On October 31, 2026, Princess Maria Immaculata of Liechtenstein and Georgian-born Zurab Dzidziguri married in an Orthodox ceremony at St. Peter’s Church (Peterskirche) in Vienna. Princess Maria Immaculata is the second daughter of Prince Gundakar of Liechtenstein and Princess Marie of Orléans. The groom is the brother of Princess Kristine de Bagration, the wife of Prince Juan Bagration of Georgia.
Princess Maria wore a white wedding gown with a long train and a turquoise and diamond peacock tiara, created in 1926 by the Kreuter jewellery house in Hanau for the Princely House of Thurn and Taxis. The groom wore a traditional Georgian chokha, accessorised with a dagger. A chokha is a woolen coat with a high neck.
Princess Maria met Georgian-born Zurab Dzidziguri during a visit to Tbilisi in 2021. The couple kept their relationship private for a long time. Before the wedding, Zurab Dzidziguri personally met with Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein to seek his approval to marry the princess. Princess Maria Immaculata and Zurab Dzidziguri also met with Shio III, Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia, who gave his blessing to their union.
Gosh. The church photos look like they could have been taken many hundreds of years ago. With bullets big enough to down elephants and multiple swords, I find this uniform frightening. Does anyone have information to help me understand this choice?
ReplyDeleteThis is a traditional Georgian military uniform. I agree it looks really odd, but they all look like this, with the daggers and cartridges. The choice was simply to wear his country's military uniform.
DeleteAs it says in the description, the groom chose to wear a traditional Georgian Chokha, and the dagger and sword are an absolute must to wear along with it. The bullet holders are not real (though they once were), they are called Gazyrs, decorative breast pockets still having the shape of ammunition cases. They also protect the wearer from stab wounds (nowadays a rare thing to happen; it's all about tradition).
Delete@21:08, everything you have to do is 1. read the text the admin gave us: "The groom wore a traditional Georgian chokha" to be informed that this is a national costume and then 2. look it up in Wikipedia. What is difficult to understand about wearing a national costume for a wedding? I also don't really believe that you are frightened - you are mocking the outfit. It tells more about you than about the Georgian costume.
Delete@21:08, me again: The church is of course old, it is in the inner city of Vienna and if a country was lucky enough that old buildings, churches and palaces were not destroyed in the wars, then yes, the inside looks like many hundreds of years ago. This is called: history.
DeleteAlso interesting the caption says "a dagger" but, I see two. I'm sure there's some sort of rich history here that my formal education system failed to share. :-)
DeleteHalloween?? Sorry, I'm jokeing.
DeleteThe only serious reason I can think of is tradition.
This is standard Georgian traditional dress for men, which has evolved from military uniforms. It’s most commonly black in color. The cartridge holders are always part of it, as are the daggers. The “bullets” aren’t real nowadays, but are reminders of when this was really military uniform.
DeleteThanks DSC - I knew there was one of our regulars who always had extra costume information! There are traditional costumes … and then there are traditional war costumes and this one does remain a surprise!
DeleteDear 21:47, I DO find it difficult to understand the modern choice to wear weapons to one’s own wedding AND I find it frightening. There can be a range of human reactions and mine is one. I trusted other commenters might take my words as I wrote them and join me in wondering rather than denigrating me.
For context, it's worth noting that wearing ceremonial military dress uniform when getting married in a church is traditional for princes in western Europe as well. For example, Prince William of Wales and Prince Albert of Monaco. When Prince Frederick of Denmark married, he even carried a full sword. And his father-in-law Dr John Donaldson wore formal highland dress which, as the photos show, included a ceremonial dagger tucked into the right-side garter of his kilt hose. Lyra
DeleteIndeed it looks a bit like a fancydress-ball. But then isn't it wonderful that the different countries celebrate their traditions?
Delete@03:43, The King/earlier: Prince of Wales wears/wore a knife tucked into his socks when wearing Scottish costume: https://www.theroyalobserver.com/p/king-charles-carried-a-concealed-black-blade-during-his-scotland-visit-but-not-for-self-defense - so let's hope this may further your understanding and lessen your surprise about similar things in other cultures.
DeleteCoralie, I'm am 99.9% always in agreement with you! And I was the original commenter here, asking if anyone had further context than was given (... with so many people telling me to read what was written, as if I hadn't!... so strange these days, the assumption that a commenter who asks or says anything a little contentious must also be a bad person who doesnt read!). I ALWAYS love the reminder we give to each other here: to be interested in the differences. I remain feeling icky about the weaponry at a wedding, as I am a pacificist; but also I find the wedding photos unusual in that there are few guests. It doesn't look like a big celebration, and yet they have gone for glamour and tradition and tiara... hence my desire for further background. All I could find in internet searches was quotes by a (distant?) relative of the bride in a Hello article, no actual journalistic report. I hope the couple will be happy and enjoy life together with their two different cultures brought together.
Delete@8:31 “ so let's hope this may further your understanding and lessen your surprise about similar things in other cultures.”????? We are always allowed to remain surprised as we learn. Why the passive aggressive tone to the reasonable question?
DeleteTotally agree!!!
DeleteBy the way...a marriage, nothing else...who are these people? Never heard before....
Cross reference to when his sister married a Georgian prince in Georgia: no weapons in the outfit. I think it was the groom’s choice to wear a weapon uniform rather than like his brother in law (https://www.pointdevue.fr/royal/couronnes-du-monde/le-mariage-du-prince-juan-bagration-mukhrani-et-kristine-dzidziguri)
DeleteBeautiful bride wore a fascinating Peacock tiara & the links of white orchids. Lovely lace dress but not the high waist design. The comment from Anon (21:08)- bullets big enough to down elephants 😆😂🤣 !!!
ReplyDelete21:28 they are. Safari guides in Africa carry similar.
DeleteIndeed. I noticed the same. They fit a typical elephant gun. Wow.
DeleteDas absurdeste Bräutigam-Outfit ever!
DeleteFashion wise; I love the bouquet. My personal taste is if it's a big wedding, with a big catheral dress, and tiara, it requires a substantial bouquet. I hate to see a grand dress with a little danty pose.' ??? Regarding the dress, I must say, I have some questions about the quality of the frabic. The hem line, to me, looks poorly done and the fabric appears a little flimsy. But, the overall affect - especially in the setting of this grand church - is lovely and romantic. Which, I would think, is what we all would want on our wedding day. Good luck to them.
ReplyDeleteThe groom looks ready for armed combat, which is a bit startling to my modern-day eyes, but I do respect his decision to wear his country’s traditional clothing. It is interesting to get this glimpse of Georgian tradition. The off-the-shoulder neckline of the bride’s dress paired with the high waist creates an unfortunate compressed-looking visual effect. Her veil is beautiful. I would be interested to see a closer-up, higher resolution picture of her tiara.
ReplyDelete-Royal Watcher
Great comment, Royal Watcher. I am also startled by the armed combat uniform.
Delete"The off-the-shoulder neckline of the bride’s dress paired with the high waist creates an unfortunate compressed-looking visual effect."
DeleteAgreed. My first thought was, "Is this bride pregnant?"
Of course we will never know, but I wonder whether any members of the royal family of Lichtenstein attended the wedding.
ReplyDeleteHi @2:20, me too. Seems strange, and empty. It may be a "last minute" wedding I perceive. She's looks gorgeous, but I would have loved to see a photo with an enormous smile from both of them.
DeleteOh yes, let's gossip now about things that are none of our business. Belongs to fashion, of course.
DeleteWell 12:41, of course if we are interested in the royals, we look at the pics and try to work out the people and the event.
Delete@ Anonymous3/11/26 12:41
DeleteNot necessarily. I wondered about the guests as well because I wanted to see what they were wearing. Often the best satorical part of a royal wedding is not the bride but the fashion choices of the guests!
Bullets on your wedding suit? Traditional or not, he didn’t have to wear them. They don’t look real excited do they?
ReplyDeleteHmmm... my thoughts too 2:30. We only see a few seconds represented by photos ... but the few seconds aren't communicating big, joyful, warm wedding.
DeleteI wonder whether anyone from the royal family of Lichtenstein attended the wedding.
ReplyDeleteIt looks to me that this is a pregnant bride; I think it may explain the very small group celebrating with the couple.
DeleteNot royal, but fürstlich!
DeleteIk ken ze niet. Niet belangrijk genoeg om hier verder op te reageren
ReplyDeleteQuel couple magnifique ; souhaitons-lui beaucoup de bonheur P.S J'admire le bouquet de la mariee ; je n'ai jamais vu d'aussi grosses fleurs !
ReplyDeleteFrom my old Swedish Lutheran point of view, arms are not carried into the church. All our old churches have a "vapenhus" (house of weapons) at the entrance where all guns, swords etc were left before entering. Even a ceremonial sword is out of place inside.
ReplyDeletea church
Very interesting re the Lutheran custom.
DeleteThe poor commenter at the top who expressed surprise at the weapons got several nasty comments in return, but I agree it’s strange to attend a church and a wedding armed.,
Thank God we are not all Swedish Lutherans.
Delete@10:02 , neither the Roman Catholic Church in Vienna, nor the Orthodox Catholic Patriarch of Georgia seem to have a problem with the groom wearing a traditional costume - of which we do not even know (nor is it our business) if there were bullets and a knife attached, or just fake bullets and knive holders.
DeleteBut your old Swedish Lutheran point of view is not obligatory for the rest of the world.
DeleteThank you 10:02 for sharing your custom. I’m really sorry that other commenters here are rude about it. There’s no logic nor need for their rudeness.
Delete15:32 No point of view is obligatory for the rest of the world.
DeleteAnd don't forget, King Charles was wearing a sword at his wedding to Princess Dianna. That's why traditionally, the bride stands to the left of the groom during a wedding ceremony so that his right arm—his sword hand—is kept free to defend her from any rival suitors or attackers. But I guess in these photos, the bride's on her own. LOL.
Delete@12:38 but, you have no problem with the Princes of Luxembourg, the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, etc., etc., coming in to their weddings (and other events through the years) with swords, which I can assure you are real?
DeleteAnon 10.02 Thank you for sharing this very interesting to me.
Delete20:18 why the aggression? I don’t begin to understand your point or manner.
Delete@ Anonymous 10:02
DeleteI am so sorry your informative comment got such bad feedback.
I appreciate your contribution which most likely brings back precious memories to your mind.
My personal approach to different countries and cultures is pretty different.
I reckon cultural sensitity to be the essential requirement to approach unknown customs and traditions.
It is an enriching experience.
I visited a number of Lutheran churches also in Denmark and Norway and was absolutely grateful for being given the opportunity to explore unknown territories.
Pity, biased minds and unkindness won't change.
Je retransmets
ReplyDeleteQuel couple superbe à qui on souhaite beaucoup de bonheur ; j'adore les grosses fleurs du bouquet !
Hi, why is the Princess wearing the Tiara from the House of Thurn and Taxis- isn't she from Liechtenstein? K
ReplyDeleteHer grandmother (on father's side) was Princess Clotilde von Thurn und Taxis.
DeleteThe Princess’ paternal grandmother was born Princess Clotilde von Thurn und Taxis.
DeleteThe bride’s paternal grandmother was HRH Princess Clotilde von Thurn und Taxis.
DeleteIs she with child?
ReplyDeleteI think that could be the case. How exciting if so!
DeleteAh, pourquoi cette question ?
DeleteWell...
DeleteCe qui me plaît, c'est le voile. Il semble splendide.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that people don’t bat an eye at western Royal men appearing at their weddings (not to mention coronations/swearings-in, openings of parliaments, etc.) in full military dress uniforms, girt with swords, but are taken aback at what is a different culture’s completely analogous appearance. Everyone is entitled to one’s own opinion, but I find this viewpoint surprising. If one is going to object to “weaponry,” why no outcry against swords?
ReplyDelete17:37 he’s fine dressed as a warlord, it is a surprise! I don’t understand why you defend this. You can have no idea how people react to seeing swords on other uniforms (which certainly don’t come with ammunition belts and multiple daggers) nor what people see and don’t say.
DeleteSie ist schwanger, sieht man doch deutlich.
ReplyDeleteJa, ich glaube, du hast recht, aber ich denke nicht, dass dies die Erhabenheit und Bedeutung des Ereignisses schmälert.
DeleteAußerdem gehe ich davon aus, dass durchaus Gäste anwesend waren, man es jedoch vorzog, deren Identität nicht preiszugeben
"Maria Immaculata", yikes. Very odd not-too-happy photos & clothes/fashion from bygone days. ~~Ruthie
ReplyDeleteLove the lace on the dress and her fabulous veil. I also like her tiara and bouquet
ReplyDeletePerhaps they are cigars not bullets
ReplyDeleteRoyal Musings: Princess Marie Immaculata of Liechtenstein weds Georgian businessman Zurab Dzidziguri https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2026/11/princess-marie-immaculata-of.html?m=1#google_vignette
ReplyDeletePost a Comment