6 Things to Expect From Game of Thrones' Purple Wedding

A raven has been sent to request your presence at the union of Margaery Tyrell and Joffrey Baratheon.
On Sunday'sGame of Thrones (9/8c, HBO), it's time for the royal wedding in King's Landing that will unite House Lannister Baratheon and House Tyrell. It shall be an event unparalleled in all the Seven Kingdoms.
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Before you raise a toast to the lovely couple, here are six things you can expect from the nuptials:

1. A grand spectacle: "It was like shooting a movie in and of itself," Pedro Pascal, who plays Oberyn Martell, tells TVGuide.com. "There were circus performers. There were fire-breathers and what seemed to be hundreds of extras. Incredible set design."
2. Surprise guests: Many of the major cast members will be present to honor the royal couple. "It was over a five-day period, so there was like 20 actors in this frickin' green room in Croatia all dying of heat," Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark, says. "It was actually really fun. I have a video on my phone of Nikolaj [Coster-Waldau] doing a dance routine... We also had Sigur Ros singing," she adds, referring to the Icelandic post-rock band. "It was pretty cool."
3. Feasting: In the books the series is based upon, the wedding feast includes a total of 77 courses, mainly paid for by the Tyrells. And while the series' won't show quite that many courses, the highlight of the meal remains the same: an oversized ceremonial pie with live pigeons encased inside its crust, which can be cut open to allow the birds to fly free.
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4. Gifts for the king: We'd love to see the registry for this wedding! Various family members and bannermen will give Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) presents worthy of a king before the ceremony. He'll be really excited about one gift in particular, and surprisingly gracious about the rest, which should naturally make one suspicious.

5. Tension: That many Lannisters all in one place begs for their signature brand of venomous verbal confrontations, and no one disappoints. While Joffrey's disdain for pretty much everyone is expected, his mother Cersei (Lena Headey) will have choice words with the new queen (Natalie Dormer). "[Cersei] is not a lover of Margaery," Headey admits. "I think she'd be happier if [the wedding] didn't happen." Cersei's spiteful tongue doesn't end with Margaery, however, and is turned on at least two other guests.
6. Purple stuff: Unlike the Red Wedding from last season, the Purple Wedding nickname is derived from the fans, not the books themselves. The purple may refer to many things (keep a sharp eye out), but also refers to the freely flowing wine at the event.
Check out this preview of "The Lion and the Rose" and see if you can spot the pigeon pie:

Game of Thrones airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.
(Additional reporting by Sadie Gennis.)