Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle, or His Royal Highness, the Duke of Sussex and Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Sussex as they are now known, were wed in London less than one week ago. As Frank Sinatra might note, they did it their way… while following official protocol to a lesser extent at their royal Wedding. There was a lot to absorb on the blessed day, and here are some of my own highlights of talking points:

1. You Can’t Always Control Family Members – Not to have her father at the festivities was certainly a difficult situation. In a lesser wedding, you might be tempted to postpone. When the whole world is watching, it’s time for a stiff upper lip… and the show must go on. Rather than regrettable, it turned out to be somewhat refreshing.

2. There is Always a Plan B – Prince Charles stepped in to walk her part-way down the aisle after the clergy member met her at the door to St. George’s Chapel. This reflected Markle’s strong feminist feelings and her new family embracing her with open arms. Plan B is not always bad.

3. Juvenile Bridesmaids and Page Boys are a Kind of Good Idea – Have you ever had drama surround your wedding attendants? These six girls and four boys were children… and bribed with candy when they became cranky during photos. It doesn’t get much better than that! And none of them got drunk at any bachelor or bachelorette parties, either. Which brings us to….

4. Photobombing and Pure Joy – Yes, Markle’s best friend Jessica Mulroney’s twin boys and the goofy grin which brought down house will long be remembered. Weddings are about joy and a child’s pure delight over the limo’s packed chapel, crowds and trumpets at the chapel brought smiles to our faces, as well.

5. This Was a Holy Moment – Forget the fact that the bride had been married before or that the couple lived together prior to their marriage, this was a religious ceremony. Sure, they were inviting God on their own terms, but hey, He was there. Plus, the American bishop helped us to savor the fact that the Gospel is good news and full of love. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s plenty of tea in England for a reason….

6. Our Futures Spring from Our Pasts – Never forget. Princess Diana was there in spirit and our success in life stems from the sum total of our experiences. Even past sadness may lead to sweetness. Why be bitter when even chocolate bars can choose to be bittersweet?

7. Allow your own unique beauty to shine. Markle selected elegant simplicity in wedding gown, hair and makeup. She shone from the inside-out and everyone marveled. In an age of artifice and fake everything, simple, straightforward beauty trumped all. A 16-foot-long veil didn’t hurt, either.

Best wishes to the happy couple!

Happy Friday, everyone.

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