In an impeccably choreographed wedding Saturday evening, Kristen Bell and Marcus Hughes married under the Lucky Strike water tower at the American Tobacco complex in what some were calling the "wedding of the city."

Aside from the staggering numbers, including 31 members of the wedding party and 800 guests, it was a marriage of two of Durham's most well-known families. Kristen is the daughter of Mayor Bill Bell; Marcus is a Spaulding, one of Durham's most prominent and historic families.

It also was likely one of Durham's most stylish weddings. The families put cost aside to find dresses and tuxes that best suited their sense of personal style.

All of it, of course, was a reflection of Kristen.

She arrived at the outdoors ceremony -- a fashionable half-hour late -- in a black limousine. When she took her father's arm and started up the stairs to the grassy courtyard, her icy white silk wedding gown was a stark contrast against the green grass and her father's black tuxedo.

"She was beautiful," said Faye Batiste, Hughes' cousin. "I liked the clean lines of her dress."

Like most wedding gowns lately, it was strapless, a look that's best on tall, thin women such as Kristen. But unlike so many brides who opt for full skirts that fall straight, Kristen chose one that gathered on the sides, giving it a tiered, asymmetrical look.

It's exactly what she wanted. When her gown search began just after Marcus proposed on Christmas Day, she knew she wanted an elegant dress that also reflected her playful side.

Those who knew Kristen said the dress was a perfect fit.

"It's very Kristen," said Kirstie O'Bryant, a Delta Sigma Theta sorority sister. "It lights her up."

When the dress arrived several months ago, there was a moment of panic. It wasn't the same dress she had gushed over at Victorian Rose Bridals in Raleigh. So back it went to L'ezu Atelier, the couture dress designer. Everyone worried if it would arrive in time for the wedding.

It did. Two months ago, Kristen sat for her portrait -- a stunning black-and-white styled picture that was displayed next to the six-tier wedding cake.

The dress worked out. The veil, though, was a trouble-maker.

After she picked out the dress, Kristen went back to Victorian Rose to decide on a veil. She wanted one longer than her dress train to flow behind her as she walked down the aisle. She ended up picking a long rhinestone-studded veil of shimmery tulle.

But should she wear the blusher veil over her face to walk down the aisle? Up until several weeks ago, she still hadn't decided.

Mother Nature ended up taking care of that decision for her.

Before she started down the aisle, as she paused for a moment with her dad, a light breeze came up. It wasn't much, but it was enough to lift up the veil and carry it off. Wedding director Bernadette Watts caught it and tried to put it back on. But it was stubborn. It wouldn't stay put.

It was a moment that would have flustered even the most poised bride.

But not Kristen. In typical Kristen fashion, she waved it away. She smiled big. She even chuckled. And she started walking down the aisle without it.

If Kristen's gown wasn't so breathtaking, her mother might have won for most elegant.

Judith Bell, like many mother-of-the brides lately, chose a figure-flattering gown over a boxy, matronly gown.

Her long, slinky, bias-cut gown, made by exclusive wedding-dress designer Sally Crew, fit every curve perfectly. With a plunging back and a cowl neck, the gown made Judith the envy of many women her own age -- or even younger.

Marcus' mother, Valarie Spaulding Little, took the same route, picking a cream-colored lamour satin gown by Bari Jay designed for a bridesmaid rather than a mother of the groom.

Most brides might have given up early on finding a dress to flatter 11 bridesmaids. But Kristen and her sister Anjanee, who was the wedding coordinator and a maid of honor, were relentless, hitting most of the area's couture bridal salons looking for the right dress.

Their long search, which ended at Alexia's Bridal Boutique in Cary, was worth it. Because of the way the strapless Vera Wang gown gathered around the middle, it was flattering on just about all of Kristen's bridesmaids. Even the celadon color worked, setting off most of the bridesmaid's skin tones.

It was a wise choice for another reason: When they all marched down the aisle escorted by the 11 groomsmen, it was as if Kristen and Anjanee knew how green the grass would be.

"They looked so pretty, especially with the contrast between the green in their dress and the green of the grass," said Mimi Metcalf, a Delta sorority sister.

The groomsmen were the most traditional of the bridal party: Black tuxes, and white vests, shirts and ties.

After the ceremony, Marcus and Kristen danced into the reception -- New Orleans party style -- leading in the bridal party.

There was no sign of the flyaway veil. But there was plenty of Kristen's signature smile.

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