The Wedding: ysabetwordsmith

Some of you already know that I officiated a wedding this past Saturday. Charles and Teah are our first "community" wedding, having met through us. We all rejoice in their happiness. With their permission, I'm posting some of the wedding photos and the complete text. The ceremony colors were blue and white, plus a little green; and it was done with a Celtic/Renaissance theme.

Here is a picture from the ceremony. I was reading from a binder covered in handmade rose-petal paper, resting on a draped music stand.

This picture shows the Blessing of the Rings.

Afterwards, people posed for some formal photos. This one is "couple and clergy" showing Teah (left), me (center), and Charles (right).

This is the wedding cake, a combination of white and yellow cake decorated with piped ivy and fresh blueberries.

After the feast, there was dancing. This picture shows me and my partner, Doug. (He handed off the camera to a friend.) For those of you interested in garb, my chemise and Doug's white swordsman's shirt are things I made (by hand, being too lazy to fight with a sewing machine). His shirt cuffs lace snugly from wrist to elbow, in that direction to keep the bow out of the way. My overdress I bought from Thwack!Ugh!/Voluptuous Viking at the Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire; his vest came from someone at the Bristol Renaissance Faire.

Here is the complete text of the ceremony:

Charles and Ysabet stand at the ceremony site (two trees).
Wedding party procession walks to ceremony site.

Ysabet reads the greeting of the guests:
Please be seated. I am happy to welcome you all here today. I see members of the bride’s family, and the groom’s family, and many good friends of both. Thank you all for coming to this ceremony. Please take a moment to gather your thoughts. Take a deep breath and bring all your attention to this sacred occasion.

Charles and Teah deliver the “Call to the Beloved.”

Charles: “I went to the east, the direction of dawn, and I heard my beloved calling my name. Her voice was like the singing of birds in the morning.”

Teah: “I went to the east, the direction of beginnings, and I called out for my beloved, and he answered. His voice was like the touch of a spring breeze.”

Charles: “I went to the south, the direction of noon, and a shining light appeared, and I saw my beloved clearly. Her spirit was like a bright flame that guided me home.”

Teah: “I went to the south, the direction of heat and passion, and a great light shone down, and I saw my beloved clearly. His spirit was like the light of the sun itself, warming my path.”

Charles: “I went to the west, the direction of evening, and I found my beloved waiting for me by a cool river. I took her hand, and in it placed my heart.”

Teah: “I went to the west, the direction of the ocean, and I found my beloved waiting for me by a deep well. I took his heart, and gave him my own in exchange.”

Charles: “I went to the north, the direction of midnight, and I made a place for my beloved and me to put down roots like a great tree and live together bound to the Earth. And I waited for her there.

Teah: “I went to the north, the direction of high mountains, and I found the place where my beloved waited for me. And I took his hand and entwined with him from my roots to my topmost branches, to live together bound to the Earth.”

Both: “And I knew perfect love and perfect trust.”

Ysabet delivers the statement of intent.
Friends and family, tribe and community, we are gathered here to celebrate love in all its forms, but especially the love that makes a commitment between two people. This kind of love is not afraid to make promises. It is not afraid to work and struggle. It seeks not only to be but to continue. It is based not only on the pleasures of the present but on the hopes of the future. This is the kind of love that creates an anchor between two people, one that they can float away from and then find their way back safely. It also anchors a home and a family. Along with other such great loves, this creates the bonds of a community. We celebrate and applaud the love of Charles Spivey and Teah Lawson. May they always be a living hope for the future and all of us.

Ysabet reads the symbolism of the cup. (Step toward Charles to make room for Nancy James.)
The cup represents feminine energy. It receives and contains that which is placed within it, and it pours forth its bounty. This symbol appears in traditions around the world; in Christianity it is the Holy Grail and in Celtic lore it is the Cauldron of Plenty. Through the presentation of the cup, the bride offers her womanhood to her chosen groom.

Teah’s mother Nancy James presents the cup to her daughter Teah.

Teah makes her vows, presents the cup to Charles, and he drinks.
Charles,

There are not words in the English language to fully express how much I love you.

When I met you, I knew that I know you from somewhere. Little did I know that it was at the time that it was my soul recognizing yours. In a short amount of time, you became my best friend and confidant. You are everything that I have ever looked for in a lover. Caring, sweet and thoughtful. I cannot wait to come home at the end of the day to cuddle watching a movie and gaze in to your chocolate brown eyes. It is in your arms that I find peace from the world, in your embrace that time stops and we can just exist.

I understand that marriage is work, so it is my vow that when you laugh I will laugh beside you. When you cry I will be there to dry you tears. When you succeed, I will lead the celebration, and if you fall, I will lift you up. It will be my greatest endeavor to show you how much I love you every day, to make our lives together the best they can be.

In accepting this cup you accept everything I am and everything I have to offer. Till the fates do us part. Nawsawdruh Alasheen.

Charles: “I accept your gift, and return it to your safekeeping.”

Ysabet reads the symbolism of the sword.
The sword represents masculine energy. It channels and projects the force within it, and it has the powers of protection and of sundering obstacles. This symbol appears in traditions around the world; in Christianity there have been many holy orders of knights bearing swords in divine service, and in Celtic lore Excalibur is the sword of King Arthur. Through the presentation of the sword, the groom offers his manhood to his chosen bride.

Charles makes his vows, offers the sword to Teah, and she accepts.
Teah, coming up with a way to express just what you mean to me is the hardest thing I have ever done. Explaining my feelings in a short few words is not possible to describe accurately the depth of what you mean to me.

Twenty-seven years ago, the fates began weaving the tapestry of my life. Although I did not know it, they had started working on yours as well. One day they saw fit to weave them into one grand tapestry and the colors and patterns have become far more vibrant and warm.
Teah you are the love I have waited for, and this sword is a symbol of my promise to you. I shall use its steel to protect you, and by this blade, I swear to honor you, to cherish every moment we spend together, and to return the love you show me. I promise to be your partner, and to help you through the ups and downs of our life together.

You are my Asheen Dea man datrey Ast, My truest cherished love. If you accept my sword you accept my vows, and I will be by your side till the fates part us.

Teah: “I accept your gift, and return it to your safekeeping.”

Ysabet delivers the blessing of the rings.
Please present the rings.

Friends and family, see these rings we hold,
Forged of fine metal and true love’s gold,
Each circle unbroken ‘round its rim –
Now fill them with blessings to the brim.
Pray that these two rings may always shine
By sun and moon and the light divine.
Hand to hand, they form a living link,
Common ground that grows and does not shrink.
People of the tribe, call out at last;
With your voices make the blessing fast:
HUZZAH!

Charles and Teah exchange wedding rings.

Ysabet makes the declaration of marriage.
By these vows and before these people, I declare you husband and wife. Please seal your union with a kiss.

Charles and Teah kiss.

Ysabet dismisses the guests to the feast and reception.
Thank you all for coming here today to witness this ceremony and share the joy of these newlyweds. May all their days be as bright as the memories we have made this day!

Ysabet makes the presentation of the couple to the community.
Members of the community, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Charles Spivey and Teah Lawson. Huzzah!

* * *
Photos courtesy of Doug Edwards.
Ritual text by Elizabeth Barrette, Charles Spivey, and Teah Lawson. (I wrote the welcoming of the guests, the symbolism of cup and sword, and the ring blessing. They wrote their respective vows. The "Call to the Beloved" and "Statement of Intent" came from Handfasting and Wedding Rituals. Other tidbits we brainstormed together through several rounds of outlining, writing, and revision. All told, we used about a dozen traditional and alternative wedding design handbooks during the planning phase, for everything from designing the ceremony to deciding what pictures were desired; plus inspiration from previous weddings we had seen. Good planning makes good presentation.)

Deleted comment

Thank you!

ysabetwordsmith

October 7 2009, 03:44:16 UTC 11 years ago

New comment

I'm glad you enjoyed this post. We all put a lot of work into making this ceremony special.

The cake was pretty good. So was the feast -- a choice of pork roast or chicken with assorted sides. We got to bring home some of the leftover chicken, which I froze for use in chicken dumplings. More yum.

siege

October 7 2009, 05:39:27 UTC 11 years ago

I read dragon, elf, and gnome in the trio picture, but I could be wrong.

stonebear_82

October 8 2009, 05:10:12 UTC 11 years ago

Just for clarification which one do you associate with which person. I'm the groom by the way. And tend to lean toward Wolf/Bear. But have Dragon "Friends" and family who are dragon kin. As far as Elf or Gnome... I'm more of a hobbit. Just wondered cause I like to know what other people read.

11 years ago

ellenmillion

October 7 2009, 05:51:24 UTC 11 years ago

Beautiful!

rowangolightly

October 7 2009, 13:22:11 UTC 11 years ago

Lovely! Doing weddings is always a lot of work but SO rewarding.

Wait, you have come to the St. Louis Renaissance Festival? We might, just might, be there this Spring.

Thoughts

October 7 2009, 16:47:29 UTC 11 years ago

>>Lovely! Doing weddings is always a lot of work but SO rewarding.<<

Yea, verily.

>>Wait, you have come to the St. Louis Renaissance Festival?<<

The Wentzville Faire, yes, most years in the past. We didn't go this year because we were too broke. If we ever have money again, we would probably go back.

Re: Thoughts

Done!

filkferengi

je_reviens

beckyzoole

October 7 2009, 14:27:06 UTC 11 years ago

ideealisme

October 7 2009, 15:02:15 UTC 11 years ago

Oh lovely. I come from a culture that expresses itself through irony and half-uttered phrases so would find it hard to get my head around that at first, but it seems a lovely way to celebrate a wedding. And it's cheered me up reading it too!

What language are the blessings in? It's not Irish but it sounds a bit like it in parts.

And you and your man look like a very happy couple!

If you are refering to...

October 8 2009, 05:13:09 UTC 11 years ago

Nawsawdruh Alasheen.

And

Asheen Dea man datrey Ast

It is the language in use when weaving magick. I call it elvish for lack of any other name. If you are interested I could "Attempt" to write some more. It is not something I can easily translate but will try if asked.

minor_architect

October 7 2009, 16:29:36 UTC 11 years ago

It looks like it was a gorgeous ceremony. I really admired Teah's dress - the colors are just beautiful! (And it's nice to finally see a photo of you and Doug, too. :)

October 7 2009, 17:10:19 UTC 11 years ago

>>It looks like it was a gorgeous ceremony.<<

We all worked hard on it, and people seemed to enjoy it.

>> I really admired Teah's dress - the colors are just beautiful! <<

She and her mother spent a day hiking around the Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire to find the perfect dress. She brought it home and asked me what I thought. I said, "I think Charles' eyeballs will fall right down the bodice and never come out."

>>And it's nice to finally see a photo of you and Doug, too.<<

Yeah, one or the other of us is usually behind the camera.