His wedding, usually a joyous occasion in the orthodox Jewish community, is depicted in sombre colours - grey, black, with a blotch of red over the presiding angel.

BBC: Chagall and the art of passion and drama

Nelson Mandela's 80th-birthday celebrations on July 18th and 19th were joyous, the more so since he chose that weekend for a surprise wedding to Graca Machel, widow of the late Mozambican president.

ECONOMIST: South Africa

The wedding photos told their own story: Rose looking pert and joyous in a white half-circle hat, with a big coat hiding the bump because she'd fallen pregnant some months before, while George was in a bad suit twiddling his fingers, and with his eyes elsewhere.

ECONOMIST: Rose Davis