While much of the world dressed up in spooky costumes for Halloween, European royals wore their finery as they gathered at St Peter's Church in Vienna on 31 October for the wedding of Princess Maria Immaculata of Liechtenstein.
The 34-year-old, who is affectionately known as Lata, married Zurab Dzidziguri following a five-year romance, which they had kept secret until their wedding day.
The Princess looked striking in an off-the-shoulder, lace-trimmed wedding dress and the historic Peacock tiara, which was created in 1926 and originally belonged to the princely House of Thurn und Taxis, the family of her paternal grandmother.
Looking equally dapper for the Orthodox ceremony, the groom wore the chokha, the traditional Georgian costume characterised by the crossed cartridge holders across the chest.
Who is Princess Maria Immaculata?
Lata is the second daughter of Prince Gundakar of Liechtenstein and Princess Marie d'Orléans, sister of Prince Jean, Count of Paris and head of the French royal house.
© Getty ImagesShe works in Tbilisi, Georgia, for the consultancy group PMCG, and founded an exclusive travel agency in the region called Serene Caucasus Travels.
Zurab Dzidziguri is Georgian and works in innovation project management. He is the brother of Princess Kristine de Bagration-Mukhrani, who is a member of the Georgian royal family.
Inside the Liechtenstein royal blessing
Under the strict dynastic laws of the House of Liechtenstein, the groom met with the reigning Prince Hans-Adam II, who gave his formal consent. The head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Shio III, also formally blessed the union.
"My brother Zurab and Princess Maria-Immaculata of Liechtenstein have married," began Princess Kristine de Bagration-Mukhrani, the groom's sister.
"Today, 31 October 2026, in Vienna, the capital of Austria, a solemn wedding ceremony took place at St Peter's Church, celebrated according to the Christian Orthodox rite," she continued.
Kristine shared a wealth of details about the intimate celebration. "'Wherever your destiny takes you, your feet will lead you there.' This Georgian saying seems to describe perfectly the love story that has united Georgia with one of the oldest princely dynasties in Europe."
How Princess Maria Immaculata met Zurab Dzidziguri
Princess Kristine also delved into her brother's romance, explaining how the couple met. "The story began five years ago in Tbilisi. Maria-Immaculata first visited Georgia in 2021. It was in Tbilisi that Zurab and Lata met. Their relationship soon became a special friendship and a great love."
Kristine also explained why no information about their romance had emerged until now. "Information about the couple's engagement had not been made public until now, which was linked to the dynastic rules of the Princely House of Liechtenstein.
"The marriage was preceded by the relevant formal procedures, including Zurab's personal meeting with the monarch of Liechtenstein, His Serene Highness Prince Hans-Adam II, uncle of Princess Maria-Immaculata."
It was, without doubt, an especially memorable day for the couple. "For Juan and our family, it was particularly important that, once all these formal procedures had been completed, we introduced Maria-Immaculata to His Holiness the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Shio III," the groom's sister said.
"Lata is a relative of my husband, Juan Bagration-Mukhrani, through the European royal dynasties of the Bourbons, the Habsburgs and the Wittelsbachs of Bavaria. She is the daughter of Prince Gundakar of Liechtenstein and Princess Marie d'Orléans, a descendant of the French royal dynasty."
Princess Kristine on the "celebration of love"
Concluding her lengthy message, Princess Kristine summed up the mix of emotions of the special evening in the Austrian capital.
"Today's wedding in Vienna, as well as being a celebration of love, has also become a symbolic meeting of Georgian and European cultures, traditions and family values. I congratulate them from the bottom of my heart on the beginning of a new chapter of happiness," she said.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone, to their friends and to our dear guests, for coming to Vienna and for making this special day so beautiful."
