South Florida Swept Up In Royal Wedding Fever
CORAL GABLES (CBS4) -South Floridians swept up in royal fever woke long before dawn Friday to attend British-themed parties as they watched Prince William marry longtime sweetheart Kate Middleton.
The parties began as early as 4 a.m., two hours before the wedding started across the pond in London.
From champagne, cake and fancy hats at The Biltmore in Coral Gables to English tea, scones and spa treatments at the Spa at Aqualina in Sunny Isles to beer and bacon at John Martins Irish Pub in Coral Gables South Florida celebrated the royal wedding in style.
"Spectacular, splendid, elegant, amazing, it felt like I was there. Why wasn't I invited ?" joked Elaine Katz attending the Biltmore bash.
At the Biltmore, British diplomat Kevin McGuergan toasted those attending an elegant English party complete with champagne and decorative cakes and all afternoon replay of the wedding.
McGuergan said he's thrilled with America's support of the royal family.
"Unbelievable," he said. "Ever since the engagement, the American people have been beyond supportive . It is so inspiring"
Click here to view the Royal Wedding In Pictures.
Twenty-year-old Claudia Corbisiero and her 16-year-old brother Ollie, who are visiting from England, made sure they were up early to watch the wedding
"It was such a fairytale wedding," Corbisiero. "She looked so beautiful, he looked so handsome and every girl wants their fairytale."
"I liked dress", joked Ollie. "There was no poof and the lace was great."
At the local wedding watch party at John Martin's Irish Pub & Restaurant in Coral Gables, plenty of folks watched the pomp and circumstance and were absolutely thrilled to see the royal union.
"It was beautiful. The thing I liked most was that I felt the presence of Princess Diana in this wedding," said royal wedding watcher Beverly West. "It was a beautiful wedding. Two lovely people, loving each other very much and it was just a beautiful fairytale wedding."
Donna West agreed. "It was such exciting event and everybody came out and had a really good time. I couldn't help but think what a good choice Prince William had made. She's such a decent and honorable young lady and we need people like that as a role model."
West also had Princess Diana on her mind.
"Diana would have been so proud of her son," Donna West said. "He's such a fine young man. He certainly has selected a beautiful wife."
Alice Wilson said the American craze of the royal wedding is great.
"I love it," she said. "I can't believe how everyone here is dressed up. I can't believe the effort everyone had gone through. I got up at 4 a.m. and I thought I made an effort. But these guys have really gone to town. It's really cool."
Royal watcher Ginny Hunter said she brought the crown that she wore to her wedding 61 years ago.
There were large wedding watch parties all over the country, not just here in South Florida, complete with royally named cocktails, including "The Windsor Knot" and "The Bitter Queen."
There was a live viewing party in New York's Times Square and also at Walt Disney World in Orlando where hundreds of people were invited to wear prince and princess attire and watch in the park's Wedding Pavilion.
Parties will be going on throughout the day -- from early-morning breakfasts to afternoon teas and evening dinners. And as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge celebrate their big day and night they can rest assured knowing their fans in South Florida are also toasting their wedding in royal style.
Click here to see our Guide to Royal Wedding Watch Parties in South Florida.
