This past weekend I was honored to perform a wedding for two great friends, M.J. and Cary.  I was honored when I was asked many months ago, and we talked periodically throughout the year to pass ideas back and forth.  The biggest concern for all was how pagan the rite should be considering that a large percentage of people invited were going to be Christian in faith.  We decided in the end to do a full core order ADF ritual, and I was going to do most of the work.

Leaning the ritual tto do what needed to be done, explain what we are doing without the benefit of any kind of pre-ritual briefing, and having it all flow was honestly a challenge.  A few weeks ago I sent them a draft copy and told them to make any changes they wanted to.  As far as I can tell, the only major revision was the removal of one optional part, and the removal of involving the wedding party to stand up and speak.  

The day of, we realized that calling Brigid for inspiration never got in there, and due to how things were set up, the hallows had to be fine in a different order.  Thank the gods I have been doing ritual for years as to me these were just minor changes and involved pulling a few words out of my proverbial ass.

It is said in war that no plan survives first contact with the enemy.  Well, rituals are really the same... What you have planned and written out, practiced, memorized, etc... Once the ritual begins, all bets are off as to what will actually happen.  The words stated were not the ones written, but the theme sashayed consistent.  The magic was done, the couple was united and bound by the oaths they took, and the family and friends witnessed.  The omens were good and appropriate, and the couple survived.

Overall, I feel blessed to have been part of their happy day.  I admit that it felt good to have people I did not know come up and thank me for doing, as they said, a good or wonderful service.  In the end though, my blessings go out to the couple for a long and happy union.