Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon are full of splendor and violence. Wedding ceremonies on both shows tend to combine the two.

Weddings in the Game of Thrones universe have built up a certain negative reputation for themselves over the years. A brutal world naturally encourages unsavory scenes at grand events like these, whether it is between the bride and groom, or those in attendance. House of the Dragon has its own dramatic wedding in its fifth episode, making for an interesting comparison to other weddings that occurred in the original series.

RELATED: 10 Best Things About House Of The Dragon Episode 5

While many of these marriages were forced, the shows feature weddings held in amicable circumstances and even ceremonies arranged out of genuine love. No matter the circumstances of the weddings themselves, it is obvious that George R. R. Martin enjoys imagining the extravagance and pageantry of these events, only to have some of them end in drama and devastation.

This article contains themes of violence, including sexual assault. There are also spoilers ahead for House of the Dragon episode 5.

Sansa has a rough time of it in Game of Thrones, even if her traumatic experiences do mold her into the powerful character she is by the end. She has had to endure multiple arranged marriages, with varying levels of abuse in each, both mental and physical.

While her pairing with Joffrey was horrendous for its duration, she was eventually replaced as Joffrey's candidate for queen by Margaery Tyrell. Joffrey would have been even worse to Sansa in marriage, but instead, the worst husband award goes to Ramsay Bolton. The wedding itself has the beautiful setting of Winterfell as its backdrop, and it's completed without any evident hitches. Yet the wedding becomes even more of a nightmare scenario for Sansa, as Ramsay's predilection for both torture and assault became clear.

Before Sansa married Ramsay, she was forced to marry Tyrion Lannister. Tyrion was seen as an alternative when Joffrey married Margaery Tyrell instead, and the Lannisters refused to let Sansa leave King's Landing. Tyrion is the kindest of Sansa's three engagements, yet the circumstances don't do much to reduce her trauma.

RELATED: 10 Times In Game Of Thrones We All Fell In Love With Tyrion Lannister

The wedding itself, however, was horrific for both bride and groom. King Joffrey insisted on walking Sansa down the aisle, before taking away Tyrion's stool, which the King's small uncle needed to cloak his new bride. Sansa later tells Tyrion that he was "the best of them," but it doesn't take away from how humiliating the wedding was for both of them.

Margaery Tyrell was also twice-wed in Game of Thrones, first marrying Joffrey Baratheon and later his younger brother, Tommen. Unlike the carnage that ensued at her first wedding, the second went swimmingly in terms of the actual event itself.

However, the marriage itself did have disturbing themes, with the age gap between Margaery and Tommen, not to mention the tensions that arise later. Cersei and the High Sparrow were able to get their teeth into this royal partnership via their respective agendas and relationships. Still, the event itself was pleasant, as far as Game of Thrones weddings go.

The first wedding in Game of Thrones was the most unique of the lot, as it involved the Dothraki. Daenerys Targaryen was married off to Khal Drogo, as Viserys Targaryen's intended first step in securing an army and the means to return to Westeros and regain the Iron Throne for their family.

People died at the wedding, as is considered normal in most Dothraki ceremonies, so there was little drama at the event. It showcased the rough and brutal Dothraki culture and Khal Drogo's uncivilized nature. Although Drogo and Daenerys later come to respect one another and fall in love, there was little romance here for Daeny or Drogo.

When Robb Stark married Talisa, it was a rare case of a Game of Thrones wedding blossoming out of genuine unforced love. However, the romance behind the marriage made its outcome more tragic.

Robb chose Talisa and broke his agreement with House Frey, which ultimately triggered the infamous Red Wedding.

RELATED: 10 Most Important Starks In Westeros History

However, Robb and Talisa's wedding was held in secret with no additional guests, to minimize the immediate objections. They exchanged heartfelt and meaningful vows, in what can only be described as the romantic calm before the inevitable storm that followed.

Rhaegar Targaryen's marriage to Lyanna Stark was only discovered thanks to Bran's training as the Three-Eyed Raven, allowing him to see everything in the past, present and future. Until this point, everyone assumed Rhaegar had kidnapped and sexually assaulted Lyanna, Ned Stark's sister. However, Rhaegar had his marriage to Elia Martell secretly annulled, before he married Lyanna.

The wedding itself was a secret ceremony in Dorne, explaining how it avoided detection in the ensuing years. The misunderstandings surrounding this marriage led to much destruction and devastation, and it also covered up the fact that Jon Snow was the Targaryen heir.

Joffrey's wedding to Margaery Tyrell took place on one of the most significant days in the entirety of Game of Thrones, but not for the reasons anyone expected. Joffrey's habit of taunting and brutalizing everyone who crossed him came to an end when he was poisoned at his wedding.

The wedding itself was one of the grandest in the entire series, and the extravagant event's cost was self-evident. Joffrey's final words were spent ridiculing his uncle Tyrion, prompting Cersei and many others to hold him responsible for the king's death.

House of the Dragon's first on-screen wedding occured in the show's fifth episode "We Light the Way." It was the culmination of Viserys' long campaign to convince his daughter Rhaenyra to marry someone he deemed a suitable match. Her marriage to Laenor Velaryon also served as a peace offering between the Targaryen and Velaryon houses.

RELATED: 10 Harsh Realities Of Being Velaryon In House Of The Dragon

The wedding itself was one of the most interesting and intense in the entire Game of Thrones universe. With both the bride and groom's paramours in attendance, Daemon Targaryen bent on causing trouble, and the entire kingdom creaking with tension, it's not surprising things went badly. Criston Cole beating Joffrey Lonmouth to death forced an end to the proceedings. Rhaenyra and Laenor were then married in private before king Viserys collapsed from illness. The whole event is chaos incarnate, setting up the rest of the season perfectly.

The Red Wedding was the most shocking event in Game of Thrones history, but the death and treachery led many fans to forget about the wedding ceremony itself. Edmure Tully's marriage to Roslin Frey went under the radar since it was quickly overshadowed by its aftermath.

Roose Bolton turned on the Starks, as he and Walder Frey enacted their plan to slaughter every Stark and Tully they can find. Catelyn, Robb, Talisa, and their unborn baby were all snuffed out in one fell swoop, with disastrous ramifications for the future of House Stark. It was a cruel wedding and the marriage was horrifically short.

NEXT: 10 TV Series Darker Than Game Of Thrones

Tom Steel is a writer and list contributor for CBR on all things anime. He is passionate about Pokemon most of all but also all things TV, film, gaming and sports. A University graduate with a degree in German Studies, Tom almost took the path of journalism instead, and is now excited to pursue it in a different capacity. Keep an eye out for his lists and deep-dives into the Pokemon anime and games, along with so much more. Follow him on Twitter at @Steelio307

Subscribe to the CBR newsletter for exclusive comics, TV & movie news, reviews, interviews & much more!