October 22, 1908
Princess Alexandra Viktoria of Schleswig-Holstein and Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia were married today in the imperial palace's chapel at 4:30 p.m. Earlier in the day, the couple were married in a civil ceremony in one of the palace's private apartments. Afterwards, Empress Auguste Viktoria placed the Hohenzollern crown upon her niece's head. Alexandra Viktoria "wore a white silk gown trimmed with lace, and her train, which was richly embroidered with silver and thirteen feet long, was born by four pages."
The simple Lutheran ceremony was performed by the Court pastor Dr. Dryander.
The Emperor and Empress kissed the newlyweds, as they made their way to the reception for 2000 guests. After dinner, the wedding guests took part in the "fagot dance", where the bride and groom "promenaded around the White Hall, attended by ten lackeys, bearing tall candles, while the guests bowed as they passed. "
The bride also maintained another tradition when she cut her garters into several pieces and gave them to her bridesmaids.
The honeymoon will be spent at the Hubertusstock.
The "fagot" dance was very gay, of course -- and a tradition at German royal weddings. It is also known in English as the Torch dance "Fackeltanz"
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