Wedding Styles to Steal From the Royals

Zara proved that you can stay true to your no frills every day style without forgoing a classic bridal look, showing how to do simple wedding chic with a few wow elements. Although the sporty royal chose a full-skirted dress and a voluminous cathedral length veil, she sidestepped lace and embellishments and instead went for clean lines, a chignon and sleek deco jewellery. Her dress even had pockets!

Kate and William are a thoroughly modern couple and they opted for lots of beautiful eco touches on their big day. The hornbeams and field maple trees inside Westminster Abbey were a green alternative to massive floral arrangements with a shelf-life of less than a week, as they were replanted afterwards. For her April wedding Kate chose all seasonal British flowers, rather than out-of-season bridal favs such as peonies and roses — which would have needed to be flown or shipped in from overseas.

Camilla proved that you don't have to go for a veil on your wedding day for your head to be suitably attired. There are so many fabulous and structural options around — perfect if your dress is quite simple.

Diana's frothy 80s concoction would be too much for most modern brides, but there are elements of the look which would still create a dreamy eighties feel — just choose your frill-to-bow ratio wisely, and like Diana keep the hair and makeup classic and simple.

The royal family have always been big on weaving meaning into their clothing, and back when The Queen was still Princess Elizabeth in 1947, her wedding dress was inspired by the recent end of World War II. Royal dress maker Norman Hartnell stated that scattered flowers over the skirt were taken from Botticelli's Primavera, and represented rebirth and growth after the war. He also stitched ears of wheat onto the fabric in pearls and diamante, to represent fertility.

The royal couple showed how to put together a picturesque spring wedding, with their choice of fresh green foliage and white blooms — along with the perfect sage-colored Vera Wang bridesmaid dresses.