The Hero
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- Jun 29, 2008
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Kiss me, Kate! The body language behind the weddings of the year
Its been a big year for high-profile nuptials, so can 2011s newlyweds look forward to happy ever afters? YOUs body-language expert Judi James casts her view over the kisses and clasps, tears and tensions that marked the celebrations
PRINCE WILLIAM, 29, and CATHERINE MIDDLETON, 29
That balcony kiss managed to bring out some bashful body language
How they met As undergraduates at the University of St Andrews, 2001.
The proposal On the slopes of Mount Kenya, Africa, October 2010.
The wedding Westminster Abbey on 29 April followed by a champagne reception then a black-tie affair at Buckingham Palace.
The guests 1,900 at the Abbey and an estimated worldwide television audience of two billion.
The dress An ivory gown by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen.
Judis take This was already a semi-mature relationship, which meant there were none of the giggling/blushing-virgin-bride signals from Kate, who looked serene in a dress that was pretty but understated enough to allow it to be eclipsed by Pippas. These two looked like a real couple who knew one another well but that balcony kiss still managed to bring out some ferociously bashful
body-language signals from the groom, making this look almost like a first-time kiss.
ZARA PHILLIPS, 30, and MIKE TINDALL, 33
How they met In Australia during the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
The proposal At home in Cheltenham, December 2010.
The wedding Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh on 30 July, and afterwards at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queens official residence in Scotland.
The guests The Queen and members of the royal family, England rugby star Jonny Wilkinson, Jackie Stewart, Coronation Street actress Katherine Kelly, and television presenters Kirsty Gallacher and Natalie Pinkham.
The dress An ivory silk gown by Stewart Parvin.
Judis take This utterly beautiful wedding shot shows the Queens granddaughter looking ecstatic in her billowing dress, suggesting a fairy-tale happy ending for the royal bride who bucked the trend
by marrying the rugby hero with a splattered nose who would clearly cherish her for ever, rather than a handsome hooray who might bore her or break her heart. Mike looks uncomfortable in this pose but that made him all the more adorable because he clearly wasnt relishing the fuss of the big day. Brawny, brave but camera-shy is a seductive combination however, unfortunately for Mike he wasnt quite so shy when it came to canoodling with a blonde ex in a bar in New Zealand just a few weeks after the wedding. With Princess Anne as a mother-in-law, it proved at least that what the groom lacked in brainpower he more than made up for in fearlessness. Or perhaps his reward for being on his best behaviour throughout the wedding was to let rip once he was back on the sporting scene.
KATE MOSS, 37, and JAMIE HINCE, 42
How they met Introduced by mutual friend Sadie Frost backstage at a Kills concert in 2007.
The proposal At home in February.
The wedding St Peters Church in Southrop, Gloucestershire, on 1 July, plus a weekend-long celebration at Kates nearby estate, with food provided by The Dorchester and Ritz Paris hotels.
The guests Stella McCartney, Bob Geldof, Naomi Campbell and Sadie Frost.
The dress A vintage-style dress by close friend John Galliano.
Judis take Despite Kates love of all things outrageous, her path to the altar has been surprisingly serene, leading to claims that the party girl might settle down and hang up her vodka shots at last. Kate and Jamie have been an item for four years too, so their marriage was not exactly a reckless trolley-dash. But have they kicked off married life with the same intentions in mind? Jamie bears the look of a man for whom the mood of the event is a bit of a surprise, with his startled-meerkat posture and the rather rigid hold he has on his bride. Hes gussied-up differently to Kate too, in a traditional double-breasted suit in a cutesy powder blue, with only his shades giving a hint of his rocker roots. Kate looks her usual beautiful bohemian self, wearing a gurglingly happy smile on her face. Her informal pose suggests the ceremony was a stopoff before the real partying started, whereas Jamies suited and booted look suggests a guy who might have been viewing marriage as a time to start slowing down.
SIR PAUL McCARTNEY, 69, and NANCY SHEVELL, 51
How they met In the Hamptons, Long Island, US. They started dating in 2007.
The proposall At dinner in New York in April.
The wedding Marylebone register office on 9 October, with a gathering afterwards at their North London home.
The guests Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach.
The dress A simple knee-length dress by Stella McCartney.
Judis take This couple have four marriages, six children and an estimated £700 million between them, which is a helluva lot of baggage for two people to be dragging down the aisle. However, something must be working as not only do the pair seem to have been wading through the fountain of youth en route to the register office, but the way ex-Beatle Paul has yanked his brides arm up in a gesture of pride looks unarguably cute. Lets hope the children really do approve this time, and that an American heiress from the Hamptons can settle down with a guy whose roots are downtown Liverpool.
LILY ALLEN, 26, and SAM COOPER, 33
How they met At Glastonbury in 2009.
The proposal In Bali, Christmas Day 2010.
The wedding St James the Great Church in Cranham, Gloucestershire, on 11 June and cricket tea reception at their 17th-century home nearby.
The guests 100 at the church including Lilys actor dad Keith and brother Alfie, Angus Deayton and Harry Enfield (who previously dated Lilys mother), plus another 200 for tea.
The dress A Delphine Manivet creation.
Judis take Lilys choice of a vintage-style dress, plus her husbands non-celebrity career as a
building-firm boss, suggest a desire to return to basics and some security in her life after years in the music industry. Lily wears the look of a bride who wants to be cherished, with her girlish side on display in her demure posture and beaming smile. Sams hand on Lilys back, subtly steering and protecting her, suggests almost paternal concern making it no surprise that the couple confirmed Lilys pregnancy at the wedding. From this pose, Sam looks like a man who can register concern without smothering, which could complement his vulnerable but often feisty new wife. Lily may claim to have dropped her crazy celebrity lifestyle by marrying Sam, but she comes from a star-studded family, making this marriage less a back-to-her-roots choice and more a moving on to something new, which could bring fresh challenges.
PETER CROUCH, 30, and ABBEY CLANCY, 25
How they met At a friends party at a bar in Liverpool, 2005.
The proposal On holiday in Sardinia, 2009.
The wedding Church of St Mary Magdalene, in the grounds of Stapleford Park, Leicestershire, on 30 June, followed by a reception in the Orangery.
The guests Around 120 family and friends, including footballer pals such as Liverpools Glen Johnson and former Aston Villa player Lee Hendrie.
The dress A strapless gown by Giles Deacon.
Judis take Abbey looks to be living the dream here with every box ticked on the Wag wedding
wish-list, including perfect figure, perfect tan, perfect dress and perfect tumbling locks. And
then there was groom Peter, still on a yellow card relationship-wise (following allegations that he hired a prostitute on a friends stag do in July 2010), clearly keen to do exactly what he was told by his determined-looking new wife. With her hand on the back of his head steering him in for the kiss, Pete looks like 6ft 7in of keen-to-make-amends compliant groom. That forward bend could have pulled him off balance and his dangling arm shows hes less picture-perfect than his glamorous model wife (is he also treading on her dress?). Signs of a rather tight rein then, with a happily submissive Peter. But will Abbey be acting as eagle-eyed camp follower from now on to keep her marriage on track, or did she buy him a surveillance head-cam for his wedding present?
MICHAEL WINNER, 76, and GERALDINE LYNTON-EDWARDS, 70
How they met In 1957, when Geraldine auditioned for a role in Michaels debut film, The Square; she was 16, he was 21.
The proposal Michael proposed in 2007, then added, Dont hold your breath for the wedding!
The wedding His first (but not hers) was a small affair at Chelsea Register Office on 19 September, with lunch and speeches the previous day at the home of Michael and
The guests Lunch guests included David Frost and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
The dress An ivory lace beaded creation by Louise Kennedy.
Judis take Sweet? Romantic? Not words youd normally use to describe Michael Winner, but his wedding seems to have brought out his soft centre. Having known one another for almost 55 years, its little surprise the face-kiss hes planting on his brides eyeball looks congratulatory rather than passionate, as he clearly sees himself as a bit of a catch (note his eyes turn slightly to camera as though to inform legions of disappointed women that he is now spoken for). But if that neck-hold makes him look superficially dominant in the relationship, its more than matched by the vice-like grip Geraldine has placed on the lapel of his suit, suggesting she has the measure of her new husband. Their facial expressions hint at shared humour and their tastefully elegant outfits show high levels of compatibility, even if Michaels over-long cuffs make him look a bit like the new boy on his first day at school.
ED MILIBAND, 41, and JUSTINE THORNTON, 41
How they met At a party in 2004.
The proposal On Primrose Hill, North London. It was announced in March.
The wedding A low-key ceremony at Langar Hall country hotel near Nottingham on 27 May.
The guests Fifty friends and family including Eds brother David and wife Louise.
The dress An ivory, empire-line dress by Temperley London.
Judis take With Eds brotherly ties stretched to breaking, these timely nuptials reminded us of the leader of the oppositions role as a family man. This was a low-key affair, although Eds duck-egg blue suit suggests he might secretly have been hankering for something a little more adrenalin-fuelled. Like many cohabitees with children who finally decide to tie the knot, both Ed and barrister Justine sport the kind of oh shucks facial expression that could hope to ward off any ribbing from friends and colleagues. Otherwise their body poses look faintly childlike, especially Eds, with his wide, excited eyes and badly placed feet. In Justines eyes hes clearly a hero though. Her choice of an empire-line dress suggests she sees her groom as something of a Napoleonic figure. With Eds hand pulled into towards Justines belly its clear these two have their role as parents uppermost in their minds
PRINCE ALBERT OF MONACO, 53, and CHARLENE WITTSTOCK, 33
How they met At a swimming event in Monaco in 2000, where she was competing.
The proposal Royal announcement in June 2010.
The wedding A three-day affair starting with a civil ceremony on 1 July, followed by a Roman Catholic church service the following day, and an official dinner and ball at the Opera Garnier.
The guests Five hundred for dinner, including Roger Moore, Naomi Campbell, the King and Queen of Sweden, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and many other royals.
The dress A Giorgio Armani Privé gown.
Judis takeThe dramatic back-story to this wedding with former Olympic swimmer Charlene rumoured to have tried to escape back home to South Africa amid claims her groom-to-be might have fathered a third love child meant it was always going to be hard for the day itself to live up to the soap-opera hype, but the lovely Charlenes blubbing did little to reassure everyone that this was a dream match set to last. If the rumours were true, then these royals could have set a new trend for splitting before the wedding rather than after. Of course, the bride could have been shedding tears of happiness here, but the joyful variety usually occur when the couple are face-to-face and they rarely involve a lowered head and hankie-dabbing, or a slightly stony expression from the groom. The unhappy-looking couple confirmed that they also spent the early days of their honeymoon apart for practical reasons.
MYLEENE KLASS, 33, and GRAHAM QUINN, 35
How they met In 2001 when he was a security guard for her former pop group HearSay.
The proposal Graham first proposed in 2005 on the Spanish Steps in Rome. He nearly got arrested for trying to light Marry Me in tea lights across the steps.
The wedding A private ceremony in Norwich on 21 October.
The guests Just 16 friends and family.
The dress A fishtail gown designed by Kate Halfpenny.
Judis take The lovely thing about this pose is not just how radiant the bride looks, but how chuffed her groom seems to be. So many grooms turn into a troubled teen at their wedding, having to be forced into a suit, but Graham looks so on board here that he may well have been the instigator of the whole event. This pair look as though theyre having fun, and their head closeness implies the couple are like-minded despite having what could be quite different personalities.
EARL SPENCER, 47, and KAREN GORDON, 39
How they met At a cocktail party in autumn 2010.
The proposal Their engagement was announced in February.
The wedding A private civil ceremony, which was followed by a blessing at his family seat, Althorp,
on 18 June.
The guests Just close friends and family.
The dress A white fitted lace dress with a sweetheart neckline.
Judis take These two look so at odds in terms of signals of attitude, chemistry and culture that its hard to see them as a couple, let alone bride and groom. While Canadian philanthropist and former model Karen redefines the words perky and assured in a cheekily cut gown and pitch-perfect smile, Earl Spencer wears the slightly more weary been-there-bought-the-T-shirt expression of a man who is about to embark on his third marriage, having announced his engagement a mere five months after splitting from his previous fiancée Lady Bianca Eliot. The Earl seems to be listing heavily already, with a hand propping him up away from his bride. Karen looks like an optimistic gal, but quite what the ancestors at Althorp would have made of that plunging neckline is anybodys guess.
BEN ELLIOT, 36, and MARY-CLARE WINWOOD, 24
How they met At an Eric Clapton concert in New York, 2008.
The proposal On a beach in Kerala, India, in March.
The wedding The church of St Peter and Pauls in Northleach, Gloucestershire, on 10 September with the reception at the nearby mansion of Mary-Clares father, musician Steve Winwood.
The guests Around 250, including Prince Charles and Bens aunt the Duchess of Cornwall, Jamie Cullum and Sophie Dahl, and Sir David Frost.
The dress Designed by Delphine Manivet.
Judis take Possibly the most traditional-looking wedding of the year, proving that nearly-royals are tending to do regal-ness better than the low-key royals themselves these days. Ben is taking the formal, more dominant role with a military-looking stride, but with his face also turned towards his lovely bride to imply he is so smitten by her beauty that hes become reckless in terms of his own safety and could care not a jot how many puddles or cowpats he treads in as a result. Mary-Clare looks equally in love, walking lowered at his side in the style of a surrendered wife, although note that her hand is on top in the clasp, suggesting dominance and leadership despite the sweet blushing-bride gaze. These two look openly romantic but jolly enough together to suggest companionate as well as romantic love.
KIM KARDASHIAN, 31, and KRIS HUMPHRIES, 26
How they met At a basketball game in autumn 2010, where Kris was playing for the New Jersey Nets.
The proposal He wrote Will you marry me? in red rose petals on a rug on the reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
The wedding A black-tie extravaganza on a private estate in Montecito, California on 20 August.
The guests Around 450, including Eva Longoria, Ryan Seacrest and Serena Williams.
The dress The bride wore three different Vera Wang gowns.
Judis take One of the speediest and most expensive marriages of the year little did fans realise that Kim was possibly launching an annual event and perhaps is even now on the prowl for Mr 2012. For by the time the lofty Kris had managed to locate his petite bride some two feet below, she was off announcing their divorce after just 72 days. It may be true that opposites attract, but it was obvious that Kim and Kris only really had alliterative names in common. Shes a three-designer-dress kind of bride (not a good sign of a decisive personality) while he looks uncomfortable in this get-up, and keen to get back into his cut-offs and baseball cap. Here, Kim is posing like Scarlett OHara in Gone with the Wind, while Kriss unconvincing pucker would make Rhett Butler turn away in shame.
And perhaps the most bizarre weddings of the year
THE DUCHESS OF ALBA, 85, and ALFONSO DIEZ, 60
How they met Old acquaintances, they bumped into each other about three years ago outside a cinema in Madrid and started dating.
The proposal The engagement was announced in August.
The wedding At her 15th-century palace in Seville on 5 October.
The guests Just 38, plus several hundred well-wishers in the citys streets.
The dress A delicate pale pink gown by Victorio y Lucchino.
Judis take Possibly the most stop-you-in-your-tracks, double-take wedding of the year as we looked at the photos of this happy couple and then rushed to read the small print to discover exactly who they might be. It was easy (although potentially unfair) for her family to worry that the 85-year-old duchess had fallen into the hands of a fortune-hunting bounder, but also reassuring to read that she had divided her fortune estimated to be up to £3 billion among her children and grandchildren to allay any fears on that score. So, here is a man looking less like a smitten bridegroom and more like a frowningly focused fella in a rush to be off with his bride as if they were eloping under cover of darkness. His stride, posture and facial expression all define a guy in training for the sprint event in next years Olympics, despite the fact he has an octogenarian clinging to his arm. However, the duchess fractured her pelvis later that same month, suggesting a slowing down of pace might be on the cards.
HEIDI WITHERS, 29, and FREDDIE BOURNE, 29
Heidi who? Shes the girl whose future mother-in-law Carolyn Bourne attacked her staggering uncouthness and lack of grace in an email that went viral in June.
How they met In 2007, when Heidi joined a tea appreciation group on Facebook
set up by Freddie.
The wedding St Mary the Virgin Church in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, followed by a lavish reception at Berkeley Castle.
The guests Around 120, plus security guards
The dress White and strapless, but with the brides face strangely hidden behind a parasol and veil.
Judis take When we see a bride so camera-savvy she has shrouded her entire face from view, were entitled to assume that this was the A-list wedding of the year. Even Gaga might have blanched at that get-up and what girl thinks shes so great that she gets her groom to carry her bouquet like a bridesmaid in drag? When Carolyn Bourne attacked stepson Freddies choice of life partner in that email, you might have supposed the bride would have engineered the last laugh by getting wed in a welter of modesty and dignity. Theres nothing like being gracious in victory, but Heidis performance was lacking in just that judging by what looks like unnecessarily starry behaviour. Carolyn might have found herself labelled the mother-in-law from hell, but she was spared the sight of the shrouded bride as neither she nor Freddies father were present. Freddies facial expression implies he found it all a hoot, but when he realises hes the sandwich filling between two strong-willed women, the grin might end up wiped from his chops. Lets hope hes smart enough to start a truce, though the moment he tells his bride: Cant you let it drop? is the moment he could be in need of a stout pair of running shoes.
Its been a big year for high-profile nuptials, so can 2011s newlyweds look forward to happy ever afters? YOUs body-language expert Judi James casts her view over the kisses and clasps, tears and tensions that marked the celebrations
PRINCE WILLIAM, 29, and CATHERINE MIDDLETON, 29
That balcony kiss managed to bring out some bashful body language
How they met As undergraduates at the University of St Andrews, 2001.
The proposal On the slopes of Mount Kenya, Africa, October 2010.
The wedding Westminster Abbey on 29 April followed by a champagne reception then a black-tie affair at Buckingham Palace.
The guests 1,900 at the Abbey and an estimated worldwide television audience of two billion.
The dress An ivory gown by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen.
Judis take This was already a semi-mature relationship, which meant there were none of the giggling/blushing-virgin-bride signals from Kate, who looked serene in a dress that was pretty but understated enough to allow it to be eclipsed by Pippas. These two looked like a real couple who knew one another well but that balcony kiss still managed to bring out some ferociously bashful
body-language signals from the groom, making this look almost like a first-time kiss.
ZARA PHILLIPS, 30, and MIKE TINDALL, 33
How they met In Australia during the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
The proposal At home in Cheltenham, December 2010.
The wedding Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh on 30 July, and afterwards at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queens official residence in Scotland.
The guests The Queen and members of the royal family, England rugby star Jonny Wilkinson, Jackie Stewart, Coronation Street actress Katherine Kelly, and television presenters Kirsty Gallacher and Natalie Pinkham.
The dress An ivory silk gown by Stewart Parvin.
Judis take This utterly beautiful wedding shot shows the Queens granddaughter looking ecstatic in her billowing dress, suggesting a fairy-tale happy ending for the royal bride who bucked the trend
by marrying the rugby hero with a splattered nose who would clearly cherish her for ever, rather than a handsome hooray who might bore her or break her heart. Mike looks uncomfortable in this pose but that made him all the more adorable because he clearly wasnt relishing the fuss of the big day. Brawny, brave but camera-shy is a seductive combination however, unfortunately for Mike he wasnt quite so shy when it came to canoodling with a blonde ex in a bar in New Zealand just a few weeks after the wedding. With Princess Anne as a mother-in-law, it proved at least that what the groom lacked in brainpower he more than made up for in fearlessness. Or perhaps his reward for being on his best behaviour throughout the wedding was to let rip once he was back on the sporting scene.
KATE MOSS, 37, and JAMIE HINCE, 42
How they met Introduced by mutual friend Sadie Frost backstage at a Kills concert in 2007.
The proposal At home in February.
The wedding St Peters Church in Southrop, Gloucestershire, on 1 July, plus a weekend-long celebration at Kates nearby estate, with food provided by The Dorchester and Ritz Paris hotels.
The guests Stella McCartney, Bob Geldof, Naomi Campbell and Sadie Frost.
The dress A vintage-style dress by close friend John Galliano.
Judis take Despite Kates love of all things outrageous, her path to the altar has been surprisingly serene, leading to claims that the party girl might settle down and hang up her vodka shots at last. Kate and Jamie have been an item for four years too, so their marriage was not exactly a reckless trolley-dash. But have they kicked off married life with the same intentions in mind? Jamie bears the look of a man for whom the mood of the event is a bit of a surprise, with his startled-meerkat posture and the rather rigid hold he has on his bride. Hes gussied-up differently to Kate too, in a traditional double-breasted suit in a cutesy powder blue, with only his shades giving a hint of his rocker roots. Kate looks her usual beautiful bohemian self, wearing a gurglingly happy smile on her face. Her informal pose suggests the ceremony was a stopoff before the real partying started, whereas Jamies suited and booted look suggests a guy who might have been viewing marriage as a time to start slowing down.
SIR PAUL McCARTNEY, 69, and NANCY SHEVELL, 51
How they met In the Hamptons, Long Island, US. They started dating in 2007.
The proposall At dinner in New York in April.
The wedding Marylebone register office on 9 October, with a gathering afterwards at their North London home.
The guests Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach.
The dress A simple knee-length dress by Stella McCartney.
Judis take This couple have four marriages, six children and an estimated £700 million between them, which is a helluva lot of baggage for two people to be dragging down the aisle. However, something must be working as not only do the pair seem to have been wading through the fountain of youth en route to the register office, but the way ex-Beatle Paul has yanked his brides arm up in a gesture of pride looks unarguably cute. Lets hope the children really do approve this time, and that an American heiress from the Hamptons can settle down with a guy whose roots are downtown Liverpool.
LILY ALLEN, 26, and SAM COOPER, 33
How they met At Glastonbury in 2009.
The proposal In Bali, Christmas Day 2010.
The wedding St James the Great Church in Cranham, Gloucestershire, on 11 June and cricket tea reception at their 17th-century home nearby.
The guests 100 at the church including Lilys actor dad Keith and brother Alfie, Angus Deayton and Harry Enfield (who previously dated Lilys mother), plus another 200 for tea.
The dress A Delphine Manivet creation.
Judis take Lilys choice of a vintage-style dress, plus her husbands non-celebrity career as a
building-firm boss, suggest a desire to return to basics and some security in her life after years in the music industry. Lily wears the look of a bride who wants to be cherished, with her girlish side on display in her demure posture and beaming smile. Sams hand on Lilys back, subtly steering and protecting her, suggests almost paternal concern making it no surprise that the couple confirmed Lilys pregnancy at the wedding. From this pose, Sam looks like a man who can register concern without smothering, which could complement his vulnerable but often feisty new wife. Lily may claim to have dropped her crazy celebrity lifestyle by marrying Sam, but she comes from a star-studded family, making this marriage less a back-to-her-roots choice and more a moving on to something new, which could bring fresh challenges.
PETER CROUCH, 30, and ABBEY CLANCY, 25
How they met At a friends party at a bar in Liverpool, 2005.
The proposal On holiday in Sardinia, 2009.
The wedding Church of St Mary Magdalene, in the grounds of Stapleford Park, Leicestershire, on 30 June, followed by a reception in the Orangery.
The guests Around 120 family and friends, including footballer pals such as Liverpools Glen Johnson and former Aston Villa player Lee Hendrie.
The dress A strapless gown by Giles Deacon.
Judis take Abbey looks to be living the dream here with every box ticked on the Wag wedding
wish-list, including perfect figure, perfect tan, perfect dress and perfect tumbling locks. And
then there was groom Peter, still on a yellow card relationship-wise (following allegations that he hired a prostitute on a friends stag do in July 2010), clearly keen to do exactly what he was told by his determined-looking new wife. With her hand on the back of his head steering him in for the kiss, Pete looks like 6ft 7in of keen-to-make-amends compliant groom. That forward bend could have pulled him off balance and his dangling arm shows hes less picture-perfect than his glamorous model wife (is he also treading on her dress?). Signs of a rather tight rein then, with a happily submissive Peter. But will Abbey be acting as eagle-eyed camp follower from now on to keep her marriage on track, or did she buy him a surveillance head-cam for his wedding present?
MICHAEL WINNER, 76, and GERALDINE LYNTON-EDWARDS, 70
How they met In 1957, when Geraldine auditioned for a role in Michaels debut film, The Square; she was 16, he was 21.
The proposal Michael proposed in 2007, then added, Dont hold your breath for the wedding!
The wedding His first (but not hers) was a small affair at Chelsea Register Office on 19 September, with lunch and speeches the previous day at the home of Michael and
The guests Lunch guests included David Frost and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
The dress An ivory lace beaded creation by Louise Kennedy.
Judis take Sweet? Romantic? Not words youd normally use to describe Michael Winner, but his wedding seems to have brought out his soft centre. Having known one another for almost 55 years, its little surprise the face-kiss hes planting on his brides eyeball looks congratulatory rather than passionate, as he clearly sees himself as a bit of a catch (note his eyes turn slightly to camera as though to inform legions of disappointed women that he is now spoken for). But if that neck-hold makes him look superficially dominant in the relationship, its more than matched by the vice-like grip Geraldine has placed on the lapel of his suit, suggesting she has the measure of her new husband. Their facial expressions hint at shared humour and their tastefully elegant outfits show high levels of compatibility, even if Michaels over-long cuffs make him look a bit like the new boy on his first day at school.
ED MILIBAND, 41, and JUSTINE THORNTON, 41
How they met At a party in 2004.
The proposal On Primrose Hill, North London. It was announced in March.
The wedding A low-key ceremony at Langar Hall country hotel near Nottingham on 27 May.
The guests Fifty friends and family including Eds brother David and wife Louise.
The dress An ivory, empire-line dress by Temperley London.
Judis take With Eds brotherly ties stretched to breaking, these timely nuptials reminded us of the leader of the oppositions role as a family man. This was a low-key affair, although Eds duck-egg blue suit suggests he might secretly have been hankering for something a little more adrenalin-fuelled. Like many cohabitees with children who finally decide to tie the knot, both Ed and barrister Justine sport the kind of oh shucks facial expression that could hope to ward off any ribbing from friends and colleagues. Otherwise their body poses look faintly childlike, especially Eds, with his wide, excited eyes and badly placed feet. In Justines eyes hes clearly a hero though. Her choice of an empire-line dress suggests she sees her groom as something of a Napoleonic figure. With Eds hand pulled into towards Justines belly its clear these two have their role as parents uppermost in their minds
PRINCE ALBERT OF MONACO, 53, and CHARLENE WITTSTOCK, 33
How they met At a swimming event in Monaco in 2000, where she was competing.
The proposal Royal announcement in June 2010.
The wedding A three-day affair starting with a civil ceremony on 1 July, followed by a Roman Catholic church service the following day, and an official dinner and ball at the Opera Garnier.
The guests Five hundred for dinner, including Roger Moore, Naomi Campbell, the King and Queen of Sweden, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and many other royals.
The dress A Giorgio Armani Privé gown.
Judis takeThe dramatic back-story to this wedding with former Olympic swimmer Charlene rumoured to have tried to escape back home to South Africa amid claims her groom-to-be might have fathered a third love child meant it was always going to be hard for the day itself to live up to the soap-opera hype, but the lovely Charlenes blubbing did little to reassure everyone that this was a dream match set to last. If the rumours were true, then these royals could have set a new trend for splitting before the wedding rather than after. Of course, the bride could have been shedding tears of happiness here, but the joyful variety usually occur when the couple are face-to-face and they rarely involve a lowered head and hankie-dabbing, or a slightly stony expression from the groom. The unhappy-looking couple confirmed that they also spent the early days of their honeymoon apart for practical reasons.
MYLEENE KLASS, 33, and GRAHAM QUINN, 35
How they met In 2001 when he was a security guard for her former pop group HearSay.
The proposal Graham first proposed in 2005 on the Spanish Steps in Rome. He nearly got arrested for trying to light Marry Me in tea lights across the steps.
The wedding A private ceremony in Norwich on 21 October.
The guests Just 16 friends and family.
The dress A fishtail gown designed by Kate Halfpenny.
Judis take The lovely thing about this pose is not just how radiant the bride looks, but how chuffed her groom seems to be. So many grooms turn into a troubled teen at their wedding, having to be forced into a suit, but Graham looks so on board here that he may well have been the instigator of the whole event. This pair look as though theyre having fun, and their head closeness implies the couple are like-minded despite having what could be quite different personalities.
EARL SPENCER, 47, and KAREN GORDON, 39
How they met At a cocktail party in autumn 2010.
The proposal Their engagement was announced in February.
The wedding A private civil ceremony, which was followed by a blessing at his family seat, Althorp,
on 18 June.
The guests Just close friends and family.
The dress A white fitted lace dress with a sweetheart neckline.
Judis take These two look so at odds in terms of signals of attitude, chemistry and culture that its hard to see them as a couple, let alone bride and groom. While Canadian philanthropist and former model Karen redefines the words perky and assured in a cheekily cut gown and pitch-perfect smile, Earl Spencer wears the slightly more weary been-there-bought-the-T-shirt expression of a man who is about to embark on his third marriage, having announced his engagement a mere five months after splitting from his previous fiancée Lady Bianca Eliot. The Earl seems to be listing heavily already, with a hand propping him up away from his bride. Karen looks like an optimistic gal, but quite what the ancestors at Althorp would have made of that plunging neckline is anybodys guess.
BEN ELLIOT, 36, and MARY-CLARE WINWOOD, 24
How they met At an Eric Clapton concert in New York, 2008.
The proposal On a beach in Kerala, India, in March.
The wedding The church of St Peter and Pauls in Northleach, Gloucestershire, on 10 September with the reception at the nearby mansion of Mary-Clares father, musician Steve Winwood.
The guests Around 250, including Prince Charles and Bens aunt the Duchess of Cornwall, Jamie Cullum and Sophie Dahl, and Sir David Frost.
The dress Designed by Delphine Manivet.
Judis take Possibly the most traditional-looking wedding of the year, proving that nearly-royals are tending to do regal-ness better than the low-key royals themselves these days. Ben is taking the formal, more dominant role with a military-looking stride, but with his face also turned towards his lovely bride to imply he is so smitten by her beauty that hes become reckless in terms of his own safety and could care not a jot how many puddles or cowpats he treads in as a result. Mary-Clare looks equally in love, walking lowered at his side in the style of a surrendered wife, although note that her hand is on top in the clasp, suggesting dominance and leadership despite the sweet blushing-bride gaze. These two look openly romantic but jolly enough together to suggest companionate as well as romantic love.
KIM KARDASHIAN, 31, and KRIS HUMPHRIES, 26
How they met At a basketball game in autumn 2010, where Kris was playing for the New Jersey Nets.
The proposal He wrote Will you marry me? in red rose petals on a rug on the reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
The wedding A black-tie extravaganza on a private estate in Montecito, California on 20 August.
The guests Around 450, including Eva Longoria, Ryan Seacrest and Serena Williams.
The dress The bride wore three different Vera Wang gowns.
Judis take One of the speediest and most expensive marriages of the year little did fans realise that Kim was possibly launching an annual event and perhaps is even now on the prowl for Mr 2012. For by the time the lofty Kris had managed to locate his petite bride some two feet below, she was off announcing their divorce after just 72 days. It may be true that opposites attract, but it was obvious that Kim and Kris only really had alliterative names in common. Shes a three-designer-dress kind of bride (not a good sign of a decisive personality) while he looks uncomfortable in this get-up, and keen to get back into his cut-offs and baseball cap. Here, Kim is posing like Scarlett OHara in Gone with the Wind, while Kriss unconvincing pucker would make Rhett Butler turn away in shame.
And perhaps the most bizarre weddings of the year
THE DUCHESS OF ALBA, 85, and ALFONSO DIEZ, 60
How they met Old acquaintances, they bumped into each other about three years ago outside a cinema in Madrid and started dating.
The proposal The engagement was announced in August.
The wedding At her 15th-century palace in Seville on 5 October.
The guests Just 38, plus several hundred well-wishers in the citys streets.
The dress A delicate pale pink gown by Victorio y Lucchino.
Judis take Possibly the most stop-you-in-your-tracks, double-take wedding of the year as we looked at the photos of this happy couple and then rushed to read the small print to discover exactly who they might be. It was easy (although potentially unfair) for her family to worry that the 85-year-old duchess had fallen into the hands of a fortune-hunting bounder, but also reassuring to read that she had divided her fortune estimated to be up to £3 billion among her children and grandchildren to allay any fears on that score. So, here is a man looking less like a smitten bridegroom and more like a frowningly focused fella in a rush to be off with his bride as if they were eloping under cover of darkness. His stride, posture and facial expression all define a guy in training for the sprint event in next years Olympics, despite the fact he has an octogenarian clinging to his arm. However, the duchess fractured her pelvis later that same month, suggesting a slowing down of pace might be on the cards.
HEIDI WITHERS, 29, and FREDDIE BOURNE, 29
Heidi who? Shes the girl whose future mother-in-law Carolyn Bourne attacked her staggering uncouthness and lack of grace in an email that went viral in June.
How they met In 2007, when Heidi joined a tea appreciation group on Facebook
set up by Freddie.
The wedding St Mary the Virgin Church in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, followed by a lavish reception at Berkeley Castle.
The guests Around 120, plus security guards
The dress White and strapless, but with the brides face strangely hidden behind a parasol and veil.
Judis take When we see a bride so camera-savvy she has shrouded her entire face from view, were entitled to assume that this was the A-list wedding of the year. Even Gaga might have blanched at that get-up and what girl thinks shes so great that she gets her groom to carry her bouquet like a bridesmaid in drag? When Carolyn Bourne attacked stepson Freddies choice of life partner in that email, you might have supposed the bride would have engineered the last laugh by getting wed in a welter of modesty and dignity. Theres nothing like being gracious in victory, but Heidis performance was lacking in just that judging by what looks like unnecessarily starry behaviour. Carolyn might have found herself labelled the mother-in-law from hell, but she was spared the sight of the shrouded bride as neither she nor Freddies father were present. Freddies facial expression implies he found it all a hoot, but when he realises hes the sandwich filling between two strong-willed women, the grin might end up wiped from his chops. Lets hope hes smart enough to start a truce, though the moment he tells his bride: Cant you let it drop? is the moment he could be in need of a stout pair of running shoes.