A Summer Solstice Wedding
Environmental Organizers, Scientific Researchers, Ultimate Frisbee Champions, Flower Girls, and Flower Children all came together on Saturday to celebrate the marriage of Johanna and Nick at Floyd’s High Flowing Farm. They came from Germany, Massachusetts, Maryland, and California.
A Richard Brautigan poem was read and opera was sung. In the sunshine, under a wide sky, a few moments of precious silence were observed. The stillness was punctuated by the song of the wood thrush and the breeze whispering through trees.
Wearing a garland of flowers in her hair and a long silky gown, Johanna looked like a vision of a fairytale maiden or maybe a mermaid against the Emerald Pond backdrop. Katherine performed a Celtic Hand fasting: Nick, will you cause her pain? "I may.” Is that your intent? "No.” Johanna, will you cause him pain? "I may.” Is that your intent? "No.” (to both) Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it? "Yes.” And so the first binding is made.
Johanna, will you share his laughter? "Yes.” Nick, will you share her laughter? "Yes.” (to both) Will you both look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other? "Yes.” And so the second binding is made … Gold rings were exchanged and the ceremonious glass was broken.
At the wedding reception, Nick and Johanna shared their first meal together as husband and wife on a gazebo that stretched out into the water. Later there would be toasting, roasting, flat footing to the Jug Busters, and high spirited feasting and frolic.
As Katherine said at the conclusion of the ceremony: By the intention of your heart and the power of your words and the grace of the Goddess that flows through us, we affirm that you are partners – husband and wife – as long as you shall live and love.
Post notes: Video clip of the ceremony is HERE (don't forget to click "watch in high quality"). Katherine’s website is HERE. Some outtake photos are here…
Comments
Hi, Michelle sent me!
Your photographs are beautiful, it looks like it was a lovely day and a beautiful ceremony!
Take Care!
Nikki
Posted by: ivoryfrog | June 22, 2008 4:12 PM
What a lovely ceremony in such a beautiful spot. If I had it to do over, I would definitely go for that woodland setting and the renaissance feel. Thanks for sharing this.
Colleen, I've tagged you for a music meme (hope you don't mind). Check out my blog for details.
Kat
Posted by: Poetikat | June 22, 2008 4:21 PM
I swear sometime I'm going to come here and find Galandriel and Celeborn. :)
What a great weeding! I might steal the ceremony for the next wedding I conduct!
Posted by: On a Limb with Claudia | June 22, 2008 5:55 PM
What a lovely occasion. So simple, so tender.
Posted by: keith hillman | June 22, 2008 6:34 PM
swoon
Posted by: sandy | June 22, 2008 7:04 PM
I love handfastings.... so romantic and earthy.
Posted by: RobinW | June 22, 2008 8:57 PM
In a world where marriage seems to have become a dirty word, it's easy to read a beautiful entry like this and believe that there's magic in this institution yet. I can only imagine what a wonderful life they will lead from here on out.
Thanks for sharing this, Colleen. Consider me inspired.
Posted by: Carmi | June 22, 2008 9:18 PM
The handfastings is so beautiful. I've never heard of it. If I had it to do over again, I think I would go that route. How honest.
Posted by: jen | June 22, 2008 11:10 PM
That looks to be a beautiful ceremony and the setting was lovely!
Posted by: kenju | June 22, 2008 11:19 PM
Beautiful ceremony...I find the vows refreshingly simple.
Posted by: June | June 23, 2008 6:23 AM
Those weren't the complete vows, just the first two lines to give the flavor of them. They were surprisingly simple and honest; I agree.
Posted by: colleen | June 23, 2008 8:38 AM
it's all so beautiful - seems to have an ethereal quality to it --- i love the celtic custom of handfasting, it's so synbolic - thank you for sharing this gorgeous ceremony!!!
Posted by: danni | June 23, 2008 2:30 PM
Really nice vows. :)
~S
Posted by: Shephard | June 23, 2008 3:25 PM
Thanks sister Colleen, what a wonderful memory we all have, thanks for sharing it! Hope to see you soon, Starroot , the bride's mom
Posted by: Starroot | July 22, 2008 8:11 PM