Newly-weds Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala and Princess Sinaitakala

Photos by Pesi Fonua, Linny Folau, Peter Poulsen and Mary Lyn Fonua

Newly-weds Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala and Princess Sinaitakala left the Centenary Church in Nuku'alofa this afternoon 12 July 2012, riding in the back of an open-topped vehicle, to the cheers of hundreds of well-wishers and the girls of Queen Salote College where the bride was a teacher.

Earlier there was a shower, just before the bride arrived at the church in a stretch limosine on a driveway lined with tapa cloths,  but the rain passed quickly and the wedding party entered the church where 2,500 invited guests were waiting, many with cameras and handhelds, to record the happy occasion.

The bride Hon. Sinaitakala Tu'imatamoana 'i Fanakavakilangi Fakafanua was escorted by her brother, the Tongan noble Lord Fakafanua, behing the ringbearer Hon, Sosaia Lausi'i Ma'afu and flower girl Miss Paige Siukaufusi Ramanlala Vallabh, and followed by two attendants Miss 'Ala-ki-Hihifo Fusi Levalasi Luani and Miss 'Utufia 'i Moana 'o Tupoumoheofo Tuita.

The marriage was solemninized by Rev Dr 'Ahio, Royal Chaplain and President of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga. The hymns and anthem were sung by the combined choir of the Maopa and Kolomotu'a districts conducted by Mr Makanesi Tokotaha and Mr Tevita Fifita.

From New Zealand the Camerata Pasifika Orchestra was conducted by Mr John Damian Fennell with pianist Mary Anne Riechelmann. During the service they played Gabriel's Oboe from Morricone's "The Mission" and an Arioso by J. S. Bach.

Members of the Royal Corps of Musicians also played during the service.

Later in the afternoon, about 4,000 people gathered at Pangai Si'i next to the Royal Palace on the Nuku'alofa waterfront for a wedding reception, where there was traditional dancing and celebrating into the night under a huge marquee decorated with fairy lights.

The week long Royal Wedding celebration continues with a Royal ball on Friday 13 July and will conclude with a Thanksgiving Service at the Centenary Church and Royal Luncheon on Sunday July 15.

Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala, the eldest son of King Tupou VI and Queen Nananasipau'u, is first in line to the Tongan throne. His bride, now Princess Sinaitakala, is the daughter of Princess 'Ofeina and the late Tongan noble Tutoatasi Fakafanua. Both the bride and the goom are direct descendants of Tonga's Queen Salote Tupou II