Prince Philip Karageorgevitch of Serbia Marries Danica Marinkovic

It's official: This Serbian royal wedding was the event of the weekend! On October 7, 2017, crown royals from all over Europe traveled to Belgrade, Serbia, to witness the marriage of Prince Philip (son of HRH Prince Alexander of Serbia and HRH Princess Maria da Gloria of Orleans Bragança) and Danica Marinkovic at Cathedral Church of St. Michael the Archangel. The groom, who works for an asset manager in London, and the bride, a graphic designer and collage artist known as "Dana Maar," first met as royals do, over dinner at the Royal Palace. (Seriously!) "Over long conversations we understood that we share a lot in common," Danica says. "We both like arts, literature, traveling, and nature.... We instantly felt very connected." The two knew they'd spend their lives together, and Prince Philip made that official with a proposal in Primrose Park, which is near their home in London.

As for their royal wedding, the couple knew two things. One, it would take place at Cathedral Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Belgrade in order to honor Philip’s great grandparents King Alexander and Queen Maria of Yugoslavia, who married there on June 6, 1922. "It was one of the most interesting and grandiose royal weddings of their times," Danica says. And two: The wedding would be on October 7, 2017, as the number seven is a lucky number for them. Continue on to read (and see!) more about how these royals said "I do," crowns and all!

For her wedding dress, the bride turned to designer Roksanda Ilincic, whom she very much admires. "Her majestic way of combining elements from the past with the modern that represent her vision of fashion and style makes her one of the most creative and renowned fashion designers in the world," she says. For the custom gown, Roksanda mixed two types of silk to create an ivory dress that was the epitome of the modern elegance Danica loves in her designs. The groom looked equally elegant in a bespoke morning suit.

The bride's attendants, including maid of honor Princess Victoria of Sweden, selected their own attire for the celebration. They wore a variety of colors and styles by designers such as Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, Saint Laurent, Balmain, Dior, and Roksanda.

The wedding was officiated by his holiness the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church Irinej. "Getting married in one of the most beautiful orthodox churches in Belgrade, the Cathedral Church of St. Michael the Archangel, illuminated by golden orthodox icons, was the most magical and special moment for us," Prince Philip says.

During the ceremony, the couple was presented with two crowns in red velvet with gold embellishments. How royal!

The newlyweds exited to a shower of rose petals and the cheering of crowds outside the cathedral.

Before heading to the two-part reception in a red convertible, the couple posed for portraits with family, guests, and many young girls in traditional costumes. "We are more than happy to share all the emotions of the day with the people we love, friends and family, but also with all the nation that deserves to be a part of something as major as the first Serbian royal wedding since 1922," the groom adds.

The following festivities began with a celebratory reception at the Royal Palace, the Serbo-Byzantine residence of the crown prince and his family. After cocktails and music there, guests walked over to the White Palace, another grand home on the compound, for dinner. The menu was meant to give international guests a taste of Serbia, and the bride said everyone enjoyed the Serbian specialties. During this portion of the evening, the groom had a few words to say: “Danica and I thank you all for being with us on the most beautiful day of our lives so far. We are so happy to share the joy of this moment with you. We thank our parents for organizing this magnificent celebration for us here at the White Palace. And above all, thank you, Dana, for all your love and for making me the happiest man in the world.” Aw, we'll cheers to that!