The Celtic Wedding Ceremony of
Daniel Lins and Kandi Cruz
Saturday Night at Midnight, June 21, 2003
Denver, Colorado
| On Saturday Night at Midnight, while in Denver with
a group of friends, Daniel Lins and Kandi Cruz took part in the Traditional Celtic Wedding ceremony of "Hand Fasting". The ceremony was performed by Prudence Priest from California. The Bride's Escort was Arthur Jerrett from England. The Maiden of the Broom was Kandi's daughter Alexis. The group that formed the circle around the couple was made up of Sara Crescas, Deborah Dubios, Michael Ahlers, Debbie Ligon, Michael Green (who helped us by filming with our camcorder), and Rhoda Green (who took these pictures with our digital camera), and Coltrane (the Couple's 14-month old son). Since it was so late at night, Mason (Kandi's 7-year old) fell asleep, and spent the duration of the ceremony in the hotel lobby. Others planned to attend, but because of problems with the hotel's shuttle bus, they didn't get back to the hotel in time. They did, however, join
us in the hotel's Hospitality Suite after the ceremony ended. These are pictures from the ceremony. To view a picture full size, click the picture. To download a picture, right-click the picture and select "Save File to Disk". Kandi's background is part Native American, and her ancestors celebrated the ancient Celtic and Shamaan ceremonies and rites. The wedding ceremony of Hand Fasting is one of those ancient ceremonies.
    Before the attendees go out to the wedding site under the largest oak tree on the grounds (Oak Trees are considered sacred, especially on Solstice, which this night was), the Maiden of the Broom (Alexis) sweeps a circle in which the couple will be wed, and the Celtic Priestess (Prudence) sets out the items needed for the ceremony. Once all is ready, those that are attending form the circle that was swept earlier, with the Groom waiting in the center. No, Alexis is not getting ill in this picture. To be honest, we don't know WHAT she's doing in this picture. But this is when everyone was waiting for Kandi. Dan is looking toward the hotel, where Kandi would be coming from.  Once the circle is formed, the Bride is escorted, with the Escort (Arthur) holding a sword raised high. 
They circle around the outside of the circle, and finally enter, giving the Bride over to the Groom. The sword is handed over to the Priestess. Prudence, swinging the sword in great arcs, went around the outside of the circle, stopping in each of the four directions (West, South, East, and finally North) calling on the four Elements (Fire, Water, Air, and Earth), along with the Celtic Gods, Goddesses, and Spirits to bless the ceremony. She can be seen in these pictures explaining the purpose of the sword to those gathered. 
The couple exchanged vows, and then exchanged rings, which had been
tied to the oak tree with the sashes that would be used to bind them together. In these pictures, Dan and Kandi await the rings, and Prudence blesses the rings. Then Dan and Kandi each gave a ring to the other.
   Once the couple exchanged their vows and rings, they were bound together, or "Hand Fasted". This was done with the sashes that had previously held their rings. While the couple was bound, they each took the chalice, which was filled with Champaigne, and drank, kissing after each of them drank. Then the chalice was passed around the circle, and each person in attendance said a short toast to the couple, and also drank, ending with Prudence. After Prudence finished her toast, the champaign that was left in the chalice was poured on the base of the oak tree, as an offering to all the Celtic Gods, Godesses, and Spirits.  At the completion of the toasts, Prudence "opened" the circle, and the Maiden of the Borrm placed the broom across the opening. The couple jumped across the broom, to signify leaving their old lives behind, and starting a new life together on the other side of the broom. The Maiden swept the circle closed to sweep away the old, and the ceremony was complete. Then those in attendance went back into the hotel to celebrate. The final part of the ceremony took place once the couple returned home. Before entering their home, they poured salt on their front porch (the salt was one of the items Prudence had placed in the circle) and swept it away with the broom that had been used in the ceremony.
Here are a few other pictures from the evening: Arthur and Alexis, Alexis awaiting the group outside, and Cole playing in the grass before the ceremony. 
  In June of 2004, Dan, Kandice and Cole returned to Denver and took this picture under "Their Tree", the place where the wedding happened the previous year. |
