Today will I marry my friend...

Yesterday, the 22nd September, on the cusp of the Spring Equinox, Alexx and I wed on a wild and windy and cold spring day amongst the Spirits of Air, Fire, Water and Earth in a now sacred grove of melaleuca on the banks of the Lily Pond close to the spring which is its source in beautiful Centennial Park, Sydney.

Our dearest friends gathered around us as Marybeth, our priestess, performed the hallowed Pagan rites of hand fasting, sharing of cake and mead and exchange of rings and vows.

The readings - by friends - were Kalidasa, Gibran and the Apache Wedding Prayer and Jaqi sang a haunting song in her beautiful ethereal voice. Belinda took many beautiful photos (see above).

Afterwards we had a simple, close friendly gathering at our place to share a buffet lunch (of course there was souvlakia and spanikoppita!) and drinks.

Doesn't my man look handsome?

As we turned within the sacred circle - marked out by olive sprays from our tree and flowers from our guests - to receive the blessings of the Sprits of the Four Directions and the Centre, the Elements rose up around us in windiness and rippling of water and tree roots underfoot and sun breaking through.

As we stood hand in hand, hand-fasted in red and white ribbons, and spoke our vows and exchanged our rings I felt fall away the last diaphanous veil between Alexx and I so that we stood as one.

And as I stood within the Circle facing all who had journeyed with me; given me so generously their love and support, beside the man who has loved me so unconditionally, in my beautiful silk dress, the last diaphanous veil between me and womanhood also fell away; there beneath the wide, wind-swept sky and under and within the awesome love of Goddess and her consort sweet Lord Ganesha, Remover of Obstacles and Bringer of Good Fortune.

Thanks be, Blessed be!

Here is the Order of Ceremony:

The Wedding of Paula and Alexx

Order of Ceremony

Entry of Bridal Party
Tibetan Bells
Create Sacred Circle and Welcome to Country
Welcome and Introduction
Remembering those absent
Legal Reminder
Moon, Sun and Spring Equinox
First Reading – Kalidasa by David
Meaning of Ceremony
Presentation of couple
Blessings of the Spirits:
- East, North, West, South, Centre -
Cake & Mead
Second Reading – Gibran by Matthew
Hand Fasting – Lovers’ Knot
Exchange of Vows
Exchange of Rings
Third Reading – Apache Prayer by Annie
Pronouncement of Marriage
Kiss
Closing of Sacred Circle
Jaqi’s Song to Paula and Alexx
Signing of Certificates

Here are the Wedding Guest Responses:

Presentation of Couple

Marybeth:
“Who brings this man to stand beside this woman?”

Men guests:
“We, the community of men, bring this man to stand beside this woman.”

Marybeth:
“Who brings this woman to stand beside this man?"

Women guests:
“We, the community of women, bring this woman to stand beside this man.”

Marybeth:
“Are Paula and Alexx’s community of men and women willing now and always to strengthen this union by upholding both Paula and Alexx with their support?”

All guests:
“We are”