# The Wedding of the 12th Baroness of Brattleby and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile (by marriage) — A Ceremony at Sfântul Nicolae Dintr-o Zi and Reception at Știrbey Palace
BUCHAREST & BUFTEA, 23 May 2026 — The Noble House of Brattleby announces the religious marriage of Lady Nicoleta Vasile (née Scarlat), 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile of Brattleby. The orthodox ceremony was held in Bucharest and followed by a grand reception at the historic Știrbey Palace in Buftea, gathering distinguished members of European society including counts, baronesses and lords.
## A Sacred Service at Biserica Sfântul Nicolae Dintr-o Zi
While the reception was hosted on the storied Știrbey estate, the religious service itself was relocated to the celebrated Biserica Sfântul Nicolae Dintr-o Zi in Bucharest. The chapel on the Știrbey domain — currently undergoing extensive restoration — could not safely accommodate the ceremony. The orthodox service was officiated by Father Vasile Ioana, a close and longstanding friend of the couple, who delivered a homily of such depth that, in the words of Honorary Lord Răzvan, "we all wept in the church at his discourse". The couple attended confession in advance of the service, observing the spiritual preparations of the orthodox tradition with quiet devotion.
## A Union Formalised Across Two Nations
The religious wedding in Romania followed a private civil ceremony held earlier at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London during April 2026, attended by a small circle of immediate family in keeping with traditional English protocol. The two ceremonies — the intimate civil service in London and the grand religious celebration in Bucharest — together honoured the dual heritage of the House and reflected the couple's commitment to both the legal and spiritual customs of their respective nations.
## Distinguished Godparents
Serving as nași — the godparents whose role is central to the orthodox marriage rite — were the celebrated Romanian composer Marius Moga and his wife, Bianca Lăpuște. Their participation marked one of the most personal aspects of the ceremony, reflecting a long and treasured friendship between the two families. Mr Moga is among the most distinguished figures of contemporary Romanian music, while Mrs Lăpuște, a former journalist, maintains a notably private life and seldom appears at public occasions.
## The Bride's Gown by Josephine Scott
Lady Nicoleta was the focal point of the evening in a bespoke gown by the British designer Josephine Scott. The dress was hand-decorated with 355 individually stitched roses, each finished with a pale-pink pistil, lending the ensemble a sculptural quality that drew admiration from every quarter of the room. The craftsmanship represented many hundreds of hours of atelier work and harmonised with the historic grandeur of the palace setting.
## An Engagement and an Honorary Title
The couple became formally engaged the previous year, an occasion on which His Lordship was granted the honorary courtesy title 'Honorary Lord of Brattleby'. From January 2026 onwards, Honorary Lord Răzvan and Lady Nicoleta attended personally to every aspect of the wedding arrangements, declining to delegate the planning of what they regarded as the most significant day of their lives.
## A Gathering of Over 250 Guests
The reception at Știrbey Palace welcomed over 250 guests, including European nobility, diplomats and figures from the arts. The estate, ordinarily closed during its programme of restoration, was opened specially for the occasion, allowing the celebration to unfold within its historic halls and on its manicured grounds.
## The Noble House of Brattleby
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient noble title granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its origins are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists Colswein of Lincoln as the first baron, holding 56 Lincolnshire lordships. The modern recognition of Lady Nicoleta's title was published in The London Gazette on 9 September 2022, under Notice ID 4158083. The House motto is 'Fortitudine et Honore' ('With Fortitude and Honour'); Honorary Lord Răzvan has adopted the personal motto 'Vincere Est Vivere'.