And You Thought You Had Problems
By: Vlady Peters
Another name for a wedding could be called the gathering of relations that you rarely ever see at any other time, and hope never to see again after the wedding. Often you must invite them not only because it’s the done thing, but also to keep the numbers up. If you’re going to put on a show, you want as many people as possible to see it. So it is with most people, even those living in castles and palaces.
The Nidaros Cathedral in Norway, a large gothic and ancient building, in the medieval time had pilgrims flocking from all over the place. In our age of reluctant belief in anything sacred, the Cathedral has become of interest mainly to the tourists who flock to it in their hundreds of thousands. It’s the place to see when you’re doing Norway.
When Princess Martha Louise of Norway and writer Ari Behn decided to exchange their vows, the Cathedral was a natural choice for their big day. It was not only large enough to accommodate any number of guests, it was a delight to decorate. There were the magnificent stained glass windows, biblical, religious and royal stone statues, gothic struts, and also all sorts of nooks and crannies for the inevitable floral display.
Apart from candles, the cathedral was filled with 760 sprays of Martha lilies, which the princess has used more or less as a theme for her nuptials. When getting her official portrait taken with her fiancé, she chose to wear a printed dress overlaid with the blooms of the lilies.
The wedding was not only lily-themed, it was also sentimental, as, in fact, is the princess herself. Her child attendants carried bouquets which spelled out ‘A loves M’, and her own bouquet was shaped like a heart.
The Princess’ wedding dress was inspired by the shape and color of the Martha lily as well as the gothic arches of Nidaros Cathedral. In the design of the dress the letters M and A were woven in a way which reflected the shape of the gothic cathedral arches and the Martha lily.
The music was provided by harpists and string orchestras, and the nation’s top soloist, as well as male and female choirs.
It was a princess wedding fit for a princess.
But though no one said anything, there were few notable absences that did raise royal eyebrows. Prince of Holland, experiencing some sort of personal crisis, is currently eschewing all royal weddings, and decided to give this particular one a miss in favour of going a-hunting.
Following his lead it would seem, the Danish Crown Prince had begged to be excused on the pretext of having to do a lot of studying for a pending exam. And yet another neighbouring prince said he and his wife were expecting and preffered to stay at home.
Yes, even the royals have their squabbles, just like you and me.
Vlady Peters is an Australian Civil Marriage Celebrant authorized to perform marriages in Australia. She also performs general ceremonies such as Baby Naming, Renewal of Vows and Commitment Ceremonies. To learn more about Vlady, visit her at http://www.weddings-celebrant.com