All over the world, wedding season is in full bloom

Is there a better way to kick off the season than with two very high profile nuptials in just one month? Not likely. April provided us with fashionable wedding fare from one of Hollywood’s top leading ladies – Reese Witherspoon — and a reception (literally) fit for a queen with the royal union of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

rst was a wedding of Hollywood royalty. Reese Witherspoon really does seem to have it all, doesn’t she? She’s an Oscar winner with beautiful kids and classic sense of style, yet she remains very likeable in that down-to-earth way. I’m still a fan even though she snagged one of my top 5 Hollywood crushes of all time (Ryan Phillipe) as husband #1 back in 1999. That union didn’t last,  but maybe her recent April marriage to hottie-Hollywood talent agent Jim Toth will.

Save for the blush hue color of her dress, the actress stuck to a more traditional feel with a  Monique Lhuillier gown for her second wedding. It was fitted with a Chantilly lace corset bodice that bloomed into a full tulle A–line skirt. Her daughter, Ava – also Witherspoon’s maid of honor – wore her own custom made Monique Lhuillier dress to match mom’s. To give herself a couple more inches of height next to her tall groom, the bride wore Jimmy Choo “Macy” platform sandals on her petite feet. (Unfortunately, TCD was not able to obtain photos from People Magazine, but click here to see pics of Reese’s romantic gown.)

Though there were no commemorative coins or throngs of fans outside Witherspoon’s California ranch where the ceremony was held, that’s probably how she preferred it. But when it was time for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, there was no holding the crowds back.

In the months and weeks leading up to the Royal Wedding, there was much speculation over which designer the soon-to-be Princess would choose. Middleton worked closely with Alexander McQueen’s creative director Sarah Burton in designing a dress that was both modern and traditional. They executed her vision perfectly.

In the Victorian tradition of corsetry, the satin bodice of the dress was narrowed at the waist line and padded at the hips. These details are trademark of Alexander McQueen’s designs. To showcase her hair (which she often wears down) Kate’s veil was made of long, sheer layers of ivory silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers. The veil was held in place by a Cartier “halo” tiara — on loan from the Queen herself. I can’t think anything that I’d rather have for ‘something borrowed.’ The sleeves on the dress were long and lacy, and the front dipped in a low (but conservative) sweetheart neckline.

And did anyone else notice how tiny and delicate the Duchess of Cambridge’s hands looked when she waved at the throngs of people? If ever there were hands fit for a princess, she’s got them.

One member of the royal wedding party who garnered almost as much attention as Kate was her little sister, Pippa. The Maid of Honor also wore a design by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen — a satin cowl-neck column dress designed with the same button detail and lace trim as her big sister’s. A few critical observers pointed out that a Maid of Honor should never wear white, but it’s an example of how the new princess chose to incorporate a few modern elements into the traditional ceremony.

Queen Elizabeth’s bright yellow suit also got some flack, but what else is the eighty-three-year-old Head of State supposed to wear to a wedding? The color was vibrant and exuded pure joy and happiness. Oh, and her hat was adorable.

I admit, with all eyes on weddings of such magnitude and public exposure, I was secretly waiting for some type of fashion catastrophe, but there was none — and don’t start on Princess Beatrice’s hat. I could write an entirely different column about the amazing head pieces at the Royal Wedding.

As we head into full-on wedding season, no doubt brides across the board will look to these famous nuptials for inspiration. There are already loads of gowns inspired by Kate’s hitting stores and online retailers, so brides on a budget can still look like royalty, for a fraction of the price.

So what if you’re not a princess — we all deserve the weddings of our dreams. And if you refuse to settle for nothing less than a royal wedding, there’s still hope for you. After all, Kate Middleton was once common folk, just like us.