Renaissance Festival Wedding

It started (with me) on Facebook one evening last week.  I was catching up messaging back and forth to a friend that I haven’t seen in years.  We were catching up on life; where we were, where we are, and were we are going.  We realized that we were both going to the Renaissance Festival outside of Shakopee, Minnesota.  She was going down for her son’s wedding and I was going down, well because my sister and I go one weekend every year. 

She shared that her son had bought a camera at WalMart and a friend of his was going to be taking pictures with it for their wedding pictures.  My sister and I have identical cameras.  I volunteered, after checking with my sister, to videotape and photograph the wedding.  I’m not a professional.  But I have been the wedding photographer for two other weddings.   



Ryan and Alli had a great day for a wedding

The wedding party was all in costume

 I had decided earlier this year that I was going to take My Jenny to the Ren Fest.  Dogs are allowed with all the proper paperwork.  So when I offered to take pictures, I asked for help as someone would need to hold My Jenny as I took pictures.



Thank-You my Lady (Chrissy), for watching My Jenny

The Father's Blessing and Giving Away

The processional was played and sang by Brother Benjamin or Benjamin the Reformer.  As the wedding party arrived at the chapel, Brother Benjamin was part of a small praise and worship service.  He comes every year to walk the Festival Grounds and pray for the Festival.  Praying for all the people attending and a revival in the land.  No music was planned for this small wedding and Brother Benjamin blessed Ryan and Alli by staying for the service and playing two songs.


Brother Benjamin

Hand-fasting wedding ceremonies are Celtic wedding rituals.  It involves the tying of hands together to symbolize the coming together and remaining tied together. Hand-fasting is done many ways.  A different color was draped over their hands for each vow of dedication.


Creating the ties for Hand-fasting

 After all of the colors were draped, they were combined together in one tie.  The tie that completed the hand-fasting.  I guess that is where the phrase, "the tie that binds" originated.


Hand-fasting wedding ceremony

Time to have Renaissance Fun!



Congratulations!

God Blesses us in many ways.  Being faithful to God, they planned what they could afford.  God uses other people to bless in unexpected ways.  Today, I had the blessing of providing photography skills.  Brother Benjamin had the blessing of using his musical skills (and I know for sure that the couple had many prayers lifted on their behalf from him too.)  We saw friends and family members throughout the day.  Everyone was having a wonderful time, enjoying the great food and entertainment provided at the Renaissance Festival.  Thank-you for allowing me to be a part of your wonderful new beginning.  I will continue to pray that God leads and directs your life for many years to come!