British royal family thanks those who celebrated wedding

LONDON — The royal family has thanked people who attended or watched the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

"Thank you to everyone who came to Windsor and those who followed from around the UK, the Commonwealth, and the world," the royals said.

The family tweeted its thanks late Saturday night while Harry and his bride were attending a private soiree hosted by Harry's father, Prince Charles.

Kensington Palace did not release details, but photographs showed Markle, now known formally as the Duchess of Sussex, wearing an emerald-cut aquamarine ring that had belonged to Harry's mother, Princess Diana, to the reception.

The newlyweds spent their first night as a married couple at Windsor Castle. They are not immediately going on honeymoon.

source: philstar.com

For a prince's wedding, even the greenery has royal roots

WINDSOR, England — Even the foliage in the flower arrangements will have royal roots.

Philippa Craddock, the London florist selected by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to design the blooms for their wedding ceremony, said Wednesday that ferns and branches of silver birch, English oak and beech from Windsor Great Park will be part of the greenery adorning the scenery at nearby St. George's Chapel.

An integral part at that, according to Craddock.

"The base is the foliage, that's where the designs start from, and then the flowers are complementary on top of that, but actually it's very much the foliage and shapes of the branches that will give us the shape of the designs," she told Britain's Press Association.

Windsor Great Park is one of the public open spaces owned by Britain's monarch. Unsurprisingly, its 4,800 acres have quite the pedigree.

William the Conqueror hunted there in the 11th century when the park was a forest. King Charles II was the one who tamed the land in the late 17th century. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the husband she would forever mourn after his death at Windsor Castle, were devoted park patrons.

Harry's great-grandfather, King George VI, set in place the first of 60 oak trees that were planted in honor of his 1937 coronation. Another row of oaks honors Harry's grandfather, Prince Philip, who holds the title of park ranger. Still another celebrated Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday.

Kensington Palace previously revealed that roses, peonies and foxgloves also will be in the church arrangements at Saturday's wedding. Beyond that, Craddock and the garden keeper at Windsor Great Park, John Anderson, are staying respectfully discreet.

"There are moments where I've focused on it being another commission, so it's like working with any one of our couples, and of course you take a step back and you just realize the enormity of it," Craddock said. "It's a huge occasion and we're just hugely privileged."

source: philstar.com

Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera tie knot in grand ‘royal’ wedding

Showbiz couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera finally tied the knot in a grand wedding held Tuesday afternoon at the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in Cubao, Quezon City.

The couple first met and starred together on the GMA primetime series “Marimar” in 2007 and officially became engaged last August after Dingdong proposed to Marian on live television. In a year when several other showbiz couples either became engaged or also tied the knot, the wedding of the couple dubbed as “Dongyan” was widely anticipated to be the biggest of the year.

And indeed it was, with no less than President Benigno Aquino III serving as best man, eight bishops and seven priests celebrating the mass, plus 40 principal sponsors, 18 groomsmen and 18 bridesmaids and 20 secondary sponsors in attendance.

Among the principal sponsors of the so-called “royal wedding” were Batangas Governor Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta, Vic Sotto, Ogie Alcasid and wife Regine Velasquez, Helen Gamboa, Celia Rodriguez, GMA bigwigs Felipe Gozon, Gilberto Guavit, Jr. and Lilybeth Rasonable, TV5 executive Wilma Galvante, TAPE, Inc. Chairman Tony Tuviera, producers Wilson Tieng and “Mother” Lily Monteverde, Bench owner Ben Chan, fashion designer Randy Ortiz, directors Joyce Bernal, Mark Reyes and Mac Alejandre and Dr. Vicki Belo.

Those who stood as secondary sponsors included Richard Gomez and wife Leyte 4th District Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez, Ai-Ai delas Alas, KC Concepcion, Senator Bam Aquino and child sensation Ryzza Mae Dizon, who also served as flower girl.

Marian’s close showbiz friends Roxanne Barcelo and Ana Feleo were among her maids of honor while Dingdong’s brother, Jose Angelo Dantes, was among the best men.

Among the showbiz personalities listed as bridesmaids were Agot Isidro, Bettina Carlos, Rochelle Pangilinan and the recently married Bianca Gonzalez. Actor Paolo Contis was also one of the groomsmen.

Spotted in the wedding were Senator Tito Sotto, Anjo Yllana, Alden Richards, Pokwang and KC Montero who posted updates on social media.

Dingdong wore a Randy Ortiz beige-colored suit with a black bowtie and black trousers and arrived at his wedding in style riding a Ducati Diavel Monster 1100EVO motorcycle.

Marian looked ravishing in a gown especially designed for her by Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco. The gown reportedly cost P2 million.

Marian’s Spanish father, Francisco Javier Gracia, flew in to personally witness his daughter’s special day.

The newlyweds reportedly invited over 700 guests to the reception which was held at the 18,000-seater Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

source: interaksyon.com