Let’s not forget, this is a girl who was (up until she became a princess in training) in the fashion industry and was offered a job at American Vogue.  The Sarah Burton designed McQueen dress is part of the gossip going around London in some of the most in the know hot spots… the hair salons of the inner circle, and now the rumor has hit the press and it’s off and running. 

With things really gearing up today, the final dress rehearsal at Westminster Abbey and a pre-dawn full scale military rehearsal of a thousand members of the British Army, Navy and RAF practicing their march, sans instruments for the marching bands, more talk abounds of what Friday will bring.  It’s expected that Prince William will be in military uniform (but which one – Army or RAF?) for the ceremony, but will change out of it into a Saville Row tailored suit, perhaps even morning dress. We’ve also heard that the bridesmaids might be wearing AliceTemperley designs and we’ve also heard, “No, it’s Sophie Cranston of Libélula.”

Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen

As far as her bouquet, it’s said that it will have a sprig of myrtle, the symbol of fertility and love.  And that every queen since Victoria has carried a sprig in her wedding bouquet, some even say from the very same bush that Victoria planted. 

We know that Prince William won’t wear a wedding band after Friday.  Tsk tsk.  Apparently upper class, and especially royals, don’t wearing one (not that anyone in the world won’t know who he is and that he’s married).  He’ll also be a bundle of nerves according to the Telegraph, who spoke to Wing Commander Kevin Marsh, a fast jet pilot who was responsible for teaching the Prince when he entered the Royal Air Force, “I expect he will be extremely nervous. When he was flying before any sorties or tests he would get quite a lot of nerves.

Luckily Prince William will be there to help with the nerves and make sure the evening reception (in which the Queen will slip away to another castle while it takes place) will be as they say, jolly good fun.  Harry is rumored to have gotten the staff prepared with his own morning after hangover concoction and hearty breakfast to cure any post-party ills. 

According to CBS and a Palace announcement, ”Westminster Abbey will be filled with a sea of seasonal British flowers and foliage… [and] will be decked out in an avenue of trees – six English Field Maples and two Hornbeams, some reaching up to 20 feet high – that will line the aisle leading to the altar.”  The florist will be the Middleton family’s – Emma Sampson and Mark Flanagan, Keeper of the Gardens at Great Windsor Park.  “Blooms being used include rhododendron, euphorbias, beech and wisteria.”

According to Daily Mail, the seating chart for Westminser Abbey has been leaked along with the invite list.  And a controversy has reared it’s ugly head with a dis to the Spencer family who is not seated on the groom’s side of the church, but on the bride’s.  Who could this request have come from? Camilla Deville, I mean Parker Bowles?

It’s sure to be a spectacular day, full of dreams and pomp and circumstance and love.  The ghost of Princess Di will be there in so many ways… in the eyes of a son wishing she were there, or a bride who says she wishes she had met her deceased mother-in-law.  But the one thing we can hope for is long love for this couple and a happier marriage… this is not at all arranged as the one we witnessed on June 21, 1982 with a nineteen year old girl thrown into the spotlight.  Kate is 29, a college graduate who has been dating this man for over eight years.  This is a true love marriage.