it wasn't the crack of dawn. it was earlier.

I got up at about 4 a.m. this morning to watch coverage of the royal wedding. I imagine that none of you are surprised. Me, fascinated by royal things? Big and splendid royal things, with pomp and ceremony and tradition and trumpet fanfares and horse-driven carriages? Yes. Yes I am.

It was worth the early alarm to see all of this happen in real time. Aside from the ridiculous prettiness of it all – from Kate's gown and tiara to William in his uniform to glorious Westminster and that choir boy that Tom dubbed "improbably cute" – this was actual history in the making. History happening in the very house of history…though I'm glad the old wedding vows to "be bonair and buxom at bed and at board" are long gone (King Henry VIII certainly vowed that enough times, and it never did stick).

That said, do I think this is a fairy tale? Nope. My research of a completely different Catherine revealed the darker shades of royal life. That doesn't diminish my excitement about the royal couple and their royal future and my goodness she does look lovely in a tiara…But becoming a princess doesn't seem like a picnic in the sun to me. Still, I hope the very best for William and Kate. They're starting off on a better foot than many who walked that red aisle before them.