Enlarge Image

Designer Stella Mazza holds a replica of the bouquet she sent to the Duchess of Cambridge as a wedding gift. (PHOTO BY SIMON FULLER)

Stella Mazza recently received a royal seal of approval of the highest order.

Mazza was so taken with the bridal bouquet carried by Kate Middleton at her April 2011 wedding to Prince William that she decided to make a replica as a tribute to the royal couple.

Instead of putting it in a display case — and after navigating royal protocol and red tape in Ottawa and then London — Mazza, who owns KaTonGiovi Designs on Corydon Avenue, sent the wedding gift across the pond to the blueblooded newlyweds.

"Being in bridal all my adult life, I’m inspired by anything related to accessories and dresses," said Mazza, who ran Stella’s Bridal — now located on Portage Avenue — for nearly 20 years until 2002.

The award-winning designer became "transfixed" with the cascade bouquet while watching the spring wedding and knowing the Duchess of Cambridge would have to give it up, she set about making a "duplicate using French beaded art."

"The trend now is bouquets that are very circular, versus cascade ones, which are my personal favourite, and very representative of the wedding, as she wore a classic gown," said Mazza, who lives in St. James.       

The mother-of-three now counts a thank-you letter on behalf of the Duke and Duchess — which recently arrived with a Buckingham Palace postmark and the Queen’s special emblem — as one of her prized possessions.

The original letter and a duplicate of Mazza’s bouquet will be on display at the 2012 Wedding Show at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, along with a collection of her French beaded bouquet designs.

River Heights resident and KaTonGiovi patron Cara Campbell said Mazza designed two bouquets for her July wedding — to Campbell’s personal specifications.

"I like to say that Kate Middleton and me have the same bouquet designer. Her bouquets almost stole the show from me on my wedding day. They were a major hit."

For more information, visit www.stellamazza.com.