July 8, 2006…
Wow!
The day has come and gone, the memories will last for the rest of our lives, as it should be. Here’s an outline of what transpired over the weekend…
Friday, July 7, was the initial set-up of the site day. So much other work had been done in preparation for this day by all the members of our wedding party. Our dear friend Ben offered his land and barn for the Ceremony site, and it worked out perfectly. Harrison Stage and Sound provided the big tent, which went up on Thursday, and Ameya and boB supplied their tent as well, to give just the right amount of shelter and shade.
Friday’s weather was clear, bright, and a bit warm, with temps in the mid 80’s. Lee and I, Linda and Elly got to the site at about 1 pm. We had tried for Noon, but you know how Pagan Standard Time works! We brought all the stuff from home for the decorations and got to work. Linda brought her rope lights, coffee pot, and her daughter Sarah had brought all the stuff Linda had picked up for me to me at work during the week : wine cups, streamers, dessert plates, napkins, and forks. Torches were set in position around the Fire Pit and Ritual Circle, and then filled with fuel. Don’t laugh, I’d forgotten to do that for one of our past ritual gatherings. Makes it tough to light them! Altar table and side tables were set up. Garden arch was assembled. Burnham’s Red Rooster delivered the tables and chairs we rented, and we got those positioned and set up. Table covers of silver and royal blue went on and were secured. The Arch was partially decorated with white sheer fabric. We decided to leave the flowers and ribbon until the next day so they wouldn’t get droopy. Linda made up my bouquet of Calla Lilies and Iris in about 45 minutes ~ she’s so gifted~ Emerald and I had fought with that thing Thursday night for a good amount of time and we just weren’t doing it! Elly made up the centerpieces for the tables (crystal bowls with multiple shades of blue and silver garden crystals, silver candles, silver star garland, and silver star sprays) in a flash as well, and they were beautiful. The white rope lights were strung around the tent, and silver and blue ribbons and silver star garland were hung on and around the tent poles. Balloons and streamers were left til the next day, again to prevent droopiness. Blue and silver ribbons were attached to the torches around the Fire Pit, and at the front end of the big tent. Ben the beverage coolers and fridge stocked, and he ran out and picked up bottled water and coffee creamer for us. We had lunch in there somewhere…
Thursday night Emerald came over to our house and helped with the sewing of the silver fabric armbands for the groomsmen to wear, and she also wrapped up all of the attendants' gifts for me. She also came over Friday night and did more sewing of the sword sashes for the Groom and Best Man, and between her and Will, the Best Man, they made up the little penant flags that were to go on the turrets of the castle cakes. Thanks to her those things got done, cuz I sure didn't have the time!
Saturday morning we slept in a little, which was much needed considering the late nights I had spent over the past two weeks sewing our Handfasting clothes.
I made doublets for the Groom, Lee, and the Best Man, Will, helped Emerald make a shirt for Sam, our Ringbearer, and then made my dress and surcoat. As you had probably noticed from my last post, I had procrastinated and waited til the last week to get to work on my outfit, but it was all totally done (except for the ironing) before Midnight on Friday. Trust me, I learned my lesson on that one!
Stage Two of Set-Up time was set for 10 am, with Rehearsal set for 12 Noon. Quite a few members of our wedding party were coming in from out of town, so we had decided to forego the “traditional” night before Rehearsal and Dinner. So at 10 am, Linda, Elly, Lee and I were back at the Site to finish up the preparations. Elly had picked up bug spray and a garter for me in the morning, a couple more things I had forgotten about!
Linda made up the two flower arrangements for the sides of the altar out of Calla Lilies and Iris in the crystal vases I had brought. Elly, Lee and I completed the Garden Arch decorations with the attachment of Calla Lilies and Iris and silver and blue ribbons. Thank Goddess for tall men! Elly and I couldn’t reach the top of the arch when it was standing up…. Yes, we should have done all the decorating and THEN stood it up! Oh well!
The table centerpieces were set out, along with the wine cups, and pillow box favors that Emerald had spent a few days filling with Hershey’s kisses. Elly helped finish that little job off by tying them up with silver and blue curling ribbon. We also had individual FunSaver cameras out on each table so that folks could take more casual pictures during the reception. The Altar was draped with Blue crushed velvet and satin clothes and then decorated, and the flower arrangements were set on the side tables. Balloons were inflated and tied to the tent with curling ribbon. Oh yes, and to the shoulders of Lee’s tank top! LOL White and blue streamers were twisted and draped along the edges of the tents. And voila! The decorating was completed! Elly spent a fair amount of time getting the hors d’oeuvres trays of strawberries, grapes, cantaloupe, cheese, pepperoni and crackers set up.
Ameya, boB and Matt, Ravija and Will, Wolfie and Jon, and Raina and Michael, Emerald, Will and Sam arrived on the scene a little past Noon. Emerald brought the final centerpiece part that she had picked up for me Friday, so those were finished. We got Ameya and boB’s tent set up in short order. The sound system was set up and tested out. Ameya took off to go get the cake from her nephew’s bakery, Fuzzy’s Sweet Tooth, and came back shortly, setting to work immediately to get it all assembled and decorated. Ravija passed out some wonderful Hematite wands that she had brought for everybody. Then it was time for Rehearsal. Wolfie, who was Officiating our Ceremony, had made up copies of the Ceremony for everybody, since there were “parts” for all the women to read. We went out to the Ritual Circle area, and decided how it was all going to proceed, and then did a run through. I thought I was going to start crying, came close to it, but I didn’t! The Rehearsal went very well, we only needed to go thru it one time, and then we had lunch. Lee and I had ordered in pizza and wings for everybody, and Ben supplied soda pop and beer. Sarah, Linda’s daughter, was going to be doing my hair up for the day, and she arrived on the scene at about 3 pm. Then it was off to our house with our caravan of cars to get dressed for the Ceremony!
Fifteen people in our mobile home is a bit of a squeeze, but having an extra bedroom and two bathrooms helps a lot, so everybody had space to get their ceremony clothes on. Worked it in “shifts”, but it worked. Lee and Will, the best man headed back over to the ceremony site at about 5:30, since his mom and brothers were arriving about then, and he wanted to be there. Linda and I were the last to leave our house. Yes, I had a bit of a “flutter” on the way there (actually felt like I was going to get sick), but it passed quickly, thanks to the hematite Ravija had given me earlier. We were, therefore, the last to arrive at the site, which was at about 6:15 pm. Remember Pagan Standard Time? (
We spent a little bit of time greeting everybody, checking in with the caterers, Gale-Wyn Farms, and doing a final check over to make sure we had everything set up and in place. The entire wedding party then went out front of the barn, onto a space of beautiful green grass, and Wolfie led us in a grounding and centering, which we all needed, and which I believe helped me get through the ceremony without bawling my head off! At about 6:30, Juggler John, our Town Crier, made the announcement that the ceremony was about to start, and all our guests made their way out to the Ritual Circle.
Wolfie went into the Circle first, as Officiant, then the groomsmen went in and around to their positions, then the Best Man, then the Ringbearer, and then the Groom. The Ladies proceeded in and around to their positions, followed by the Maid of Honor, and finally me.
And so our Handfasting Ceremony began. I will post the ceremony shortly for your reading pleasure. It was beautiful, and took about half an hour. Almost everybody later said that it was a beautiful ceremony, and one of the loveliest weddings they had ever been to.
Then it was time for food and fun! We had a buffet style dinner, with pulled pork and bbq chicken, salt potatoes, corn on the cob, green salad, rolls, and soda pop, which was all served by the caterers. Shortly after we ate, we did the cutting of the cake, and included our Maid of Honor and Best Man in that fun! We didn’t mash the cake on each other’s faces, but we got them! Then we had our first dance together, to Billy Currington’s song, “Must Be Doing Something Right”.
It was a wonder of a day. Folks danced and laughed and talked. We had our dear and good friends and family sharing our Celebration and our Love with us. Much Love and Thanks to everyone who was there.
We are blessed.
~Myriah and Lee
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