As we probably all already know, it's Royal Wedding Week here at Trashionista, and we're all geared up for the celebration of the year. Friday will see Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot, and what better way to get into the spirit by ading some royal wedding-inspired books? Exactly. And Kate's Wedding by Chrissie Manby is absolutely perfect for the occasion.Personally, I'm a big fan of Chrissie Manby, and her 2010 novel Getting Over Mr Right is one of my favourite chick-lit reads. So immediately I had an inkling I would enjoy this one.
Kate's Wedding focuses on two brides, the aptly named Kate and Diana. Kate, who has dreamed of marrying her own prince since childhood, isn't entirely sure that marrying Ian is the greatest decision, but she's going ahead with it. Then there's Diana, total Bridezilla and fiancee of Ben. When both brides discover that they'll be sharing their wedding joy with royal couple William and Kate, they're overjoyed - especially Diana. Diana's spoilt tendencies convince her it's a sign - after all, she was named after Princess Diana. But that doesn't stop her planning on a huge wedding to seemingly rival that of the royal couple, at her wealthy daddy's expense.
When Kate is taking the traditional route, albeit in a terrible dress to please her mother and sister, Diana is waging war on online bridal forums with her terrible competitive streak. She's determined to do whatever it takes to make her wedding better than everyone else's, and sharing the limelight with Wills and Kate doesn't put her off, either. In fact, she's all too pleased to jump on the bandwagon and make Ben pose for photos inspired by the royal engagement shots. Ben isn't impressed, but after his mistake with a work colleague, he's forced to do everything it takes to keep his new bride happy...
Meanwhile Melanie, who runs successful bridal boutique Bride on Time, is celebrating the royal news and helping brides choose the perfect dresses for ther own weddings. But she's keeping one big secret from her clients.
As the preparations for both weddings get underway, problems unfold. And with only a few months to go, are the brides finally ready to walk down the aisle?
I enjoyed this book much more than I expected. I knew I would like it as I adore Chrissie's previous work, but wedding-themed books aren't usually ones I immediately go for. However, this one has changed my view; it was fantastic! I loved Kate, although I enjoyed reading about Diana's obsessive exploits (and her poor fiance Ben!) more. She seemed to get worse and worse throughout the book, and even though she was downright awful, she did make me giggle.
Kate's Wedding is a wonderful read and I couldn't put it down until I'd finished it. It's a hilarious yet heartwarming read. Don't be put off if you're not one of those who's excited about the royal wedding - sure, the brides are getting married at the same time, but the book is mainly about Diana, Kate and Melanie, and their own wedding preparations, even if some are more elaborate than others...
Rating: 5/5
