The Nuremberg Wedding Cup

(As told by Michelle Penkava)

Once upon a time, there was a princess who lived in a village on the edge of the Black Forest, the same forest where the sleeping beauty lived. One day as she was walking through the forest, she saw a wood chopper, the son of the village silversmith. It was love at first sight, but she was a princess and he, a lowly wood chopper, an apprentice silversmith, a commoner. The princess asked her father, the king, to allow her to marry the son of the silversmith. But he would not even listen to her. He banished her from his sight.

The princess was heartbroken, but persistent . She pleaded with her father daily. The banishment meant nothing, especially since her mother joined in her pleading.

The king was still adamant and said, "No!" But finally, in order to get his wife and daughter to leave him alone he said, "If the son of the silversmith can design and fashion a cup from which you both can drink at the same time, I will allow you to marry him."

The king was sure of himself. He had stopped the pleading and still saved his daughter from marrying a lowly commoner -- he knew no man could make such a cup, but he forgot that young love could overcome the impossible. The son of the village silversmith did make the cup. Before the royal court of Nuremberg they drank from the cup at the same time. The king could not go back on his word. He allowed his daughter to marry the commoner. And they lived happily ever after!

The story of the wedding cup was told by my grandfather, Brigadier General, retired Harold A. Dye, at our rehearsal dinner on October 16, 1998, and again just after the wedding the next day. We drank champagne from the cup at the same time, which allowed Bill to join the family.