Prince Georg Friedrich's Wedding: HI&RH The Princess of Prussia
Love, love, love the tiara that Sophie chose for her big day: this is the Isenburg Floral Tiara, a family piece that Sophie's sister Katharina also wore on her wedding day. I love the unique shape of this one ... let's hope that: a) Georg Friedrich and Sophie get invited to future royal tiara events, and b) Sophie gets to wear this one. Or, actually, maybe we should be hoping that she gets to bust out the Prussian jewels, if there are many left. You know those are pretty fantastic.
Here's a full view of the wedding dress. Not sure about the collar tailoring on the piece, but overall, I think she looks gorgeous:
Congrats to the Prussians! 
PHOTO CREDITS: REUTERS/Paul Schirnhofer/Haus Hohenzollern/Handout, Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
The tiara is gorgeous! In German TV it was said, the Isenburg Tiara was made in Paris in the 19th century, the veil is from the 19th century, too, both are worn by every Isenburg princess on her wedding since then. I am not a fan of the dress, especially of the coat, but I think it is Sophie's style. The dress is designed by Wunderkind by Wolfgang Joop, and it is said, that it wasn't easy to make the colour fitting to the old veil.
I am so sad, that there are no photos of the dinner in the evening, it was reported, that there were at least 15 tiaras and Sophie would wear the Prussian Meander Tiara for the evening...
Like everything but the blouse over her dress. Too casual! Her hair is a lovely tone, and her make up and tiara/veil were lovely. The dress is rather busy, but I would like it better without that big collar
I likewise disagree with the collared coverup, but at least she had the good sense to keep her jewelry to a minimum beyond that striking tiara.
Can someone please explain the practice of holding both civil and religious ceremonies? Albert & Charlene did the same thing.
Kind of like the dress, actually. It is something different.
In some countries, like England and Denmark, the queen (or king) is, besides head of the country, as well head of the church. This makes QEII head of the church of England. This means that a wedding done in a church, is as legitimate as a wedding in court hall. In countries were church and state are seperate, like the Netherlands and Germany, and Monaco, a civil ceremonie is requierd to make the marriage legitimate.
Thanks, Dina.
I love the color of GF's tie!
I love the history behind the tiara and the veil. The cover up is a bit odd but many churches frown on bare sholders so that may be the reason for it.
This tiara is striking.
There is a whole lot of something going on with this dress, though. The individual elements are lovely-the pleating, the tulle, the sheer sleeves-but not all on one gown. It needs editing.
If the collar was standing to frame her face I think I would like it better-flat it looks a bit like a raincoat.
Georg's boutonniere must be stapled to his body-how else does something that heavy not droop? (Says the mom who has helped her children's prom dates deal with this issue!)
Really love the dress. Not crazy about the tiara. A little too busy.
A civil marriage is required by the law of the country and does not depend on whether the head of state is also the head of the church. In the US, we also have separation of church and state, and the head of state is not the head of the church, yet most religious ceremonies suffice to make the marriage legal.
Also, I believe that is the way it works in Britain also, i.e., a civil marriage is not required and a religious ceremony can suffice.
I love this tiara - it's so pretty, and it really suits her. I'm with the majority re the dress - the coat collar doesn't really work, but the dress itself looks lovely.
In the UK religious and civil ceremonies have equal weight in law; in Scotland a religious ceremony can take place anywhere provided you can get someone to perform it, whereas in England the rules are a bit stricter (Scots law on weddings is historically more relaxed than England, hence young couples eloping to Gretna Green!)
Civil ceremonies used to have to be in registry offices, but in recent years the rules have been relaxed and you can get married in venues with a license, such as hotels or even Kensington or Hampton Court Palaces!
Charles & Camilla initially planned to get a civil wedding license for Windsor Castle, and have the civil part of their ceremony there, but they were told that if they did this other people would be able to apply to get married there as well, and it ended up that they went to the Guildhall instead.
Upon closer examination, it appears that the "jacket" is long and incorporates itself into a train at the bottom; not a long train, mind you. The dress is a dream (but I love any form of pleating) The tiara is fabulous with her hairstyle and she is radiant! He is a handsome chap as well.
Thank you for the information clearing up confusion with the civil and religious ceremonies; I could never quite figure out C & C's situation; since they were both divorced.
I love the tiara, so sturdy yet so delicate. It must be a fair old weight too.
I like the dress (like, not love, it doesn't seem very flattering around the thighs, too much volume), I like the jacket and the tiara goes well enough with the modern components BUT I do not see how an old veil goes with the dress at all. Something's amiss.
In many parts of Europe if you don't have a civil ceremony (often conducted by the mayor) you're not legally married.
England only introduced "official" weddings in 1753, before that it was enough to say your were married (to each other) for it to be so.
Civil marriages were introduced in Europe (16th century) so inter-faith Christian couples could marry and then Napoleon spread the custom through much of modern-day Europe (thanks Wikipedia).
In Britain you choose, one or t'other; in Europe you can have both. Yay, weddings!
There are some states in the US, most notably Colorado and Pennsylvania, where the couple can marry themselves, without a formal officiant.
They make a great-looking couple and I think Sophie made a simple and elegant bride on her wedding day. But does anyone else think that Georg Friedrich looks like Prince Harry in the second photo?
Charles & Camilla had to have a civil ceremony because, although the Church of England has relaxed its rules somewhat on remarriage, as divorcees whose relationship had contributed to the breakdown of the earlier marriages they couldn't marry in a Church of England ceremony. They could have a C of E blessing though (generally if you can find a trendy vicar most partnerships can be blessed in the C of E).
Princess Anne remarried in church at Crathie, near Balmoral, because the Church of Scotland (which, to grossly oversimplify, is a bit more protestant than the C of E) allows remarriage after divorce, because it doesn't recognise marriage as one of the sacraments.
Absolutely stunning tiara! I love the floral look of it. No wonder it graces the heads of the bride's family. That is a lovely tradition. (Note: I wore my Mom's tiara when I married. It was far, far less grand than those of the royal houses of Europe, but it was grand and extremely special to me.)
I've noticed a trend with the royal brides this past year. They all have chosen not to wear a necklace. Interesting.
I cannot get over Prince Georg Friedrich's resemblance to his great-great grandfather, Kaiser Wilhelm. Wow! Also, he has the same smile (well, actually teeth!) as Queen Victoria his great-great-great grandmother. It's uncanny! The power of genetics folks.
I read that the veil was so fragile, it had to be sewn to the train so it would not drag on the ground and be damaged.
A question for Maggie.
When Prince Charles and Camilla married, Prince Charles' former wife, Diana Princess of Wales, was deceased; however, Camilla's former husband, Andrew Parker Bowles, was still living. If Andrew Parker Bowles had also been deceased at the time Charles and Camilla married, could they then have married in a Church of England ceremony, or is the fact that they were both divorcees whose relationship contributed to the breakdown of their marriages the deciding factor, regardless of whether or not the former spouse is living or dead?
I know in the Roman Catholic Church, a divorced Catholic can not remarry in the church as long as his/her former spouse is living; however, once the former spouse has died, the divorced Catholic is then free to remarry sacramentally in the church.
It is no wonder you never hear of German fashion designers. This has to be be the worst dressed royal event of the year, if not for a longer time. From the bride to the guests, the best dressed were the men. Heidi Klum must be in tears.
I like the tiara and think it bears some similarity to Princess Mary's diamond and ruby parure, but find nothing redeeming about the dress. It looks like a ragtag of material just thrown together from disparate elements. It's only Sophie's joy on her wedding day that carries this off.