The Wedding Day
Saturday, November 19, 2005 was a great day for a somewhat non-traditional wedding held at the Texas Renaissance Festival. About 60 friends and family members attended from as far away as London, England and Birmingham, Alabama.
There was much pomp and pageantry associated with the ceremony and reception. A horse-drawn carriage delivered the bride to the indoor/outdoor King's Chapel for the service.
Preceding the carriage was a procession of ladies and lords, headed by the minister in full robes and regalia. Music was in the Scottish vein with pipes, drum, viol, and dulcimer.
The vows and rings were exchanged under a huge blue mosaic cross hung on a towering ivy-covered wall.
The lords did a raised sword salute forming a walkway through which the bride was escorted.
Much of the ceremony was traditional but one element not seen in weddings was the presentation of a live falcon by the trainer. While the handler stood in the aisle with the bird on his leather cuff, the father of the groom read a wedding blessing describing the union of husband and wife, comparing them to a keen-sighted falcon and a protective wolf. Wedding Blessing is below.
The bride wore a white Renaissance dress topped by a silver cloak lined in white satin, her head crowned with a flower wreath. The groom wore black hat, a long gray tunic decorated with a howling wolf symbol on the chest, draped with black wool cloak and outfitted with sword and chalice. The wedding party consisted of the Allison's two sisters Kara & Jessica escorted by the Mark's son Daniel and brother Randy.
After the ceremony the guests were escorted to the reception held in the arbor. During the reception Mark cut the groom's cake with his sword.
After the final festival fireworks show the wedding party and out-of-town guests were invited to dinner hosted by the groom's parents.
The wedding pictures can be seen by clicking the Wedding Picture Album link in the Sidebar.
Wedding Blessing
The raptor has a keen sense of vision seeing great distances in fine detail. The bird‘s broader vision allows it to see what the future holds. The swift agility of the hawk’s flight reminds us that we can soar to great heights. When the hawk flies into our life we re-evaluate who we have become.
The lone wolf is the symbol of freedom, stamina and strength. When seen in a pack, the wolf represents the family. The wolf does not fight needlessly but is fiercely loyal when protecting its own. The wolf is regarded as the pathfinder and the teacher.
As you, Allison and Mark, come together, so do the hawk and the wolf. Although strong as individuals, you are stronger together than you ever were alone. May you remember throughout the years to use each others’ strengths to overcome your individual weaknesses; to join together as a team so your abilities compliment each other; to see the future from both perspectives; and to travel together to fulfill your dreams.
posted by The Mundy Spot @ 9:36 AM
0 comments
