The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-06-23
KING GEORGE IS MARRIED
HE wEDS THE MAID OF HIS
CHOICE.
Takes the Hand of Princess Tavinia
Though the Mobiles Strongly Urged
Princess Ofa-The Brides Dress

ried at last The ceremony came off on
Thursday, June l in the kings own
church and as often, lit is the uncX-
pected that happens" as it was i'm this
case; for his majesty instead of marry
ing the Princess Ola of Niua, Tobutabu
as was expected by nearly all his peo-
pie, took for his queen, the Princess
Tavinia, daughter of Kubu minister of
police and granddaughter of Tavinia,
the highest chief woman of Navau.
on Monday, May % the mobiles and
chiefs met to consider the matter of his
marriage. The king wrote to them, to
acquaint them with, the fact that of the
two princesses, he tJreferred Tavinia.
notwithstanding his expressed prefer
ence for kubu's daughter, seventeen of
the chiefs as the result of their deliber-
atiOns, expressed their opinion that the
king should marry Ofa, and there were
only some seven in favor of TaVinia,
the kings choice. A letter was sent TO
Tubou, acquainting him with the fact
that the majority of his chiefs We're of
the opinion that he should espouse Ola.
The king thanked them for their lab
ors. and the trouble they had been at,
but again endeaVored to impress them
with the fact, that his mind was thor
oughly made up, and to all their letters
and remonStrances, sent to him day by
day, had but the one answer.
After many days lengthy discussions,
and upon Tubou's declaring that if he
could not marry Tavinia, he would
marry no one, but remain single, the
majority of the mobiles gave in. At
about IL o'clock of the wedding day the
firing of royal salute announced the
approach of the king who entering the
church from his own door, at the back
seated himself on his usual chair upon
the dais and waited for the arrival of
his bride.
The church was densely packed with
the invited guests, both European and
Tongan. The king was accompanied by
Fatafehi (his father) who acted as his
groomsman, and he had two pages also
in attendance, dressed in the royal col
ors red and white.
Tubou had not long to wait; and as
Lavinia. with her attendant brides
maids (six in number) and accompanied
by her father, Kubu, who was to give
her away, marched slowly up the
church. the king stepped down from the
lais. and took his place at her side in
!, front of the communion rail. The pro-
ceedings commenced shortly after IL a.
h. by the singing of a wedding hymn,
and the chanting of the Lords prayer.
The music was the composition of his
majesty, and is conSi 1ered to have con-
siderable musical power.
{ The usual declaration precedent to
marriage" was then made, and signed
| by his majesty and the bride; this was
followed by the reading of the usual
marriage service, in eXtenso, by the
officiating minister, the Rev. j. b. Wat
kin, the kings chaplain. At the conclu-
sion of the marriage ceremony, the GER
tifcates of marriage We're signed by his
majesty and the bride, the same being
witnessed by the governors of Vavau
and Habai. Immediately after the con-
= clusion of the marriage service, the roy
al couple asecended the dais and took
their respective chairs, after few mo-
ments the king stood up, and the Prin-
cess TaVinia kneeling on fOotstOol, heI
| principal bridesmaid unfastened her
veil and the king placing a light and
| elegant crown upon the princess head
o proclaimed her to be the queen of Ton.
I ga. After the crown had been firmly
secured in position by the bridesmaid
the king gave his arm to the queen and
|. descending from the dais accompanied
by the four governors of VaVau, Haa
bal, Niua and Eua, and attended by the
pages and bridesmaids the royal cou
+ pie walked slowly down the center OF
the church and into the royal palace
:. clase at hand. Fatafehi and Kubu, tn,
/. fathers respectively of king and queen
(; formed also part of the royal process
: sion.
p The brides dress was of the riches
white duchesse satin. The skirt wa:
festooned with valuable honiton lace
(wedding bells forming the design o.
the latter and ii was trimmed will
- spray orange blossoms 1t was lineC
e with white silk, with a ruching of tn,
e same at the bottom.
- The bodice was trimmed with a hand
% some pearl and bead trimming, chiffol
y and lace. 1t was slightly low at thu
y neck. over one sleeve was an epaulett
" edged with chiffon while the lace wa
- brought from the bottom of the corsage
= and draped on the other shoulder anC
" was finished off with sprays of wedding
u flowers. The sleeves were tucked anC
D. came over the hands
The handsome court train which wa
six yards long, was carried by si'
5, bridesmaids, was made of a very ricl
a brocade in the design of chrysanthe
r NUNS and fern leaves and it was line
n with white silk. The veil was beauti
l. fully worked, and was ornamented a
II the corners with large punches o
lie daisies with their foliage
H. The coronet, bouquet, parasol, etc
4 were all of the choicest description an
material and the shoes were white sat
in, braided with white and silver. Tn
If dress fitted perfectly. Bridesmaids woT
It. dresses of flowered white silk, trimme
with coored passementerie of orang
blossoms and carried a bouquet of tn
" same flowers. White satin shoes an
es white kid gloves completed their attir'
a tire.
re A rich and costly wedding breakfas
le was laid out partly in the palace, an
l. partly in a pavilion on the lawn, 81
@ lect dozen guests breakfasted with III
ut king and queen, and the rest of til
II. wedding guests were entertained in III
a. pavilion. Toasts were given, an
r. speeches made, and the whole of III
r ceremony passed off without hitch
any kind. The levee in the afternoo
was well attended and the king entel
tanned his guests with champagne.
At the conclusion of the marriaG
as service and crowning of the queen a 81
Sc lutte of 101 guns was fred-SamC
u Weekly Herald.