OOH-OOH WITCHY WEDDINGS...WITCHES GET MARRIED TOO!

by Lara Nance (Paranormal Fiction Author) and our guest blogger today for our May/June Wedding theme!

Since I end my paranormal romance, Memories of Murder, with the anticipation of a marriage between Maeve and Paul (the main characters), I decided it would be fun to imagine what type of wedding it would be since Maeve comes from a long line of Celtic witches. 

(Here's a brief synopsis of the book) -

Memories of Murder:

When Maeve McKenna renounces her witch powers and accepts a low-key nurse practitioner position at a Virginia retirement community, the last thing she expects is a suicide her first day on the job. As the town's sexy sheriff, Paul Sutton, starts looking into the tragic death of his father's friend, Maeve can't help but get involved--with both the case and him.

Their informal investigation unveils an old journal that connects the ruins of a nearby asylum and long-forgotten cemetery with the shiny new retirement community's memory unit--and Maeve's Alzheimer's patients. Maeve senses a sinister presence in the old asylum, calling to the patients, but in order to stop it from killing again, she must first conquer some demons of her own and reclaim the magic she's denied herself.

Given Paul is not a supernatural, the wedding would have to be a blend. We’ll call it, Pagan-Episcopal. 

Drawing from the types of witch weddings I’ve researched, and the traditional Christian weddings, here’s how I envision Paul and Maeve’s ceremony:

Maeve’s dress will be white, a flowing layered organza, bare on one shoulder, tied in a bow over the other. Paul will wear an elegant black tux.

Since Maeve’s Aunt Ruby is a priestess, she will officiate, along with the town of Rolling Gap’s very tolerant and open-minded Episcopal priest. To connect with Mother Earth and the elements, the ceremony will be held outside, on the grounds of the local Bed and Breakfast where Maeve’s mother and aunts (the Gems) stayed while visiting Maeve.

The guests will arrive and gather under the sheltering canopy of giant oak trees on the lawn. Since the Gems work their spells through dance and chanting, they will enter the glade and cast the circle where the couple will stand with those officiating. Wearing their draping white robes and gold chains they step slowly, arms undulating, tracing a ring and chanting: “Let it be known that the circle is about to be cast. All who enter the Circle may do so in perfect love and perfect trust.”

Once the circle is complete, Ruby welcomes the priest to join her inside it. Maeve’s mother, Opal and Maeve’s other aunt, Pearl, bring forward the couple to be wed, holding them by the hands. When they reach the circle, Ruby asks each in turn, “How do you enter this circle?” and they reply, “In perfect love and perfect trust.”

Both Ruby and the priest offer a greeting to the guests, representing the gathering as both welcoming of the natural forces and under the eyes of God.

For vows, Paul and Maeve chose the traditional vows of Maeve’s Celtic past: 

Ruby says to Maeve: As you are the woman, the giver of life, the daughter, the lover, the mother and the wise old crone are in you, as is the goddess of death and destruction. Will you be the woman, the curious young girl, the mother of your children, the lover of your man, his adviser, his supporter and his lawgiver when need be?

Ruby: If you come to this union with open eyes and open heart, of your free will, say I will!
Maeve (Staring into Paul’s eyes): I will.

The priest says to Paul: As you are the man, the maker of life, the son, the lover, the father, the wise old man are in you, as is the hunter-warrior, slayer of enemies. Will you be the man, the adventurous young son, the father of your children, the lover of your woman, her advisor, supporter and her protector when need be?

Priest: If you come to this union with open eyes and open heart, of your free will, say I will!

Paul (squeezes Maeve’s hand and grins): I will.

Candles are used in both types of ceremony, so the couple chose to incorporate the unity candle where the mothers each hand a lit candle to their respective child. Then Maeve and Paul carry their candles to a single candle on a waist high brass stand at the side of the circle. They hold their flames to this candle until it’s lit and then blow out the ones they carried.

The priest raises one hand and says: “The lighting of the center candle represents not only the union of Paul and Maeve in marriage, but the unity formed in this new family in which your lives will now shine as one.”

Maeve and Paul both hold ribbons they chose to use in the hand-fasting. The color has special meaning in this ceremony. Ruby asks the couple to join hands and present the ribbon which she will tie around their hands as the vow is made.

Maeve chose: Red (fire, power/passion).  She vows: “I promise to always feed the fire of our physical passion, to never take you for granted and to always remember you are, and treat you as, my lover, to always be open to your expression of your love and to share myself totally with you.”
Ruby ties the red ribbon around their clasped hands and turns to Paul.

Paul chose: Blue (water, emotional/love). He vows: “I promise my heart will always be open to you, to love and respect you and always put you first in my life, to always consider your feelings when making decisions and to put our relationship as the first priority before all else.”
Ruby ties the blue ribbon over the red ribbon.

Paul and Maeve chose simple, silver, Claddagh rings—two hands clasping a crowned heart. Ruby officiates the giving of Maeve’s ring, and the priest officiates the giving of Paul’s ring. Each saying:

“These rings symbolize all of the circles we dance in through our lives. The circle symbolizes the continuity of life, the never-ending nature of God, the universe, and the constancy of this couple's love for one another. The rings will be given and received as a symbol of the promises made and the union created here today.”

Then the priest and Ruby declare the couple wed under God and through the power of the Earth Mother. Paul kisses Maeve to the claps and shouts of congratulations of the crowd.

Ruby breaks the circle urging the happy couple to go forth in love and peace, the priest gives them his blessing and one big party ensues under the big oak trees.

In pagan ceremonies, the couple usually jumps over a broom to symbolize the start of a new life, but Paul and Maeve decided not to use this element in their wedding. They wanted to move right along to the champagne and cake!

So, there you go, My idea of the blended ceremony, perfect for Paul and Maeve. It almost made me cry *sniff, sniff*….. I think it made a beautiful wedding, what do you think?