The Marriage

After the jousting, the games, the judging of victuals and spirits, the cooking, the music, and penultimately, the court of the king, the throng (well, okay -- the group) repaired to a clearing in the woods.  Said clearing had been prepared with bundles of wheat and candles, and surrounded by benches for family and friends.

A piper piped, the herald called the meeting to order, and, much as we still to today, the bride's procession joined the groom and his entourage in front of the judge.

Unfortunately, I had some problems with my lense (the front fell off), and so there are no pictures of this quite beautiful procession.  We rejoin the wedding party after everyone has gathered in the ring.

parentsofthegroom_s.jpg (14708 bytes) The parents of the groom look on with pride...
This's the end of the processional.  You'll see the groom off to the right, and the bride, as the last one to enter, coming in behind her honor guard.
Nigel is giving the responsibility for Siobhan's protection up to Rowen and his clan.

Rowen's clan name is the Tribe Winged Wolf, a merchant and warrior clan. Siobhan's family is the Donndubhains (Donavans) but her name is lenited because she's female, so it comes out Siobhan ni Dhonnabhain. Now he's a Russian gypsy and she's from Irish middle nobility, so although he is looked upon as lower than her family in Ireland, he'd gosh darn better be pretty wealthy in order to marry her. ;) As you might have seen on his clan's clothing, (if the pictures were better!) there was a lot of gold trinkets and decorations, signaling lots of disposable wealth to spend on stuff like that. The ceremony followed Irish marriage practices at the time.. although Ro did make some of it up (because he can do that and it was funny).
Ipledgemytroth_s.jpg (11934 bytes) note the dowery trunk in the lower left... lookingsmug_s.jpg (13675 bytes)
Rowen's mother-in-law to be poses 3 riddles to the groom.  I quote the bride:
JuliWolfe_beautiful_s.jpg (8420 bytes) convincingthemother-in-law_s.jpg (12462 bytes)
lookslikeitsworking_s.jpg (8505 bytes) Siobhanreadsthemanifest_s.jpg (12017 bytes)

The last photograph is Siobhan's mom giving three riddles to Rowen.. He got two of them without seeing the cards that her family held up in case he got stuck. The last one was a problem, but he did get it eventually. I think Mom was really impressed anyway. And of course the King was there, a really nice man who gave Ben (a young cousin) his crown to wear for a
while.

Now, you may recall that Rowen is marrying a bit above his station.   Though both bride and groom received their award of arms just today, the bride is from a family that's quite a bit better heeled than the Clan of the Winged Wolf, whence Rowen hails.  The first order of business, then, is the reading of assets each of our supplicants brings to the marriage.  First the Lady Siobhan is gifted with a rose

 
Last Update 08 Nov 1998 jerry@ampleassociates.com