My almost-daughter-in-law is now not almost, cos she and my son  were married on Beltane, 5/1.  You can read a lot about Beltane if you search, and also a lot about handfasting. The short explanation of handfasting is: if you’ve ever heard people talk about tying the knot when they get married, this is where that expression came from. The couple make promises to each other during the ceremony, and a cord is placed across their wrists with each of the promises, which are all about the things  they will do to keep their union strong. The cords are symbolic of the promises, and the bindings are made with each cord.

The ceremony was planned for outside beside a beautiful lake, at a Boy Scout reservation up in the mountains.  The weather didn’t cooperate with that so they had the ceremony in the big, beautiful dining hall.  The weather did clear long enough for the photographer to take their pictures out by the lake.

They had things planned so well and everything went perfectly.  The site was gorgeous, the caterer did an amazing job with providing the food just as they had ordered it, almost everybody they had invited was able to come, and everybody enjoyed the whole day.

She looked beautiful; like a princess from a story book, and he was so handsome in a robe fitting with the handfasting ceremony.

They  made their own handfasting cords and a friend made their altar candles.  Their besom was made by a lady in Canada. Their Priestess is a wonderful lady and the handfasting ceremony was beautiful.

Dylan was a little tense the day before, hoping everything would go just right.  Fishing is always a calming and meditative activity for him, and they had taken their fishing rods along cos they were spending the whole weekend at the camp, so he went fishing for a while in the afternoon. He caught a couple little ones not worth keeping (he was hoping to catch supper, but that didn’t work out.) But while he was there he saw a group of turtles swimming near him and coming up to the top sometimes, and there were swifts flying down touching the water getting bugs. He was calmer after some fishing.  Eliza didn’t fish, cos she had three sisters, her brother, and her parents there, in from Colorado and Kansas, so she got to spend a lot of time with them. The sisters helped her with her hair and makeup, and it was a good family celebration for them to be all together for her wedding, especially since they all live so far away.

She got a wonderful husband, he got a wonderful wife, and I got a wonderful daughter!   Lots of family and friends were all smiling and crying tears of happiness and it was such an amazing day.

Bright Blessings to the newlyweds, and may many years of happiness lie ahead.  So mote it be.