EDEN AND LIZZI'S HANDFASTING

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At the end of September 2000 we went to the handfasting of good friends Eden and Lizzi in the Rollrights Stone Circle in Gloucestershire. To quote from their invitation, "A handfasting is a Pagan wedding ceremony, a celebration before the old Goddesses and Gods of Nature of the spiritual and physical 'joining' of two people. Like a Christian wedding, it has priests (but also priestesses) to officiate and there is an exchanging of rings and vows."

Following the ceremony in the stone circle, a beautifully decorated marquee in the grounds of a nearby pub was the venue for a night of music, dancing and merrymaking.

It was a magical day in many ways. Most remarkable was the weather which, in the space of an hour, gave us torrential rain, rolling thunder, rainbows, striking cloud formations and, during the ceremony, shafts of brilliant sunlight producing halos around the happy couple. Very impressive.

The blushing bride.

By the magic of PC graphics, the circle in (almost) its entirety, waiting for the happy couple. And, no, there weren't identical twins there - the little boy moved between shots.

The groom (that's him in the bits of tree) waits for his bride, who is escorted into the circle on the arm of her father.

During the ceremony the couple seek the blessing of each of the elements and walk round the circle repeatedly.

See, a halo around Lizzi.

In the marquee the king and queen of the day sit on their throne while the bride's father proposes the toast.

Lizzi changes into yet another dress while Eden changes into ... a badger?!

Lizzi does what Lizzi does best. And, yes, those are wings!

Eden gets down with a didge.