Wedding Ceremony - 1 way I do it

A wedding outline from the ritual performed by Steven “Piparskeggr” Robinson on behalf of his niece.

2 ½ hours before: Officiant arrives at the site to bless the ritual area and prepare the wedding bower area.

 Carrying Fire around the Stead and pouring Drink to the Wights.

 

The Bower and Altar.

The Meadhorn represents the Sharing that must take place in a True House Bond.

The Hammer represents the Hard Work that goes into building and keeping the House Bond.

The Amber Necklace represents the Commonweal that is the strength of the House Bond.

The Carafe and Glasses are to hold the Drink with which the Bride and Groom, then Wife and Man will raise to each other and share.

The Rings are a sign of the Oath, which is Sworn to each other before the Holy, Kin and Kith.

The Papers are the sign of the Civil Authority under which the Community lives and is maintained.

The Fire (candle) is representative of the Life, Mind and Will with which we are Gifted and with which we Build Lives Together.

 1 ½ - 1 hour before: Final setup of the Family and Guest seating area is completed.

 

½ hour before: Family and Guests arrive and are seated.

 We begin: Wedding Party arrives and ceremony commences.
 

Officiant will begin by welcoming the assembled Kin and Kith as witnesses; will explain the importance of the gathering and what marriage means to him.  He will also explain the Symbols that rest upon the Altar.

The Mother of the Groom will walk him to the Bower, accompanied by the Best Man and present him to the witnesses.

Officiant: “Mother, who do you bring before us today, and why?”

Mother: “I bring my Son, who today, is to be wedded.”  She then speaks about his qualities as a suitable husband and man.

The Father of the Bride will walk her to the Bower, accompanied by the Maid of Honor and present her to the witnesses.

Officiant: “Father, who do you bring before us today, and why?”

Father: “I bring my Daughter, who today, is to be wedded.”  He then speaks about her qualities as a suitable wife and woman.

Officiant will make a few remarks about marriage to the wedding party, explaining the Symbols that rest upon the Altar.

He will then read a selection of poetry, either Sacred or Profane that is meaningful to the bride and groom upon the subject of love, honor, respect and duty.

Mother and Father will then join the hands of their Children, performing their final act of parental control.  They will then take their seats with Kin and Kith. The Best Man and Maid of Honor will step back a couple of paces to the sides of the Bower and remain as Witness for the Whole.

Groom, then Bride will exchange this Oath: I (full birth name) being of sound mind and body, fully realizing the meaning and importance of marriage do solemnly swear this Oath.  I promise to love and cherish (say other’s name), to stay by (him/her) in good times and in bad, to be there in health and in sickness, to be a friend and partner in all things.  I take on this duty joyfully and being mindful that I will gladly fulfill it until Death parts us.

Officiant then pours Drink into the Cups and has the Bride and Groom toast each other as Betrothed and Unwed.

The Best Man will step forward and hand the ring to be placed on the groom’s finger to the Bride.  The Maid of Honor will step forward and hand the ring to be placed on the groom’s finger to the Bride.

The Officiant will place their hands together and support them.  The Bride and Groom will slide the Ring onto each other’s fingers and say at the same time: “With this Ring, I thee wed.”

The Officiant holds their hands high and says the locally official version of: “By the Power vested in me by this Jurisdiction, in the sight of the Holy Powers, Kin, and Kith, I now pronounce this couple as Man and Wife.”

“You may kiss your Bride.”

Officiant then pours Drink into the Cups and has the Bride and Groom toast each other as Man and Wife.

He then turns them to the assembled witnesses.

“Please rise and welcome Mr (his name) and Mrs (her name) [with family name as decided by the bride and groom]"

The parents are invited to join the newlyweds at the Bower, and then the best Man and Maid of Honor.

The Parents will then walk down the aisle, intermingled as their families are now joined and leave the wedding area, followed by the Wedding Party.

Family rises and leaves, followed by other guests.

Officiant stays at the Bower to pack up the Altar, other accouterments and to return the area to its every day nature.

 

Official picture taking will commence.

Reception afterwards.