The Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine was the site of the Saturday wedding of Damen and Megan. The weather was perfect despite earlier forecasts of rain. Megan wore a beaded gown with a short train and carried purple irises. The bridesmaids wore dark hunter green gowns with bouguets of various colors. The men were dressed in tuxedos. They are such a lovely couple, just perfect together. Megan and Damen had the handfasting ceremony. This is an ancient pagan tradition adopted by Celtic marriages in which thirteen ribbons, each of a different color representing wishes for the couple (for example, green for weath, white for purity, etc) are tied around the couple's hands. The ribbons are removed before the end of the ceremony, but they are reminded that the it is up to them to keep the bonds tied. It is from this tradition that we get the term "tying the knot." In ancient times the couple was thereby joined for a year and a day at which time they would go again before the officiant to either have the marriage made permanent or to dissolve their union. Today we have marriage licenses so they only have until Monday when we file the license. But we know from the way they looked at each other that there is no danger of that happening. We wish them a happy marriage forever.
