PRINCELY PAGEANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19699, 27 July 1927, Page 7

PRINCELY PAGEANT.

The religious part of the marriage of Senator Marconi and the Countess Maria Cristina Bezzi-Scali took place on June 6 at the Church of St. Mary of Noel, in the presence of a vast assembly of Italian aristocracy. It was regarded as one of the most imposing weddings ever celebrated in Rome. Prince Potenziani, Governor of Rome, and Prince Clemente del Drago were Senator Marconi's witnesses, and Prince Luigi Berberini and the Marquess Guglielmo Guglielmi were the bril's witnesses. The bride wore a costly gown of white crepe, with a veil and train of precious lace—a family heirloom. The church had been transformed into a bower of flowers, and the trees outside were hung with tapestries. The ceremony began with the celebration of Mass, during' which the couple took Holy Communion. Cardinal Lualdi, Archbishop of Palermo, read the marriage service and then blessed the two rings. The Cardinal placed one ring on the bride's finger and she placed her ring on her husband's finger. It is the custom among the Italian aristocracy for a bride and bridegroom, after their religious marriage, to go alone to St. Peter's to kneel in prayer before the tomb of the Apostles. This custom was observed by Marconi and his bride, who later returned to the Bezzi-Scali Palace in the Via Condotti. After luncheon they left for their honeymoon.