Hundreds of Pittsburghers rise early to see wedding ceremony

usually not what the queen listens to on Sunday. Harry even looked over to Meghan at the end and said, ‘Wow,’” Ms. Bricker said.

The bride’s dress reminded Ms. Bricker of the gown Julie Andrews wore in the movie, “The Sound of Music.”

“People thought she’d be all glitzy with the pearl and rhinestone stuff going on. She looked fabulous,” Ms. Bricker said.

A page boy who held up the bride’s cathedral length train stole Ms. Bricker’s heart.

“When that little page boy cracked a smile and he had no teeth in the front, it was cute.”

The most moving moment for her was the playing of “I Vow To Thee, My Country.”

“That was Diana’s favorite song. It’s a very British church song. I think that held a whole lot of meaning. At that moment, Harry did really well holding up. You could see he was moved because that was his mum’s song,” Ms. Bricker said.

The young couple struck the right tone, she said.

“It was nice the way they tried to include family, friends and not all the heads of state. which they usually do. This one was definitely more people they know.”

At other royal weddings, crowds had to urge the couple to kiss.

“He got out of the church and just kissed her. He has his mother’s personality,” Ms. Bricker said.

Across town in Shadyside at a luxury hotel called The Mansions on Fifth, 65 fashionably dressed women, some of whom will walk down the aisle this year, celebrated with mini-quiches, scones, fresh fruit, an array of muffins and lemon elderflower cupcakes.

Jimmy Lohr and Rose Kocher, floral designers from greenSinner Floral Event Design, showed the women how to make their own fascinators with fresh flowers, tropical leaves, some stiff fabric and the right amount of glue.

Co-hosting the gathering were wedding planners Victoria Deardorff, owner of Burgh Brides, and Jessica Garda of Jessica Garda Events

“We wanted a venue that fit the occasion,” Ms. Garda said, adding that the Fifth Avenue mansion’s imposing stone architecture, dark wood and stained glass provided the perfect setting.

The wedding lived up to the anticipation, Ms. Garda said.

“I love how much of Meghan was reflected in the ceremony,” she added.

Tracie Benson of Peters, who rose at 4:30 a.m., decorated an old beach hat with black and white flowers. Her daughter, Chelsea, who will be married at The Priory June 30, ordered a black fascinator from Amazon.

Winner of the best handmade fascinator award was Lisa Faraone of Cranberry. Dressed in a long-sleeved blue lace dress, she gathered a tulip, a bright pink orchid, and some fabric with bling plus greenery to arrange a becoming hair decoration.

“It’s so much fun to watch people create all these things,” said Ms. Kocher, lead floral designer for greenSinner.