Brides Magazine Tracks 'The Kate Effect' On American Brides

While the average American bride probably can't snag a Alexander McQueen dress for her wedding, she can wear long sleeves...and don a veil...and arrive in a horse and buggy?

In its August issue, Brides writes of "The Kate Effect," whereby American brides are demanding every detail of April's royal wedding for their own nuptials, from filling their bouquets with lily-of-the-valley to dressing their bridesmaids in white.

52 percent of brides say they are more likely to wear a veil thanks to the Duchess of Cambridge, brides are asking for trees like Catherine's to line their aisles and one store reported a 25 percent rise in orders for red aisle runners just like the royal couple walked down in Westminister Abbey.

The best fun fact of all? One California company reported a 200 percent rise in inquiries about horse-and-carriage rentals since the royal wedding, as American brides obviously want to arrive in style.

We asked Brides Deputy Editor Sally Kilbridge to break it down for us:

Almost every little girl's first look at a bride is through a fairytale -- Cinderella, Snow White, etc. -- so I'd say it's a matter of imprinting. This stuff sticks with you for life, like it or not. Also, royal weddings happen so rarely, as opposed to celeb weddings, which happen weekly and often end a month later.

And what's the best way to incorporate Catherine's royal wedding touches into your own?

One very easy and elegant way would be the makeup of the bridal party -- just one maid of honor and best man and a lovely gaggle of kids.

Look out for "The Kate Effect" in the August issue of Brides, which hits newsstands July 19.

Comments

[Mandy Littlefield]

08:30 AM on 08/16/2011

Ladies out there, I'm telling you: the era of strapless wedding gowns is over. For my wedding in 2008, I could not find a gown with sleeves to save my life, but I fixed that by buying a white bolero jacket. It was PERFECT. And the most romantic thing is to have a veil drape over you. I am not a fan of a little poofy veil jutting out the back of the head. But I am biased, because I love the style of royal brides like Letizia of Spain, Mathilde of Belgium, etc. ;-)

[MyrtleJune]

04:15 AM on 07/28/2011

I really like the dress on the cover. Nice cover. I think she looks like a bride, not a vegas showgirl spilling out of the top. Thankfully!

[albalatrv]

05:22 AM on 07/13/2011

Why are Americans so smitten by British royalty? Do we know what it took to get them out of this country? It took two wars,tragic suffering, casualties, the destruction of our capitol, horrible mistreatment of prisoners and the introduction of foriegn mercinaries, who were anything but merciful These were not our friends, This was and still is an empirical monarcy disguised as a democracy. For heaven sakes they call themselves The United Kingdom. The only thing we have in common is the language. And the way that we are evolving that may not last.

[gjc1n1]

07:25 AM on 07/13/2011

Oh give me break. Whatever happened in the past, they are now our number one ally in the world. I think the joy shared in the royal wedding was terrific and certainly a 100% better than the daily violent problems reported all over the news.

[erinbliss]

12:46 AM on 07/13/2011

It's not like the royal wedding was all that unique...

[LA618]

12:15 AM on 07/13/2011

Could not agree more with the fact wedding dresses with sleeves are far more appropriate for church weddings. Two of the most recent weddings in our family were brothers who married women who have had multiple marriages (several kids from different fathers) and insisted on wearing white strapless gowns with so much hanging out it was horrible. Felt sorry for their kids. How embarrassing!

[pixgirl922]

11:48 PM on 07/12/2011

So nice to see sleeves on wedding dresses again instead of everyone bursting out of their strapless gowns. It's great to have choices.

[brisedemer]

11:21 PM on 07/12/2011

Thank God the strapless wedding gown is phasing out. VERY few women look good in a strapless gown and I'm sorry, it looks tacky in church. Very shrewd of designers, though, to promote the strapless style. The price of the wedding gown is astronomical, even though the upper quarter requires no fabric. Welcome back sleeves!

[Diana Bitritto]

10:33 PM on 07/12/2011

Welcome back sleeves! If I were a bride, I certainly wouldn't want my jiggly, goose-pimpled upper ams hanging out on my wedding day for all the world to see!

[Rosemary Hirsch]

10:29 PM on 07/12/2011

I never liked strapless wedding gowns, especially in a House of Worship. I am delighted that sleeves are back in vogue and more modest bridal gowns are now prevailing. However, I still think the color of white is should be reserved for the bride. I went to an all-white wedding recently with purple orchids being the only other color in the bridal party. Although the blonde bride was beautiful, some other contrasting or co-ordinating color seemed missing.

[dovelove]

10:08 PM on 07/12/2011

I think Catherine looked beautiful on her wedding day. All the details of their wedding were spot on for her and William. But why would I or anyone else want to copy their wedding? It's silly. Weddings are very personal and should reflect the couple marrying, not some other couple.

[saskatoonie]

02:58 AM on 07/13/2011

Most people don't have their own ideas or opinions!

[coco51]

04:42 PM on 07/12/2011

Good Lord!! why aren't American brides creating their own looks? I mean how many beautiful American girls got married prior to April that were their creation? Good lord let's stop pushing this Prince and Princess "fairytale" let's face it, Catherine Middleton's parents paid for her gown, the rest alas was paid for by the British taxpayer.

[lenuk]

07:19 AM on 07/13/2011

Only the security was paid for by the taxpayers.

[coco51]

06:34 PM on 07/13/2011

really, and you believe the Middletons paid for their daughter's wedding at a church they aren't members of and a party at the inlaws-to-be? Just who pay to maintain the inlaws?

[Aesthete]

04:10 PM on 07/12/2011

The re-introduction of sleeves gives a prospective bride more options. Strapless, rather ubiquitous of late, is not for everybody.

[MamaBird62]

06:00 PM on 07/12/2011

Amen to that! What a great thing it would be to see that unfortunate trend come to an end.

[bulletinboardsn]

08:52 PM on 07/12/2011

ITA especially when I see plus size brides on t.v. shows having half their girls hanging out, their fat arms jiggling away and some even have back fat. I don't have anything against plus size, but at least try not to look 20 lbs heavier on your special day. I'm old school, I don't think flashing bosoms, not matter how generous they are, is sexy - it looks cheap and trashy, especially when getting married in a church. A lot of times in fashion, MORE is less. I also see the strapless dresses tops remain still while the bride is turning in it, it looks weird. I think having sleeves will allow for more detailing to be shown.

[dovelove]

10:11 PM on 07/12/2011

Oh, another pet peeve of mine! What is up with those strapless dresses where the top stands out from the chest?! It's weird and looks very poorly fitted or made.