The Wedding of the Year

Prince Dimitrie Sturdza, descendent of one of Romania’s oldest ruling families, witnessed yesterday his son’s marriage. Stefan Dimitrie Ferdinand Sturdza married Nina Irina Tandarica in ceremonies that showed a perfect mix of tradition and modernity, deemed to be the top social event of the year.

Stefan and Nina came to marry in Iasi, Romania, from their adoptive country, Switzerland. Iasi is a very important city for the Sturdzas, [as members of their family ruled Moldova from that city over centuries].

Far away from curious eyes from the public and even more so from the media, the bride and the groom prayed in the Church of Saint Nicholas, built by Stephen the Great [ruler of Moldova in the 14th century who fought the Turk domination every year of his 47-year long rule].
The Bishop of Moldova and Bucovina, Daniel, led the group of priests performing the religious service in the Rulers Hall in the now renamed the Culture Palace in Iasi.
Bishop Daniel said that Stefan, one of the groom’s given names, is symbol of his link to Moldova. The marriage takes place in the year [the death of] Stefan the Great [500 years ago] is commemorated. Teoctist, the Romanian Patriarch, sent a blessing note to the bride and the groom.

Some 200 friends, relatives, colleagues and journalists attended the wedding, which lasted for two days. The religious ceremony was followed by a wedding party were traditional folk music was played live by famous artists at "The Mushroom" retreat in Ciric. The list of guests to the party includes: [soprano] Mariana Nicolesco, [former counterintelligence agency director] Virgil Magureanu, [tobacco company leader] Peter Imre, [soccer player] Ionut Lupescu, [athlete] Gabi Szabo, [actress] Bianca Brad, [former defense minister] Victor Athanasie Stanculescu, Diana Lascaresu, [former tennis player] Ion Tiriac, a good friend of the groom’s father, accompanied by [TV host] Andreea Marin, [minister of foreign affairs] Mircea Geoana, accompanied by his wife, Mihaela, [former tennis player] Ilie Nastase, accompanied by his partner, Amalia.

Before entering the former Rulers’ Palace, the bride and the groom greeted the crowds gathered in front of the building. Stefan talked briefly with some of the people who were clapping their hands, while wishing the newly weds a happy long marriage. "Live long and God bless," the voice of one woman was heard pitched above the other voices.
A choir greeted the wedding guests in the Palace with an outstanding performance prior to the religious ceremony. One evening before, in the same hall, the guests had been treated to folk music and traditional Romanian food courses.

The performance was equally stunning at Ciric. This time the nature put up the show: yellow leaves were snowing the alleys and the tens candles floated while shining on the waters nearby.
The Saturday party at Ciric was also a performance of good taste and elegance from the people attending the weeding. The show was complete with fire-works and a band of folk-music playing in Bregovic-like style.

As the groom’s parents are born on 10 and 11 October, respectively, the cries of "Many happy returns" were the most frequent to hear.
The people in charge with organizing the event for the past months were just a few and they were led by Neculai Bujor, also wedding godfather for the young couple, and Doina Zelenek, Prince’s Dimitrie Sturdza close collaborator.
It was all a display of refinement so unlike the ostentatious wedding parties of Romania’s nowadays newly rich.

Photos

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