Verena and I arrived halfway the morning when the weather was still nice, but soon it would be very, very hot with blue sky and burning sun. Verena parked the car at the parking place near the Butterfly Garden of Sayn and we soon found out that the Schloss (castle) where the wedding was going to take place was nearby on the other side of the castle park where the Butterfly Garden is situated. After a while the same Bunte journalist we had met in Kronberg im Taunus in May passed us and soon joined us outside the Schloss. Also an elder German royalty watcher, Ingrid, soon joined us with her husband. From about 10:30 we saw some close family members walking to the Schloss coming from the park, and just before 11:00 also bride and groom arrived by car.
Before Verena was told on the telephone that the event would be totally private and that after the civil wedding bride and groom would pose at the terrace for a short while. But the terrace turned out to be a public place as there was a restaurant/café inside at the first floor. So while bride, groom and family went up to the second floor for the wedding, we climbed up the stairs to the terrace, had a seat and a talk. The windows of the Schloss were open due to the hot weather, so around 11:30 we heard a loud applause on the second floor. Bride and groom were married! A short reception was held inside and on the small terrace on the second floor. But then it was time for the official photosession on 'our' terrace. Bride and groom, as well as parents came down. And unbelievable we weren't even sent away and were able to make photos on the terrace too. First they went to the front of the terrace to make it possible for the two (local) photographers in the park to make some photographs. But then we turned around and for some five to ten minutes we could make each photo we wanted. When everybody went upstairs again to continue the reception we were totally satisfied.
Marquess Niccolò Incisa della Rocchetta, Fürstin Gabriela zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, Donna Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta, Hereditary Prince Heinrich zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, Donna Giulia Incisa della Rocchetta and Fürst Alexander zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn.
Photos and Copyright: Netty Leistra