Laura and Karl, known in the SCA as Lady Meghan Fiona Paget and Kevin MacColin O'Gallagher, were married at the Highland War, in the Shire of Al-Sahid in the Kingdom of Caid, on Sunday, May 30th, A.S. XXXIV. (1999). They had an SCA wedding, officiated by Lord Jared Alexandre Blaydeaux and Lady Selene Colfox. (Jim and Sue Fox-Davis)

Our separate shade fly was set up some distance from the main pavilion, and Karl, Brent (best man), and Jim and Sue set things up there while Laura, her bridesmaid Dawn (Lady Eleanor), the family, and the rest of the bridal party were at the main pavilion getting dressed. We had the wedding a little earlier in the day than we'd planned, as we'd learned the day before that the area had strong winds that got worse all afternoon. This is also why we didn't go ahead with the plan to have a circle strewn with wheat and flower petals!

Once the bride's party was dressed and ready, we gathered people together for the procession. We had several drummers and someone occasionally blowing a horn. A banner with Meghan's arms was carried at the front of the procession. Laura and her father Robert followed it. Laura's sister Robyn was pushing Brendan in his wooden cart. Laura's mother Barbara-Kay was carrying the rings, on a lovely ring pillow she'd made, with lace edging made by Laura's great-grandmother Addah. We had two heralds who alternated calling out to the populace and inviting all those who wished to witness the wedding to follow. We stopped at the encampment the King (al-Malik al-Tomüki) was, and waited for him to join us, then proceeded back through the war to the site of the wedding. Everyone circled around, and Robert led Laura up to the altar.

Jared: "Good people of Caid, family and friends all. In the midst of war, we come together on this day on a mission of peace, to join together in matrimony Laura Addah Rowanoak, known to us in the Society as Lady Meghan Fiona Paget, and Karl Kevin Gallagher, known to us in the Society as Kevin MacColin O'Gallagher. May the words spoken here today be burned across the sky, may they be graven in the stones themselves, may they be spoken by the waters and written across the winds.

Selene: "Who bringeth this Woman to be married to this Man?" Robert Seiver: She comes with me, her father, and is accompanied by all of her family's blessings (to Karl) "If she is willing, I am very willing and if that weren't so, then this wouldn't be so" (quote from traditional Gaelic betrothal, said by the father.) at this point Laura stepped away from her father and she and Karl took hands.

Selene: "Laura, do you come here of your own free will and accord, without let or hindrance, free of all legal and moral encumbrance to enter into this contract? Do you come here, according to the ways of the Gael since laws were written and adjudged by the Brehon, to enter into the lánamnas comthinchuir, (la:ñvnas kovinkoor) accepting a union of joint property and equal partnership?"

Laura: "I will."

Jared: "Karl, do you come here of your own free will and accord, without let or hindrance, free of all legal and moral encumbrance to enter into this contract? Do you come here, according to the ways of the Gael since laws were written and adjudged by the Brehon, to enter the lánamnas comthinchuir, accepting a union of joint property and equal partnership?"

Karl: "I will."

Selene: "Karl, Wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together in matrimony? wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?"

Karl: "I will."

Jared: "Karl, wilt thou take Brendan as your son in love and in custom, acting in all ways as his father, guide and counselor, accepting and supporting him as you would the get of your own loins? Will you grant him the rightful place as a son in your home and hearth alongside any children you may have in union with Laura, until such time as he is ready to take his adult place in the world?"

Karl: "I will."

Jared: "Laura, Wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live in matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?"

Laura: "I will."

Selene: "Laura, wilt thou have Karl to act as father and counsel to your son, Brendan, granting him all attendant rights, responsibilities and privileges of that role? Will you offer this in love and in custom, recognizing his authority in discipline and his place in law, alongside such other children as may spring from this union, until such time as Brendan is ready to make his own way?"

Laura: "I will."

Jared: "If any would ask why these two should not be joined, let them stand before those assembled here and speak now."

al-Malik al-Tomüki, King of Caid: "I would speak. Do you have the means to support yourselves and to provide for your children?"

Couple: "We do"

King: "Do you love one another? Do you cherish one another?"

Couple: "We do"

King: "Do you have the will to stand together against adversity?"

Couple: "We do"

a pause follows. if anyone else challenges, hurt him.

King: "All challenges have been answered; no others may lawfully be issued. So say I, Tomüki, King of Caid. Let the rite proceed."

Karl: "I, Karl, take thee Laura, to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, for fairer or fouler, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us depart; and thereunto I plight thee my troth."

Laura: "I, Laura, take thee Karl to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, for fairer or fouler, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us depart; and thereunto I plight thee my troth."

At this point Laura's mother handed Brendan the ring pillow, and she and Laura's sister directed him forward to Laura, to give her the pillow. (Brendan was not pleased that he didn't get to stay with mama!)

The rings were brought forward for blessing.

Selene: "May these Rings be hallowed and blessed, that those who wear them, that give and receive them, may be ever faithful to one another, remain in peace and joy, and live and grow old together in love, under their own vine and fig tree, and seeing their children's children."

Hands ring to Karl.

Karl: "With this Ring I thee wed, with my body I thee honor, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow" (placing it upon Laura's ring finger).

Hands other ring to Laura.

Laura: "With this Ring I thee wed, with my body I thee honor, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow" (placing it upon Karl's ring finger).

Jared and Selene then took the handfasting sash, woven by Laura in both their colors. Selene tied Laura and Karl's hands. Jared: "As this cord doth bind the two of you together, so do the vows you have said this day. Those who have been joined together in the sight of the gods and the people let no man put asunder."

Jared: "Forasmuch as Karl and Laura have consented together in sacred union, and have witnessed and sworn the same before this company and the gods of their people, and thereto have given and pledged their troth each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of rings, and by joining of hands; I pronounce therefore that they be husband and wife together."

Karl and Laura knelt in front of the altar. Selene took the oaten cake and broke it over Laura and Karl. (The oaten cake had been baked by the bridesmaid - thanks, dear!) Selene: "May your marriage be blessed with fertility and prosperity!"

Karl and Laura turned to the company, and kissed.

The King stepped to the edge of the altar space and held out his sword. Laura and Karl jumped the sword together.

The following verse was planned for the King's lines at this point, but was left out. It was written by Lady Selene, and is far too sweet to be left out for good, so we include it here.

The assembled friends and family tossed wheat all over the couple, in wishes for prosperity and fertility, and greeted and hugged the couple. (The Prince and Princess got themselves well showered with wheat as well!)

The Laura and Karl went over to the cake and the mead. Lady Selene gave them the chalice full of mead. (Note - we served mead to the guests, mostly commercial mead, but the first chalice full was made by our bridesmaid Dawn/Lady Eleanor.)

Selene: "This is your first drink together as man and wife. May you always drink together in joy."

Karl and Laura cut the cake together. Just before they fed each other Jared said: Jared: "This is your first food together as man and wife. May your lives be filled with prosperity and plenty."

The ceremony was over at this point, but the fun had just begun!

Here's pictures of us being congratulated and showered with wheat:

Brendan was very glad to be back with Mama.

We ate cake together, and shared mead.

We served mead and cake to all. There was plenty for all! "Sure, have more mead. Have lots! "

Dawn, aka Lady Eleanor, helped serve mead, putting on her best demure and innocent look!.

We had a lovely time, eating cake, drinking mead, and talking with all our friends. Karl and I got rather a bit tipsy. Brendan enjoyed the cake very much, and was all over frosting!

We're really glad that our families could come out for the wedding. Karl's mom and stepfather came from New York. Laura's father, mother, and younger sister Robyn came from Baton Rouge, Lousiana. In the picture below, Karl's mom is on the left, his stepfather in the middle, and Laura's mother on the right.

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