Chateau Cavalier: It's a great Day for a Wedding!

(Year 229) The couple has been waiting for years - and finally they were allowed to elope! Duke Charlopold got his Lady Luna, and Lady Luna got her Duke Charlopold. Although the event was downscaled a bit due to the groom's father deceasing this Spring, the event that took place in the chateau gardens was not that bad. It looked like the bride and the groom's mother, Old-Duchess Claudine, were both satisfied.

Their full civil names are Charlopold Demitris de Cavalier and Luna V. Heimlich. They met at University some years ago, but their relation was not approved by the Old-Duke until last year, when Luna got her Lady style. It was discovered that she is the daughter of Duke Merlin von Windenburg, and not the criminal Jacques Villareal, like everyone thought.

This was my very first wedding more or less with the use of the My Wedding Stories GP features. Some fun, and some frustration...

I'll share my thoughts on the features in a future separate post. Right now the wedding itself is more important, and some of the following pictures are rigged, in case you wonder. Imagination is a good thing, and mainly the pack features are there to help us imagine and pretend, right?

Lady Luna is not just the "former child of criminals", in fact she has proven to build herself a good future regardless of marrying to a duke. She got her Economics degree and started a Business career involving investments. Recently she lived at the Sür-Blyth Farm where her brother, Hugo, is married with Lady Elvira de Sür-Blyth, recently upgraded to Baroness, btw. Luna stayed there as a Governess, officially, just to make up for free accommodation while waiting for this big day. Sür-Blyth Farm is in the same hood as Chateau Cavalier.

She realizes that it is somehow expected that she, the future Duchess Luna, will take care of the lovely chateau gardens that her mother-in-law, Old-Duchess Claudine, spent a lifetime to design and develop. Luna has no background from flower arranging or gardening, but she managed to craft herself a wedding bouquet. Choosing crocus was a nod to the signature color of the dukedom - light purple.

Then the guests arrived, and despite scaling down there were about 30 guests.

The weather was superb, perhaps a few clouds could have cooled them down, but at least there was no sign of the forecasted thunderstorm (which struck the following night!). The servants kept a distance to the main ceremony, taking a break from their chores to follow the wedding. Butler Mehdi Mandir (top right picture) has worked for this family for centuries, and Klaira von Donnersmalt (yes, she is very distantly related to former King Wizar of Mazaloom and the former Barons of Verde) is a rather new castle  Cook who still has a long way to go regarding Gourmet cooking. Now that the household counted only the duke himself, with his fiancée and his widowed mother visiting occasionally, she had time to get acquainted to expectations.

On the right side sit Lady Luna's father, Duke Merlin von Windenburg and his 3rd wife, Duchess Mandy. Wearing a yellow dress is HRH Queen Venezia of Mazaloom, not really a close friend of this family, but as the royal family was invited she accepted to represent - alone.

We also spotted Duke Vibrattore II and Duchess Prudence de Aarbyville, and Duke Jarret and Duchess Ribra Lynn of Rossie.

On the left half sit Duke Charlopold's relatives and relations. Old-Duchess Claudine (his mother) wears a cream colored dress with a matching hat, the golden haired man in a white suit is the duke's younger brother, Lord Leon, the one who insisted on becoming an Actor instead of having a central position of the House (he is still 1st in line to the dukedom, though). The dark blue and cerise dressed couple are the duke's sister Lady Merielle with her husband the Hon. Edward von Kaching (he is 1st in line to inherit his father's Gloom barony).

Other guests spotted are Duke Victus and Duchess Gloria (groom's aunt) of Meadows, and Lord Dominic of Deadgrass with his wife Lady Moira von Dresden (Lord Dominic is a member of the Brindleton District Order.

And then - down there at the arch, waits the man of her life - Duke Charlopold! They hardly spoke this day, as tradition is. Now the moment they have longed for since they met at Britechester campus finally comes! Lady Luna was too nervous to actually remember to carry her wedding bouquet! (= my bad!)

They are wed by High Priest Antonius Dipperwell from the Church of Similius.

Guests threw rice, which turned out a bit chaotic as nobody did hit the couple. Although Luna has practically become Duchess de Cavalier through wedding, her formal investiture will not find place until this Winter, as new titles are always approved on Investiture Day at the royal palace. This is normally only done for Peers, but also on spouse levels of monarchs and dukes.

They basically planned finger food, but guests got a chance to sit down. It was also possible to walk inside to cool down in the Grand Hall.

Then the couple had their first dance together as married.

I don't think they practiced a lot for this, but it went fairly well. I wish I took the time to bring most guests over to watch, but at least the Duke and Duchess de Aarbyville watched the dance (more or less).

Some guests left mid day when the ceremonial events were over. They all respected that the house had just ended a season of mourning over the old man. But closest relatives stayed a bit longer, and after a few hours of chilling, they dressed up to party a bit into the night.

Luna's brother, Hugo, toasted to the couple, and they all shared nice cheers. Both couples, Hugo+Elvira and Merielle+Edward) have young children, but this time children were not invited for the ceremonies (they are all just babies, anyway). I'm sure Luna can't wait to have a few, too! The dukedom requires a male heir, but they are still young enough for several goes, if needed. 

There was also a few new dancing routines, and I think this group dancing is new. It made me smile finding Duke Charlopold, his brother Lord Leon and old Old.Duchess Claudine dancing. That is, the aspiring Actor Leon  hardly moved a leg. Old-Duchess moved every part of her body, though, happy with the successful event - but realizing that her gala outfit was a bit over the top for a session with the close family ;)

So, I guess that ends a lovely day. A pretty good event was held and the castle gardens made for a perfect location. Guests might have asked themselves what could possibly have been downscaled?