The New Dawn (New World only)

[Mascargo]

The orthodox priest smiled at both of them. He held the golden rings that would soon symbolize their marriage, reciting scripture and blessing them. Stanis stood silently, studying Anna as if for the first time. He had rarely thought of her as a person, caught up in the politics of the marriage. "Perhaps," he thought, "she'd make a better wife than Anastasia."

After exchanging the rings three times between them, the priest slowly slid them on the third finger of the right hand, an ever symbolic gesture in Stanis' religion. The priest grabbed and lit two candles, handing one of each to the royals. They would hold onto these candles for the duration of the service as it was symbolic of their spiritual union under God.

Next was the highlight of the ceremony, the final rite that Stanis permitted the priest to practice. Normally they would be forced to go through every single step of the ceremony for marriage, but he rather wanted it focused on the coronation, not the wedding. The priest slowly lifted up an ornate wedding crown, shaped of gold and spattered with diamond, and placed it on Stanis' head. He quickly grabbed another identical crown and placed it atop Anna's head. These crowns were the finalization of their marriage and would stay with them for life.

The priest stood silently as the two looked at each other, their spare hands interlocked. He raised his hands, professing unto God the marriage. "May you live!" Traditionally, the newly-weds wouldn't kiss in public, but in this case Stanis wished to make a public statement. He aptly looked into his new wife's eyes, both of them kissing.

Both Reginov and Levin sat in the crowd. To speed up the wedding and not make everything overly religious, they avoided the use of bridesmaids and groomsmen. Reginov leaned over, whispering into his ear. "It seems your father has made his mark." Levin blinked and ignored the statement. The wedding wasn't a happy affair for him. The children had witnessed the death of their mother for this union to exist. The princesses refused to come. It was a sordid affair inside the House itself, but Levin did his best to not let it show. As the priest recited the final lines of the service, a few servants prepared the coronation; the crowning of them both.

[Dominion of New England]

The Royal Family saw the Coronationation at the same time as the wedding rather unusual. Normally after a marrage, it would take several weeks of preparations both physically and mentally for the couple, due to the fact that most Coronationations in New England happen soon after a funeral.
"Credits are due to whomever designed those crowns, they are visually stunning."
"Why, have you never seen our the New England crown?"
"Well....no."
"Neither have I physically, the crown is under tight locks."
"We should probably stay quiet, the ceremony is still happening."

[Daegan]

Anna, during her marriage, to Stanis, took the opportunity to do some Sherlock Holmesing on her husband. He was watching her, that much she could tell. What is he thinking right now? She was still trying to blank out the guests who were undoubtedly watching her as well. As the wedding continued, she realized that the ceremony wasn't what she had expected. It was a political marriage, she wasn't expecting such effort put into it. Her crown was much more decorative than the one she was used to wearing, yet lighter too. The candle flickered gently in her hand, and whenever she glanced at it she smiled. It was comforting almost. And if those were surprising enough to her, imagine her shock when Stanis kissed her! She knew that it went against tradition and wasn't expecting a kiss... at all really, but the contact shocked her in several ways. One, she hadn't been expecting it and two, it was nothing like she had imagined a kiss would be. It was... much warmer. It didn't exactly disappoint.

As they both pulled away from the kiss, she took the opportunity to glance at the audience. Andrew looked...horrified would probably be the best word. Stanis' son Levin uncomfortable, to say the least. The Royals from New England were whispering amongst themselves. At least no-one looked prepared to murder somebody. That would have put a downer on the day.

[Ulvena]

Mira, with her personal assistant and bodyguard, sat and watched Queen Anna walk down the isle. Before, she had gushed over the place in which the wedding was taking place, probably more so than the actual bride and groom. She had made sure to stay quiet though, but anyone looking at her could see her trying to hold back a squeal of happiness. However, she stayed quiet and solemn as the priest began saying his words and crowned the two.

However, when Emperor Stanis moved in to kiss the bride, Mira couldn't help but let out a quiet sigh of contentment. The day was turning out far better than any old day managing documents and logistics in the Philippines. Next to her, Liu wore a hard look and stared intensely at the couple, her face unreadable.

[Floydian Britain]

snip

[Mascargo]

The Orthodox priest returned back to the altar, requesting the newly-weds to kneel down. A coterie of Kar Knights followed behind the priest to assist in the ceremony, two of them carrying heavy cushions with crowns atop. The crowns of the Imperium, that they were. Both crowns were identical in shape and size, but vastly different in decoration. Stanis’ was encrusted with diamonds and emeralds, a small portrait of Saint Vladim beneath the Orthodox cross which topped it. Anna’s was similar, without the religious markings, but had a combination of rubies and sapphires instead. The two knights approached and stood side the royals, the priest extending his hands.

“By the power of the Orthodox Church and that which God has invested in me, I hereby bear witness to the coronation of Emperor Stanis and Queen Anna as Emperor and Empress of the United Dawn Imperium. As God is my witness, I proclaim thee Emperor Stanis Andropov of the United Dawn Imperium, and you Empress Anna Badan-Andropov of the United Dawn Imperium. With this: lead the world to greatness and growth in your own house. May you live forever in prosperity and kindness!”

Both of the knights holding the crowns stood stoically as the other two lifted them from the cushions and gently placed them upon Stanis and Anna.

“All hail the Emperor and the Empress,” the knights shouted, “long live the United Dawn Imperium!”

[Aeuria]

Aleksander watched the coronation with his full attention, scanning the scene for as many details as possible. After all, it isn't every day one gets to witness an imperial coronation.

As the Priest finished speaking, Aleksander called out. "Vive l'imperium! Vive leurs majestés!", the French escaping his mouth with as much sincerity as he could muster.

When all was said and done, Aeuria was not a member of the Imperium, nor did it plan on joining. With the failure of the FAS and successful military deployments of la Francophonie, which brought African holdings to Aeuria, Aleksander was content to allow his country membership to one international government. He had no interest in bowing to Stanis or his pauper Empress.

"Beautiful, papa. You should be taking notes for my wedding." said Princess Marie as she gently pinched her father with a smile as the hall erupted in applause as the delegations and guest began cheering and clapping.

"Oh? Now you are getting married?" responded Aleksander with a smirk. "What happened to 'I'm married to my duchies.'?" he asked rhetorically with a laugh before being drowned out by the noise of applause as the hall reverberated with cheers and claps.