There were gasps across the world when the new Duchess of Cambridge stepped out in her wedding 1 at Westminster Abbey last month.

But another princess across Europe was more stunned than most as Prince William's bride walked down the aisle in her couture gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

Isabella Orsini, who is the goddaughter of Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, married Belgian Prince Edouard de Ligne two years ago in a startlingly similar dress.

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Similarities: Italian-born Isabella Orsini (left) was stunned to notice the likeness between her own gown, from her wedding two years ago, and the Sarah Burton dress worn by the Duchess of Cambridge last month

Though hers was made for her by Belgian designer Gerald Watelet short bridal dress online short bridal dress online, it bore many similar hallmarks, from the lace applique bodice and sleeves to its full skirt and dramatic train.

The similarities are heightened by the fact that both women are slim gold bridesmaid dresses , very pretty brunettes, and though the hairstyle differed, they both wore veils with diamond tiaras.

The likeness is so striking that newspapers and magazines across Germany, Belgium, France and Italy branded Catherine's dress a copy, with headlines reading 'Copy-Kate' and 'Copycat Kate'.

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Mirror mirror: Both women are slim, very pretty brunettes, who married into European royalty

Ms Orsini, silver tea length mother of the bride dress 36, who is an actress, makes no such claim, though she does agree that comparisons between the two sets of wedding pictures are uncanny.

She told Italian magazine Novella 2000: 'As soon as the Duchess of Cambridge went out to go to church, I thought her dress was a copy of mine.

'It means Kate Middleton has good taste.'

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Making an entrance: Like Catherine, Ms Orsini had a long train on her gown by Belgian designer Gerald Watelet

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Fashion statement: Catherine's dress had a full skirt and dramatic train to match the Westminster Abbey venue

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Style inspiration? Grace Kelly, who became Princess Grace of Monaco when she married Ranier III in 1956

The style, bridal strapless wedding dress bridal strapless wedding dress it appears, is a popular one for those marrying into European royalty.

Both the Duchess and Ms Orsini's dress mirror the 8 of Grace Kelly, who became Princess Grace of Monaco when she married Ranier III, Prince of Monaco, in 1956.

She also had a lace bodice, on a high-waisted, full-skirted gown, which she wore with a sheer veil and diamond tiara.

Miranda Eason, editor of You & Your Wedding magazine made the same observation.

She told the Daily Express: 'The reason they are similar is they both referenced Grace Kelly’s iconic 3.'

But she added, there were plenty of differences between the Duchess and Ms Orsini's 7.

'It’s a similar neckline and there are other similarities but the skirt, for example retro cocktail dresses cheap retro cocktail dresses cheap, is different,' she said.

Indeed Kate's vintage headwear was from an era that preceded Princess Grace's marriage - the 1936 diamond 'Halo' tiara by Cartier was  her 'something borrowed', on loan from the Queen.

Britain's new Princess also made the look her own by wearing her hair in a demi-chignon, a style chosen in order that William recognise her as she walked down the aisle.

And of course henry kaye flower girl dresses , while Britain's Royal Wedding was witnessed by a congregation of thousands design prom dress , and followed by two billion around the world, Ms Orsini's own wedding day was a much smaller affair.

Just several hundred watched her marry her own prince in Antoing, Belgium, whose family can trace its roots back to the 11th century.

The couple became parents last year to a daughter, Althea.

Click photo to enlarge

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Kristen Wiig, left, and Rose Byrne are shown in a scene from " bridesmaids ." Wiig plays a life-in-shambles maid of honor forced to take on a band of little miss perfects.

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There's lingering talk about Pippa Middleton getting a tad too much attention at the wedding of her now-royal sis, let alone those topless bikini shots, so what's a bridesmaid to do without sucking too much air out of the room?

The short answer: Just enough and not too much, advises Anja Winikka, editor of zoodress.com.

Come Friday, wedding chaos American-style will be back on tap with "Bridesmaids, bridesmaid dresses under 100 " starring Kristen Wiig as a life-in-shambles maid of honor forced to take on a band of little miss perfects in bright, shiny pink.

There's been plenty of time to recover from the April 29 royal nuptials, where Pippa's head-turning gown left some wondering how far a maid of honor can go in looking, well, good. No way, Winikka said, did Pippa upstage the newly minted Duchess of Cambridge.

"I'm not buying it. She looked fabulous, but Kate still looked like the bride," she said.

Some of the discomfort, at least among Americans, is the unfamiliarity of bridesmaids wearing white, she said. The tradition is less unusual in the U.K., and it heeds a superstition among royals and others that dressing the wedding party like the bride will ward off evil spirits, Winikka said.

Like Wiig's character wedding gown designers wedding gown designers, Annie, most bridesmaids are up against a lot of other challenges as well, not the least of which is the expense of "serving" a best friend or relative. But they want to do right. Some tips:

THE MONEY

How much does

"It can really add up flower girl dresses flower girl dresses," Winikka said formal wear evening , especially if the bride plans a destination wedding and-or a bachelorette trip ivory chiffon flower girl dresses ivory chiffon flower girl dresses, prom ball gowns dresses let alone a shower. "You're looking at upward of $1,000 just to be a bridesmaid and often more."

There's the dress , shoes, jewelry, travel and party expenses, all not typically covered by the wedding couple.

"You should have a conversation right up front about expenses. It's hard but you need to say what you can and cannot contribute financially," Winikka said. "We suggest brides initiate that, evening formal wear strapless bridesmaid dress strapless bridesmaid dress" she added, but if they don't, it can't slide.

If committed, start setting aside a small amount every month to make it work. Plan a group wedding gift with fellow bridesmaids "if you're cashed out and can't afford more than a mixing bowl."

Definitely plan on sharing a room if the wedding is out of town.

For added value on a bridesmaid dress bridesmaid dress , consider a new service, zoodress.com, introduced by the formal wear company the Dessy Group. The site offers credit on new dresses of 30 to 50 percent in exchange for gently worn bridesmaid or other special occasion frocks.

Guilt-free is the way to go if you can't afford to "serve," but don't delay the money talk. "If she's your friend, she'll understand, or she could adjust to make it less of a burden."

PRE-WEDDING

The two big pre-wedding responsibilities of bridesmaids is planning the shower and a bachelorette party — at their expense.

Take the bride's interests and sensibilities into account but don't look to her for guidance or assistance. Keep in mind the parties should reflect the bride, not the bridesmaids.

When it comes to dress shopping, a bride usually won't bring the entire wedding party to kibitz, but a bridesmaid or two might be invited, Winikka said. Honesty about dress choices, within limits, is a good thing, she said.

"You don't want to say that's the ugliest thing I've ever seen you in, but being honest is always the right road to go down," Winikka said.

If a bride makes specific party requests, you're not obligated to heed every detail.

"You're not expected to do exactly what she asks but try to come up with alternatives that everyone can live with."

THE WEDDING

Bridesmaids should consider themselves "sub-hosts" at the ceremony and reception.

Be gracious but don't take charge, unless the bride asks you to. "If it looks like someone isn't having a good time, kind of take it upon yourself to get everyone involved," Winikka said.

But don't mistake the role.

"You're not the wedding planner. That's the line you draw. You don't need to have safety pins and Band-Aids in your back pocket," Winikka said. "You don't need to line everybody up and make sure they walk down the aisle in the right way."

Conversely, brides should be clear on what they expect of the wedding party, she said. Sometimes an otherwise rational bride can go bridezilla in the moment. Winikka's advice is roll with it.

"Something might come up." she said. "Keep an open mind. Be flexible. I think every bride has a little moment of crazy."