By Garrett Wampler, staff writer

FREEBORN — As Prince William and Catherine Middleton exchanged their vows at the historic Westminister Abbey on April 29, many Americans huddled around their home TV sets to catch a glimpse of the elegance and the beauty as it unfolded.

Freeborn resident Jan Beach wasn’t one of them.

She was one of the lucky ones who were able to make the voyage to England. Beach took in the spectacle, from less then two miles away, at her hotel, the Bloomsbury in London.

The opportunity to travel abroad during the royal affair was provided by The Wedding Guys, a Minneapolis-based wedding planning firm. Beach was joined by three members of the company, who traveled to blog about the occasion, as well as one of her good friends.

When the morning of the wedding arrived, the group decided to waive off the plans to venture into one of the parks to watch the ceremony and instead opted to watch from a big screen in the Bloomsbury lobby. The wedding was quite the opposite from her marriage to Jim Beach, her husband of 40 years.

The royal wedding had sunny skies. Her wedding day had rain. The poor conditions kept some of her guests outside of Minnesota. And Alden Redeemer Lutheran Church was rather unlike The Collegiate Church of St. Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey.

As the ceremony unfolded in London, the retired banker of 33 years took in the stunning dress worn by Middleton, and the simplistic decór brought about by the Abbey. The sights and sounds of the celebrations brought forth from the city streets added to the excitement, she said.

“It was wonderful and very exciting to be there,” Beach said. “Everyone was happy and celebrating before and after.”

Beach wasn’t shy to share in the celebration with the English, who she said welcomed her and her friend, allowing them to a have fantastic time celebrating the marriage.

During the trip Beach was able to take in the sites of London, including her favorite, the British Museum. Beach was able to spend two days looking over the exhibits, where she was unable pick out one great exhibit.

“Everything was grand,” she said.

For Beach the trip didn’t end on April 27, or the day after. Her British experience lasted through May 10. Beach said they stayed in London for seven nights before taking in the English countryside.

The trip to the country spanned the following days where they stayed at local bed and breakfasts.

“England was very beautiful,” Beach said. “There were just so many things to see and do.”