Tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. London time, 6 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, and an ungodly 3 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, people of all stripes (many of them of the pajama variety) will be tuned in around the world to watch the blue-blooded nuptials of two incredibly special people — if, that is, you still believe in the divine right of kings. How fancy, right? Yes, if all goes according to plan, Prince William will take Kate Middleton as his lawfully wedded princess, and an expected 2 billion viewers will swoon, scoff, or otherwise emote. Since at least a few of those spectators are bound to be art-world types (statistically speaking, you have to agree), we decided to compile a guide to what these aesthetes might want to pay attention to. The bride would approve — after all, she was an art history major at the University of St. Andrews when she met the prince, catching his eye while strutting a slinky slip down the runway of a student fashion show.

THE OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH

By now everyone has seen this sun-drenched shot of the loving couple embracing warmly and smiling radiant, infectious smiles that appealingly broadcast young-love happiness rather than privilege, pomp, or inherited monarchism. It could be the Facebook photo of your friend who's in a thrilling new relationship, and who you never see anymore. Who took this picture, which so expertly minimizes the prince's thinning hair? Legendary fashion photographer Mario Testino, of course, whose other recent project involved shooting Kate Moss — another bride-to-be — totally naked for the cover of Vogue Brazil. In the pages of American Vogue, Testino discussed the photograph of the doting couple, saying that "two people in love have a glow and a presence more powerful than anything else, and I wanted that to be the subject of the picture, not what they were wearing" (or not wearing). Weirdly, the photographer also revealed that he set the mood during the shoot by playing songs by the French chanteuse Dalida, which was the same music he used when photographing the prince's mother, the late Princess Diana. A new Testino photo of the couple will also be included in the official wedding program. Meanwhile, at the ceremony itself, the official photographer will be Hugo Burnand, a Conde Nast regular who has photographed Lucien Freud and Victoria Beckham, both demanding people image-wise.

THE GUESTS

Of the 1,900 peers, intimates, and celebrities invited to attend the proceedings, there are a number of cultural figures that suggest the couple has, let's say, a quirky sensibility when it comes to the leading lights of British arts. Testino is the sole representative of the fine arts, with Elton John and "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels" director Guy Ritchie also within hailing distance of the visual arts realm, while guest Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) is a "close friend" of the prince's (according to the official wedding site), and Joss Stone has performed at two separate Concert for Diana events. Also there will be a few fellow royals who are making waves in the art world: Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi who is driving the multibillion-dollar Saadiyat Island art complex (the site of the anti-Guggenheim labor protest), and Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the emir of Qatar who recently launched the new Mathaf museum there. Meanwhile, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron will be attending with his wife, Samatha, an art school graduate who is now the creative director of Smythson of Bond Street, the posh stationary company, and who is currently curating a show from the Government Art Collection that will go on view at the Whitechapel Gallery in June.

THE RING

Perhaps in keeping with the lore of J.R.R. Tolkien, "there will only be one ring, in accordance with the couple's wishes," the royal wedding planners have announced. And it's a special ring. Destined for Kate's finger, the band is made from a chunk of Welsh gold that the queen of England gave the prince after the couple became engaged — part of a tradition in the family, with the wedding rings of the queen's queen mother, Princess Margaret, and Princess Diana all made from the same nugget of Welsh gold from the mine of Cogau St. David's at Bontddu. As for where Kate's gold was dug up, "there are no further details on which mine the gold was mined from," so don't ask.

THE CAKE

Leicestershire-based cake artisan Fiona Cairns will present a multilayered fruit cake with cream and white icing, decorated with a "strong British floral theme" rendered according to the Joseph Lambeth technique, an ornate approach to the confectionary arts that emphasizes three-dimensional scrollwork, foliage, flowers, and other whiz-bang effects. (Think Michael Bay.) The prince has also asked McVitie's Cake Company to concoct a chocolate biscuit cake for the Buckingham Palace reception, made from a royal family recipe.

KATE'S COAT OF ARMS

Prior to the wedding, the bride was granted a new heraldic symbol for her soon-to-be-pressing escutcheonary needs, with the image linked in design to a new coat of arms also given to her father, Michael Middleton. The family worked with artists on creating their new logos, which contain three acorns to represent Kate and her brother and sister — oak trees are native to their hometown in West Berkshire, in addition to symbolizing English strength — and a gold chevron in the center (Kate's mom's maiden name is Goldsmith), with smaller chevrons on the side alluding "to hills and mountains and represent outdoor pursuits that the family enjoy together." According to Garter King of Arms Thoomas Woodcock, England's senior herald, "The technical heraldic description of the Middleton Coat of Arms, known as a 'blazon' is Per pale Azure and Gules a Chevron Or cotised Argent between three Acorns slipped and leaved Or. Per Pale means that the Shield is divided vertically with one half blue (Azure) and the other half red (Gules). A Chevron Or means the gold chevron across the centre of the Shield. There are cotises either side of the chevron which are white (Argent). Slipped means 'with a stalk,' so the final part of the blazon — and distinguishing feature of the Shield — means three acorns with gold stalks and leaves."

THE INSTRUMENT OF CONSENT

This important item, which most weddings do not require for some reason, contains another ritualistic artwork to symbolize the couple's union. Here's what the wedding planners say: "The 'E' for Elizabeth and the lion are in raised gold and this design is one of a number currently used on the most important Letters Patent (of which the Instrument of Consent is one). 'Elizabeth The Second By The Grace of God' is in RAF Blue. The design in the left margin shows Prince William's Coronet, the United Kingdom Floral emblems — the rose, thistle and shamrock and the Garter belt. In the right margin the white Lily represents St Catherine of Siena, who is commemorated on the 29th April. Prince William's Coronet, a cipher (but not the official cipher, which will remain a private symbol for the Couple) — an intertwined 'C' an 'W' and the Welsh leek surrounded by Prince William's label, taken from the Spencer Family Arms. The red dragon at the end of the text is a well-known heraldic symbol of Wales and the principal device on the Welsh flag."

THE GIFT REGISTRY

Don't know what to give the couple that has everything, including, someday, England? Kate and the prince have designated a few charities that can be supported as a wedding present, including the Oily Cart, a theater organization that brings plays to children with profound disabilities, and Dance United, a contemporary dance program for "young troubled people." Worthy causes all. Or you could do what Canada
did and give $50,000 to your own Coast Guard Auxiliary (a little
self-serving, eh, Canada) as well as some nice outdoor equipment for the
couple to use when they visit our Brothers to the North this summer. Trinidad's gift is (even) more fun: a special blend of Angostura rum
brewed for the wedding and a tenor steelpan. It'll make for one crazy
wedding night, we like to imagine.