Magnus and Bella had their wedding today and I was invited, which was nice but slightly odd as while I like and know them fairly well I wouldn’t consider myself in the traditional catchment pool for “people to invite to our wedding”. The after-party, for sure, but the whole shebang?
But this wasn’t a traditional wedding. They’d decided to invite people who had played what they saw as an important role in them getting to this stage as a couple and it seems I was part of that. On paper all I did was build their jewellery website (and share a few bitterly cold days on the craft markets) but I’m guessing that set off a chain reaction or something. Maybe it kicked their business into new areas allowing them to step things up a gear. Whatever it was, and I suspect it’s not overly articulable, it’s a lovely way to have my role acknowledged.
A fair few of my friends have gotten married of late but this was my first pagan wedding. After the legal bit at the registry office we adjourned to the Custard Factory where the actual ceremony would take place. This involved a blacksmith fixing two metal letters, M and B, together, the fasting of their hands with ribbons by everyone attending and finally the couple walking through a maze of fire. Literally. Flammable sand (a mix of gunpowder and petrol, maybe?) had been laid in the shape of a heart under the railway arches in Digbeth and was lit by a firework. Once it had died down a bit Magnus and Bella walked the winding path to the middle, did a ceremonial thing, and walked back out. It was quite incredible and wonderful. Here’s a video.
I really want to learn how to do that fire thing. I probably should be dissuaded from learning it though.
And then it was back to the party for much partying with more mildly odd things occurring. The champagne was served by Roller Derby girls (Bella is one of the Blitz Dames), the bride and groom smashed a gingerbread house full of sweets with a hammer, in a 2-for-1 Bella married her Derby wife and, best of all, Bella’s bro-in-law had brought a cured pig’s leg from Spain which had lived free-range and fed on acorns in the most idilic setting possible before being cured for 3 years. He sliced it thin and served with it sherry. It was amazing and I ate far too much.
After a wonderful evening we went home full of lovely and happy. A good day.
Anna (who is staying at ours) took loads of photos. Most are here.