coyotegoth | "In the names of the Lord and the Lady, I now pronounce you man and wife."

The wedding was held at the National Arboretum, with a gorgeous backdrop of trees, and a hillside that sloped down to a winding river. As I left my room that morning, the sun was just beginning to rise; the moon and a single star were above it on the horizon, and as I stood there, silently taking it in, a flight of migratory birds flew by. (And, as far as nature goes- Cora calls Winter her Totoro; people who know that film may not be surprised when I say that, just before I took my place for the beginning of the ceremony, I bent and put two acorns in my pocket, under my robe. Miyazaki, I suspect, would have approved.) Finally, I got the signal from the person giving cues, and began my introductory remarks to the audience: please be seated and comfortable. Please, no videotaping. This is the Guardian of the Circle; please don't enter or leave without having him escort you. Then, I called upon the wedding party to approach the altar.

As they walked forward, I found myself remembering the first time I'd met Winter, back when I was dating

reazik, so many years ago: she'd invited me to come over and meet a friend of hers who'd just moved there from DC. My first impression was that he wasn't much of a talker; then, by the end of the night, we walked from her apartment at 89th street down to Union Square (roughly seventy-five blocks), getting to know each other...

...and now, here I am, performing the ceremony that will bring his together with his lady love, now and forever. The casting of the circle; the calling of the quarters; the handfasting cords- and then, almost before I know it, I'm looking into my best friend's eyes, and telling him he can kiss his lady wife, his love, his joy. Congratulations,

frost_knight and

cchan8: I'm delighted to have been there for it, and more honored than I can say to have actually taken part.

Video of them leading the first waltz here; more pictures here, here, and here.