Wedding season is just around the corner – and the Royal Swedish wedding caught my eye. Crown Princess Victoria, heir to the Swedish throne, married her former personal trainer, the gym owner Daniel Westling on 19 June 2010 at Stockholm Cathedral. Over 250,000 people watched the wedding outside with only a select group of 1,000 wedding guests inside. The wedding was considered Sweden’s top event in its social calendar. Coincidently, Victoria shared the same wedding date as her parents, who were married 34 years ago. The 32 year old princess met her husband, 36, eight years ago when she joined his Stockholm gym.

Onlookers reported that the princess was escorted up the aisle by her proud father, King Carl Gustav VI. This proved to be particularly significant considering earlier reports that the king had reservations about his daughter’s choice of husband. After the princess was escorted up the aisle, Daniel kissed his bride on the cheek and she responded by kissing his hand. The couple were seen shedding a tear during the ceremony and also fumbled when they exchanged rings.

Victoria wore an ivory silk, off-the-shoulder gown designed for her by Par Engsheden with a 5 meter train. She also wore her mother’s tiara. Her flower girls and pageboys wore white dresses and sailor clothes.

It was reported that eighteen Gripen fighter jets flew overhead in formation as the procession ended. I guess that is easily done when you are a princess. Another advantage – the moment Daniel Westling, who was once mocked for being just a commoner, said ‘I do’, he was endowed with the title Duke of Vastergotland, his own coat of arms and a monogram. A millionaire gym owner in his own right, no doubt he can easily pick up the tab for the estimated £1.75 million wedding bill!