with studios.
“An agreement is important for customers to protect their rights if the studio violates their privacy,” said Zhao. “But many studios don’t provide contracts.”
She also encouraged the wedding trade association to set up regulations making confidentiality agreements compulsory for the business.
“What if the couples get divorced? What would they do with the naked pictures? Burn them or use them to threaten each other,” asked a web user on sina.com.
Supporters of the naked wedding photos say the photos capture a couple’s deep love and intimacy and are a welcome renewal to the stale unchanging traditions of the wedding photo. This attitude is now prevalent China.
Britain’s Prince William ‘s engagement to Kate Middleton has finally been announced by the British royal family yesterday, ending years of speculation about whether and when the prince would propose to his longtime girlfriend.
Prince Wiiliam and Kate Middleton
According to the announcement, Prince William officially proposed to Middleton when the two were on vacation in Kenya two months ago and also asked her father for her hand in marriage.
Prince William proposed to Middleton using the 18-carat sapphire and diamond engagement ring that belonged to his mother, the late Princess Diana. So what does the famous ring look like? It’s the dazzling oval, 18-carat blue sapphire and white diamond ring that the late Princess Diana chose after becoming engaged to Charles in 1981.
The engagement ring
“This was my way of making sure that my mother didn’t miss out on today,” William said as the couple posed for photographers in the state apartments at St. James’ Palace.
William holds his mother up like an icon but admits that “I just want to make sure I keep her memory alive and all the good things and good work that she did.”
Infant William with his parents Primcess Diana & Prince Charles
Prince William did his proposing the right way- he asked Kate’s father for his daughter’s hand before proposing to her. And he admitted to being nervous about popping the question. “I was not sure she would say yes.” he said. “How could I be? ”
Congratulatory remarks poured in from around Britain following the announcement. Prime Minister David Cameron received the news during a cabinet meeting.
“A great cheer went up and a great banging of the table,” Cameron told reporters. “A great day for our country, a great day for the royal family and obviously a great day for Prince William and for Kate.”
Cameron said he spoke to Prince William after the news was announced and passed on his congratulations.
“He was extremely excited about the news and thrilled about what lies in store,” Cameron said.
“It’s great to have a piece of unadulterated good news that everyone can celebrate,” he added. “I’m sure it will be something where the country will come together. … It’s two young people who love each other who’ve made this decision, and it’s a fantastically important and exciting moment for them, too.”
Prince William, second-in-line to the throne after his father Prince Charles, and Kate Middleton, daughter of self-made entrepreneurs, will tie the knots in spring or summer of 2011, said a statement from Clarence House. It said further details would be announced “in due course.”
Clarence House
Clarence House refused to say what Middleton will be called after she gets married, saying any styles and titles are at the discretion of the queen. Perhaps setting the stage for her being called “Princess Catherine,” Prince Charles used Middleton’s official first name in making the announcement from Clarence House, his London residence near Buckingham Palace yesterday.
The location for the wedding is also being kept secret, though it is expected to take place at Westminster Abbey. Other possible locations include Paul’s Cathedral and Windsor Castle.
William’s grandparents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, are said to be “absolutely delighted” by the news, according to a statement released by Buckingham Palace. Under British law and custom, Prince William actually had to officially ask his grandmother’s permission to marry, given that he will one day become king.
Prince William is the son of Prince Charles, heir to the throne, and Princess Diana. Charles and Diana were married in 1981 but divorced in 1996. A year later, Diana was killed in a car crash in a Paris tunnel while being chased by paparazzi photographers.
The Royal Wedding of Princess Diana & Prince Charles
Prince William and Middleton, both 28, have had a lengthy relationship of eight years, including a brief separation before reuniting. They first met in 2002 when both were students at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and started dating a year later. They broke up in April 2007 despite widespread speculation even then that they were close to marriage. The split was said to be amicable, with the couple determined to remain friends, and the two appeared together in the royal box at Wembley Stadium that July for the Concert for Diana, a charity event to remember William’s mother 10 years after her death.
Prince William studied geography and Middleton studied history of art before both graduated in 2005. William was originally on the same art program but changed to geography; Middleton was widely credited with persuading him to change course rather than drop out.
They first appeared as a couple on a skiing trip in Switzerland while still at the university. Since then, photos of them holidaying have appeared, showing Kate in bikinis.
Prince William and Kate Middleton holidaying
Kate Middleton in bikin
The British Royal family became somewhat of an ongoing reality show 29 years ago, when Princess Diana married Prince Charles. Diana allowed unprecedented access, gave candid interviews and became a star in her own right. Since her death in 1997, her sons have basked in the afterglow of Diana’s press adoration. They are, after all, the future of the monarchy.
Their 2011 wedding will be the largest Royal event since Prince William’s parents, Prince Charles and Lady Diana were married on July 29, 1981. However the nuptials will likely one that is cognizant of the tough global economic times and not be too frivolous. How will Prince William’s royal wedding compare to the royal wedding of his late mother, Princess Diana?
Prince William and Kate Middleton seem to enjoy a less high-profile style than Princess Diana and Prince Charles, so their royal wedding may be on a much smaller scale. They seem like a couple who will go with a more intimate affair for their nuptials than a televised royal wedding.
Sexy Kate Middleton
Most Brits are delighted that the young Prince William will soon take a bride, even if she does not come from Royalty herself. Many are immediately reminded of William’s mother, who though not of royal descent, became one of the most beloved and popular Royal figures not only on Britain but around the world. Will Princess Kate posses the same appeal to the masses as Diana? Time will only tell.
Middleton grew up in Bucklebury, England, a small village about 45 miles west of central London. Her parents are millionaire entrepreneurs who run Party Pieces, an online children’s party supplies business.
Kate with her parents Carole and Michael Middleton
After university, Middleton worked in London as an accessories buyer for the British clothing chain Jigsaw but left the company in late 2007. Media reports said she was interested in opening a photography gallery. According to news reports, she has been working with her parents’ business since August.
Middleton’s family is seen as upper-middle class. Such a background bodes well for her future role at the side of the future king, according to Lady Colin Campbell, who wrote a biography of Princess Diana.
“The problem with recent royal brides who were aristocratic is that they thought they were doing the royal family a favor by marrying them,” she told CNN, “while the middle-class girls like Sophie Wessex, the countess of Wessex (married to Prince Charles’ brother, Edward), and Kate Middleton understand that to be royal requires some sacrifice, and they do not suffer from folie de grandeur (delusion of greatness) the way aristocratic girls evidently do nowadays.”
Davies, however, said he feels the opposite about Middleton, who he said lacks the “charisma” shown by William’s mother.
“Remember that this young lady has no royal connections what-so-ever, and that can be a danger,” he said.
Middleton has already met Queen Elizabeth at royal events including the wedding of William’s cousin, Peter Phillips, and Autumn Kelly in 2008.
Because no specific date has been announced for the Royal wedding, there is a lot of speculation as to when the eagerly-awaited wedding will take place. Bookmakers Paddy Power on Tuesday were offering three-to-one odds on August 13, 2011, being the wedding date, and four-to-one odds on August 6. It said Saturday, July 30, was less likely, at 10-to-one odds, because it falls just a day after the 30th anniversary of the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.
The choice of 2011 as the year for the wedding makes sense because the Olympic Games take place in London in 2012, the same year the queen plans to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee, marking 60 years on the throne.
Prince William has a military career and is active in several charities. In September, he graduated from a military search-and-rescue helicopter pilot training course and was posted as a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot to RAF Valley, the station on the island of Anglesey in north Wales. He is known as Flight Lieutenant Wales within the RAF.
Search and rescue helicopter pilot Prince William
Middleton is currently living with her fiance at a house in Anglesey, giving them some privacy from the press and paparazzi. The couple will continue living there after the wedding.
