#rookwood server

[thesongthesoulsings]

Rookwood Discord Server

The Rookwood's Haven Discord Server is ready to welcome Rookwood Lasses and Lads.

Should you be interested in joining, please let me know and I'll send you an invitation link.

[aphrodite-haze]

18+ Discord Server

I just want to say that in 2 months (April 18th) the server will be 1 year old, and the fact it has grown so much since I started this server, I can't express how much it means to me, from when it was called After Hours at Hogwarts to what it's called now... Amortentia, I made so many friends and built a community from nothing, and now it's a safe, loving group of people, from the amazing mods I have to the members themselves,

they made my server a special place if you look for a place to see anything Hogwarts-related, to just laugh at, to hop in a VC call and chill. From the shy lurkers to the talkative chatterboxes, Amortentia will welcome anyone with open arms, the server is more just a server it's just a group of ladies (and men if they choose to join 🤭) who just want a safe place to be themselves, we support each other if you need someone to talk to, or supporting each other content, so what are you waiting for if u haven't join already come join us 💕 we love to have you there and there much for you to explore in our channels 💓

[curioushabitforarivergod]

harry/voldemort arranged marriage to end the war but the wedding party goes crazy

valentines gift for my one and only love @aitafrog as per corpse server shenanigans. this was very fun and i hope you like it! also my only entry that is exactly 250 words (are you proud flakky?)

cw: (comedic) violence ____

To begin with, it had been tense — faces that looked like they were sucking lemons, eyes that darted from Harry to Voldemort as if waiting for the ball to drop. Then, it had got violent, and the wedding had gone to absolute shit. 

Voldemort stepped smoothly to Harry and handed him a glass of something bubbling. Harry stared at it. 

“Champagne,” the skeletal man said in leu of a greeting. “Made by Veela in Burgundy.”

Hesitating a moment, Harry took it. His fingers brushed a little with Voldemort’s and he ignored the connection that thrummed between them at even the briefest contact. He looked away, turning to the chaos of the hall as Ron’s fist connected with Rookwood’s nose. 

“This was meant to stop the fighting,” Harry said. “Not make it worse.”

“They are not killing each other, at least,” Voldemort replied. He tilted his head. “Unless… no. Lucius is not dead, simply unconscious.”

Harry hid his snort with a mouthful of champagne. When he glanced up at Voldemort a moment later, the man was looking at him with something fond in his expression. 

“Harry Potter,” the Dark Lord murmured. His fingers reached forward before hesitating. “May I?”

Harry took another sip of champagne before nodding. His throat bobbed as Voldemort pressed a skeletal finger to the web of white lightening on Harry’s forehead. The action was gentle. 

“Would you like to go upstairs? To my quarters?” 

Harry nodded again. Behind him, Bellatrix aimed a high kick at Hermione’s head.

[hogwarts-legacy-confessions]

Hi All,

The Confessions blog has received numerous confessions of late from Anons who are feeling isolated and lonely within the fandom, or who are despairing the nature of different friend groups within the fandom.

We at the Confessions blog certainly understand and empathise with both of these points of view, and would never want anyone to feel this way.

With that in mind, we'd just like to say that even though it can be difficult, we encourage you to keep trying – you will eventually find your people!

There are several HL general discords who are open and welcoming if you want to try, such as:

Three Broomsticks

The Room of Requirement

The Unrestricted Section

Hogwarts Legacy RP

Legacy Lounge

There is even an all ages mental health server run by Hogwarts Legacy fans: Positively Mental

If you've only got an interest in a specific character, there are discords for the Sebastian, Garreth, Ominis, Sebinis, and more.. And of course, the Rookwood Gang (DM for details).

And many others! Sorry if I missed any - please feel free to add others in the comments or reblogs.

(Please note: Inclusion in this post is not an endorsement)

But if you're not in a discord, or you're not able to or would prefer not to join discord, try and spread some positivity of your own! Try spontaneously sending asks and comments on Tumblr, or comments and kudos on Ao3, and just being positive and open to others. This works wonders and can often open doors to friendships you wouldn't have thought of.

Lastly, the Confessions blog Admin's askbox is always open if you'd like to talk to someone about how you're feeling.

Moving forward, we won't be posting these confessions anymore, so please have a look at this post for help first and reach out if you need.

[thetotomoo]

Placeholder for Master List, Works, OCs, About Me, and Transformative Policy.

About Me:

I do recognize that connecting with people means being open and vulnerable to a certain degree.

So... a few personal things: I was originally from the Philippines and moved out west with my parents when I was young. I'm a dog person (because we can't have cats for medical reasons). I love to cook, read, and stress clean. I have a literature degree but this just means I'm more of a nerd and an expert into reading (yes, I know you said it's just blue but it can be blue for other reasons!!! Indulge me!!!). I've been creatively writing since spring/summer of 2023.

I am multi-fandom, multi-ship (name it and I might goad you into writing fic for it XD-- seriously... ask all people on the servers I'm currently on), and have been reading fanfiction for much too long (and will likely still do so on my death bed many, many years from now).

Link to Works:

AO3

Wattpad

Current Work in Progress (As of 12/2024):

"Sins of the Father"

Pairing: M/F, and M/M

Sebastian Sallow x F! OC and Ominis Gaunt x Garreth Weasley

Future Work in Progress:

Resolve-- An Anne Sallow Story

"The Relic" (Which Has a one shot accompaniment "Where the Moon is Blue")

Original Characters:

Caroline Rookwood: Fictional daughter of Victor Rookwood and Cecilia Rookwood

Vincent Rookwood: fictional son of Victor Rookwood and Cecilia Rookwood

Tessie of House Rookwood: sassy house elf

My MCs (so far...):

Isabella Marguerite de'Montmercy: From "Confessions". Belongs to the de'Montmercy family-- famous in HP canon for their love potions. Future Queen of Ominis Gaunt

M---- C----: From the "Sins" Universe. Antagonist. Loves Sebastian Sallow (not his end game though). I do love her and all her flaws.

Transformative Policy:

I am open to most transformative works, such as writing inspired by or in the same universe as my stories (alternative storylines are welcome), translations, handmade bind-ups, art, playlists, etc., and would love to see and be tagged in the results! You do not need to seek individual permissions for these things.

Please respect other artists' work if you are binding and obtain their permission for your personal usage.

I require that all works remain and be shared freely. Under no circumstances should it be hidden behind paywalls or be monetized for profit.

Please DO NOT repost my work to another site or archive without permission (I am on most major platforms-- see list above for official accounts).

While I appreciate the enthusiasm and love, please do not post my work on Goodreads (not that it's there, but I'm just saying this now). Such works there have gone through multiple edits and believe me-- mine still need editing, correction on typos, and whatnot.

Thank you for reading my works!

[ephemerasnape]

The Rookwood Groupies server's first anniversary was December 2nd.

Woops, I missed it.

Anyway, here's to a full year of depravity and counting!

[rookwoodswife]

Greetings! Do you know if any Rookwood Discord server is out there? I know a Sharp Wives server exists, as well as a Headmaster´s Harem server., so I thought it would be a good idea to create one if not.

Hi, yes I know there are these two, but a Rookwood Discord seever? Not that I know, so let’s do it!😊

[findroleplay]

21+. She/Her. Looking for some fandom roleplays.

Please be 21+!

I write on Discord (through DMs or servers) or through Tumblr messages. I write in third person, past tense and usually around 2-4 paragraphs. I can't reply every day. I try not to make anyone wait longer than 3-5 days for replies.

Canon x canon pairings (MxM, FxF, or MxF ; please be open to writing at least two of those ; I don't write with people who only do MxF) are my favorite. I'm okay with doing some canon x OC ones (MxM or FxF only). I like my threads to be set within the universe so no AUs that are way off the beaten path. I do prefer writing romantic ships with NSFW/smut involved but also with a very healthy dose of plot. If you'd rather keep things clean and/or do platonic ships, I'm willing to take that into consideration.

All characters will be 18+!

I'll be listing my main muses for each fandom. I have my favorite ships, but I'm willing to try just about any so we can discuss those together. Any character in bold, I'm especially interested in writing as right now.

Doctor Who/Torchwood: Dhawan!Master, Eleventh Doctor, Fifth Doctor, Fourteenth Doctor, Harry Sullivan, Ian Chesterton, Jack Harkness, Second Doctor, Sixth Doctor, Tenth Doctor, Yasmin Khan

Fantastic Beasts Franchise: Albus Dumbledore, Theseus Scamander

Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire: Alliser Thorne, Daenerys Targaryen, Gerion Lannister, Jaime Lannister, Lyn Corbray, Margaery Tyrell, Petyr Baelish, Rodrik Harlaw, Roose Bolton, Sansa Stark, Stannis Baratheon, Thoros, Tywin Lannister, Yoren

Ghost/Clergy Universe: Cardinal Copia, Dewdrop Ghoul, Papa Emeritus IV

Grand Theft Auto IV: Dimitri Rascalov, Francis McReary, Gerry McReary, Mikhail Faustin, Niko Bellic, Ray Boccino

Grand Theft Auto V: Devin Weston, Michael De Santa, Steve Haines

Harry Potter Franchise: Augustus Rookwood, Barty Crouch Jr., Cedric Diggory, Cormac McLaggen, Gilderoy Lockhart, Oliver Wood, Severus Snape

House of the Dragon: Daemon Targaryen, Otto Hightower

Marvel/Marvel Cinematic Universe: Bruce Banner, Bucky Barnes, Eddie Brock, Harry Osborn, Helmut Zemo, Loki Laufeyson, Matt Murdock, Nathan Summers, Peter Parker, Piotr Rasputin, Tony Masters, Tony Stark, Wade Wilson

Saw Franchise: Mark Hoffman, William Schenk

Supernatural: Arthur Ketch, Azazel, Chuck Shurley, Dean Winchester, Lucifer, Mick Davies

Tolkien Legendarium: Bard, Beleg, Bofur, Boromir, Celeborn, Curufin, Elrond, Haldir

The Walking Dead: Beth Greene, Gareth, Merle Dixon, Paul Rovia, Shane Walsh

If you made it through to the end and would like to work something out, you can like this post and I'll reach out to you, message me on here, or add me on Discord: lindsay7046.

-

[darkdoverpseeker]

21+. She/Her. Looking for some fandom roleplays.

Please be 21+!

I write on Discord (through DMs or servers) or through Tumblr messages. I write in third person, past tense and usually around 2-4 paragraphs. I can't reply every day. I try not to make anyone wait longer than 3-5 days for replies.

Canon x canon pairings (MxM, FxF, or MxF ; please be open to writing at least two of those ; I don't write with people who only do MxF) are my favorite. I'm okay with doing some canon x OC ones (MxM or FxF only). I like my threads to be set within the universe so no AUs that are way off the beaten path. I do prefer writing romantic ships with NSFW/smut involved but also with a very healthy dose of plot. If you'd rather keep things clean and/or do platonic ships, I'm willing to take that into consideration.

All characters will be 18+!

I'll be listing my main muses for each fandom. I have my favorite ships, but I'm willing to try just about any so we can discuss those together. Any character in bold, I'm especially interested in writing as right now.

Doctor Who/Torchwood: Dhawan!Master, Eleventh Doctor, Fifth Doctor, Fourteenth Doctor, Harry Sullivan, Ian Chesterton, Jack Harkness, Second Doctor, Sixth Doctor, Tenth Doctor, Yasmin Khan

Fantastic Beasts Franchise: Albus Dumbledore, Theseus Scamander

Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire: Alliser Thorne, Daenerys Targaryen, Gerion Lannister, Jaime Lannister, Lyn Corbray, Margaery Tyrell, Petyr Baelish, Rodrik Harlaw, Roose Bolton, Sansa Stark, Stannis Baratheon, Thoros, Tywin Lannister, Yoren

Ghost/Clergy Universe: Cardinal Copia, Dewdrop Ghoul, Papa Emeritus IV

Grand Theft Auto IV: Dimitri Rascalov, Francis McReary, Gerry McReary, Mikhail Faustin, Niko Bellic, Ray Boccino

Grand Theft Auto V: Devin Weston, Michael De Santa, Steve Haines

Harry Potter Franchise: Augustus Rookwood, Barty Crouch Jr., Cedric Diggory, Cormac McLaggen, Gilderoy Lockhart, Oliver Wood, Severus Snape

House of the Dragon: Daemon Targaryen, Otto Hightower

Marvel/Marvel Cinematic Universe: Bruce Banner, Bucky Barnes, Eddie Brock, Harry Osborn, Helmut Zemo, Loki Laufeyson, Matt Murdock, Nathan Summers, Peter Parker, Piotr Rasputin, Tony Masters, Tony Stark, Wade Wilson

Saw Franchise: Mark Hoffman, William Schenk

Supernatural: Arthur Ketch, Azazel, Chuck Shurley, Dean Winchester, Lucifer, Mick Davies

Tolkien Legendarium: Bard, Beleg, Bofur, Boromir, Celeborn, Curufin, Elrond, Haldir

The Walking Dead: Beth Greene, Gareth, Merle Dixon, Paul Rovia, Shane Walsh

If you made it through to the end and would like to work something out, you can like this post and I'll reach out to you, message me on here, or add me on Discord: lindsay7046.

.

[pinkgameboys]

Anyway hashtag vent blog it's been 5 weeks since one of my only two friends said in our server he was gonna pirate the hogwarts legacy game and my other friend gave the two generic rookwood cursed Anne and your teacher dies spoilers and Harry Potter friend just. Stopped responding to both of us. He wouldn't even answer my private dms and I wasn't the one who spoiled the game nor did I try to start any discourse anyway I just made light fun of him in the way we always make fun of each other and like. Boy it sure does feel bad to see how easily one of my best friends who I've been friends with for years can just dump me and I guess not feel bad about it. Damn dude. Alright I guess we're done. I don't really want to come back after you ignored me for so long over a stupid video game.

[lordofsages]

Hogwarts Legacy RP Character Roles Needed! Calling All Hungry Fans!

I am currently looking for people interested in potentially playing one or multiple characters. The story is based within the timeline events of Hogwarts Legacy that take place in the 1890′s. The plot revolves mainly around the Silver Trio, a group consisting of a male OC of my creation, Sebastian Sallow and Ominis Gaunt, to which their relationships may develop into a love triangle. 

I am also wanting supporting character roles filled, the most pressing being Garreth Weasley, Anne Sallow, Poppy Sweetings, Aesop Sharp, Eleazar Fig, Solomon Sallow and Victor Rookwood.  I am not looking for a very large roleplay group, maybe 4 or 5 people at the most. So those who are comfortable writing multiple characters are greatly wanted. The main plot will center around the pursuit of curing Anne Sallow, and the rising danger of Victor Rookwood and his alliance with the Goblins in the background. A major difference between this RP and the game however, is that Ancient Magic will not be the main issue, nor will any of the characters be wielding it. At least to the degree that is seen in the game. While the plot will revolve around the Silver Trio, this certainly does not inhibit the development of side plots and relationships with other characters. So new ideas are always welcomed and encouraged. You are also welcomed to create your own OC if you desire. I only ask that you have their character written out and are still willing to play a canon character as well.  *As for the themes of this roleplay. The nature of this story will be rather dark at many points and consist of mature & sexual scenes. Thus, all characters will be of age (18) and the starting year of the roleplay will be taking place in their 7th year. For the sake of giving ourselves room to play, I will also be adding on an 8th year, so that we may stay in Hogwarts a little longer.* I do ask that whoever joins, is comfortable with literate writing and proper use of grammar. I am not looking for, nor do I expect an English professor, however I do expect a certain level of care to one’s writing. With that said, I personally write single paragraphs to multi-paragraph length posts, writing more if the scene requires it. Knowledge on the world of Harry Potter and the events of Hogwarts Legacy is required. I don’t need experts, but to have a healthy understanding of the franchise is needed as I’m sure anyone would expect. I will also be hosting this roleplay on a private Discord server, so feel free to message me here on Tumbler or dm my Discord tag: Lord Sage#4727.  If any of this peeks your interest, I happily await your message and hope to rp with you soon! Also thank you for your time in reading all this nonsense! 

[thesongthesoulsings]

Aesop Sharp (10/10)

Severus Snape (09/10 - This year was more Aesop focused due to the novelty, I´m sorry. ^^)

Victor Rookwood (5/5 - probably got more attention than deserved. I see potential in the character, I enjoyed one Fanfiction specifically and continue doing so, and even created a Discord server, because there wasn´t one for him. That being said - will never come close to Aesop and Severus.)

Thank you for tagging me @gufu-vire ^^

I won´t tag a specific person, but everyone is welcome to join.

My 2023 Simp Recap

So, out of curiosity, I tried to keep a "simp list" of my hyperfixations in my notes app for all the ppl I ended up siming for this year and rank the obsession levels. I did this for 2022 as well but here is my 2023 recap!

These are mostly in order and the rank is how I felt about them initially. The rank is not what my current obsession is for them. (some of these obsessions are non-existent now)

They only qualify as 8's and up if I made/consumed content about them.

My 2023 List:

-Howl Pendragon (Howls Moving Castle) (8/10)

-Ghost Call Of Duty (9/10)

-König COD (10/10) (This blog was a König blog before it was a Garreth/HP blog!)

-Soap COD (5/10)

- Sebastian Sallow HL (8/10)

- Ominis Gaunt HL (9/10)

- Garreth Weasely HL (20/10) (help me) (full blown tumblr and multiple fics just for him)

-Aesop Sharp HL (8/10)

-Richard Jackdaw HL (9/10)

-Imelda Reyes HL (6/10)

-Astarion (Baldurs Gate 3) (10/10)

-The Weasely Twins HP (8/10)

-Andrew Larson HL (9/10)

-Draco Malfoy HP (8/10)

-Theodore Nott HP (11/10)

-Lorenzo Zurzolo - Actor (8/10)

-Mattheo Riddle HP OC (7/10)

-Lorenzo Berkshire HP OC (7/10)

-Tom Riddle HP (7/10)

-----

Whats yours?! lol

[aphrodite-haze]

Calling all Wizards and Witches, looking for a place to makes friends, chill out, and be delulu over your favourite characters? Why not join Amortentia, we've just added some new things to the server, like bots that will reply to you, react and much more!!

Here in Amortentia, we just want to make a community every body feels welcome in, and can be from a shy quiet member to a very open and unhinged member, everyone is welcome! We're also all about supporting and helping others, like promoting other servers, or just show off peoples content so we can go and show our support to them!!

Escape the outside world (and your troubles) for a bit, and join our little Wizarding Server!!Grab your butterbeers and head into the server and join in the crazy conversations we have!!

[infectbait]

hey normal people who care about jewish and trans people, who are also in the hoglegacy discord server, are you spreading the spoilers (your teacher dies and rookwood framed anne or something) in all of the channels?? im already banned so i cant. DO YOUR PART!!

[yew-and-holly]

I like big plots and I cannot lie

I didn’t want this to be the first post for this sideblog but at the same time, might as well start this off with a prompt that got out of hand while no one’s watching.

I got a lot of prompts, people probably already find me annoying posting non-romance prompts almost everyday. But I love making them! ; v; just lemme make prompts that won't be filled anyway. It keeps me sane.

Okay, okay, okay. This was supposed to be a post for TRoR discord server, prompts channel. (Go join, we're pretty chillax company who likes tomarry/harrymort/tomarrymort, or like me, who just wanna play around with this immaginary dark dork, his human horcrux, and the different possibilities centered around them in their fictional world.) 

But the prompt got out of hand and it’s now sorta an outline...which I don’t wanna spam the channel with. I just need this out of my head so I could move on.

Prompt’s after the cut.

Prompt:  A saner and smarter (or possibly just more crazier if you look at it in a diff way) Voldemort who sent visions about the Hall of Prophecies in fifth year but the end goal was not about taking the orb. 

(I mean, come on. He got minions in the ministry, dept of mysteries especially. From the period the prophecy was made to before the night of attacking the Potters, he got Unspeakable Rookwood to guide him to the prophecy record that was named for him. He should've seen it in full already.) 

First, he wanted the boy to go the ministry and "take the orb", this was to test if Potter was the one who could vanquish him (or had, if you take to interpret the wordings of the prophecy chronologically, only the "...either must die" line and "the one with the power" again line, are the only ones left to come true). If he's not, then getting the boy  incapacitated like Bode would benefit Voldemort's cause. 

Second, taking the orb was in truth a distraction. He was already defeated once, making him more careful now. That means he wants his horcruxes near him. So while the Order of the Phoenix is busy guarding something he really doesn't need (assuming he'd already seen it but still got blown-up because of a massive ego fit for a dark lord), he got the newly marked Death Eaters on task to collect the horcruxes that was left at Hogwarts. Getting Potter out of the school would also guarantee that the Room of Requirement is free for the diadem hunt.

Third, he either wanted to trip up the "either must die" line or by fulfilling it with an outcome favorable to him, or preventing it (for now) by taking the boy (and letting the prophecy loose in a controlled environment). Because if Voldemort sent his Death Eaters to kidnap the kids (while the said kids were lost in the wonderful world of the Department of Mysteries) instead, and not the one with 'taking a very fragile glass bauble from a very angsty teen', the success rate would probably be higher. Maybe. Manage your expectations Voldee!

Fourth, Voldemort must have felt something different between him and the boy when he was resurrected. So if you wanna go into the 'Voldemort figured Harry's his horcrux' route during this time (between summer and the rest of fifth year, I take it he might have taken a well deserved "Me-Time" after getting resurrected), taking the boy while he's faraway from Hogwarts would be best. 

Fifth, milking the ministry's denial of Voldemort being back. Like what Umbridge had started, Voldemort could have taken advantage of Fudge's paranoia and shed a negative light to the Order of the Phoenix by twisting the narrative that Dumbledore really has a weapon to topple down Fudge's reign. 

Like, Lucius: ‘see Cornelius, Dumbledore even has the Dept of Mysteries under his crooked nose.' And its either making it seem the order is infiltrating and stealing weapons or knowledge about powerful artifacts. 

Or the D.M's a part of it, pushing the ministry to audit it and then in turn making it possible for Voldemort to position more Death Eaters in reach of those magical artifacts. Bringing them a more earlier ministry take-over (and quieter), and a more powerful position at the start. Again, I'm just guessing, if D.E. were tasked to take Harry and the D.A. instead, those artifacts would still be around. Like the tons of time-turners for starters.

And all of this prompt is centered around ‘why send a teen these visions’ plot. Voldemort got other plans for other things too of course. I just wanna play around with this particular part.

[handeaux]

Cincinnati’s Strange Fascination With Japanese Weddings

Before 1910, the Asian population of Cincinnati was extremely small, almost entirely male, and almost exclusively Chinese. It is curious, then, that Cincinnati engaged in a thirty-year obsession with Japanese wedding ceremonies.

Between 1880 and 1910 the women associated with several Cincinnati churches staged multiple Japanese weddings, attended by large crowds and often repeated to accommodate demand.

Perhaps the first of these odd nuptials was presented in June 1884 at the Third Presbyterian Church, located of Seventh Street in the West End between Linn and Baymiller. The young people of the church organized the event and served berries, ice cream and cake to the audience.

Interestingly, one of the last examples of this event, performed by the Be and Do Society of Hyde Park’s Knox Presbyterian Church in January 1908, was described as a “novel entertainment,” as if dozens of such ceremonies had not already taken place in the city. In previous years, Japanese weddings entertained crowds at Pilgrim Chapel in Mount Adams, at the Phoenix Club, at the Baptist Church in Hamilton, at Norwood’s Town Hall, at Madisonville’s Masonic Lodge, and even at Music Hall.

It is no coincidence that Gilbert & Sullivan’s fabulously successful Japanese-themed opera, “The Mikado” had premiered in London in 1885 and debuted in New York a year later. Nor that Maria Longworth’s Rookwood Pottery was exploring Asian themes and hired the Japanese master ceramics painter Kataro Shirayamadani in 1887. Cultural appropriation was in the air.

Perhaps the most elaborate and certainly the most famous of Cincinnati’s Japanese weddings took place in February 1887 at the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church on Ninth Street. The ceremony involved thirty performers including musicians, torch bearers, messengers and tea servers in addition to the wedding party. Every participant, including the groom, the bride’s father and the groom’s father, was portrayed by a woman of the Trinity congregation.

That ceremony was featured in the 12 March 1887 issue of the nationally distributed Illustrated Graphic News, which emphasized the traditional family values embodied in the Japanese culture:

“A lady friend of ours, who has made Japanese courtship and marriage a study, informs us that these affairs are arranged by the friends of both parties and that much worldly wisdom prevails· in the transaction. It seems also that the path of true love does not always run smooth in these courtships, and that many suicides follow in the train of the arbitrary proceedings of cruel parents, who often part a daughter from her favorite lover.”

Surrounding the stage on which the ceremony would be performed, a number of booths, selling refreshments and souvenirs were set up and staffed by young ladies in kimonos. The audience overflowed the basement Sunday School rooms and filled the adjacent hallway.

“At eight o'clock the sound of gongs and ear-piercing flutes announced the arrival of the bridal party. First came four ushers, then four torch-bearers, then the bridegroom on the arm of his father-elect, next the musicians, then the bride and her future mamma-in-law, followed by a bevy of young girl friends.”

The bulk of the ceremony involved drinking a lot of sake – nine cups for each of the participants. Most reports of these faux ceremonies repeated the claim that Japanese weddings were strictly legal mergers and did not involve religious blessings. In 1887, this was mostly true. The native Japanese Shinto religion did not create a wedding ceremony until 1900.

“This little drinking bout continued until the principal participants had taken each nine cups, and the high contracting parties are then so securely wedded that only the axe of Koko can divide them. Rice was scattered over the happy pair, and all the household gods, which are many and inclined to be irritable in Japan, being placated, the happy pair departed in peace.”

The Illustrated Graphic News described the costumes of the participants in some detail and provided a complete list of participants, who appear to be representative of Cincinnati’s petit bourgeoisie. The bride was a dressmaker, the bride’s father the wife of a bookkeeper,  the groom was an artist. In charge of the souvenir booth was the wife of a commission merchant.

“After the wedding, cakes and ices were served, and there was a rousing business done in Japanese curios and homemade candies; the teacups used in the ceremony were sold and brought high prices. The affair proved a delightful social enjoyment, and will long be remembered by those who had the good fortune to be witnesses thereof.”

In the middle of all of these fake Japanese weddings, Cincinnati witnessed an authentic Japanese wedding on 2 June 1898 when Matsunosuke Sugimoto, seller of Japanese goods on East Fourth Street, married Etsu Najaki in a small ceremony at the home of Obed J. and Amanda Wilson in Clifton. Unlike the fake Japanese weddings popular in the city, the bride and groom wore Western clothing for their Clifton wedding. Officiating was the Rev. Christian Schenk, pastor of the First German Evangelical Protestant Church in Northside. The Sugimotos were Christian and, to the surprise of local newspapers, both spoke English fluently.