One For the Ages!!
There is a reason it is called Holy Matrimony.
Read On to hear how the Sun and Stars Aligned for Harle and John for their magical elopement at the Hoh Rainforest Olympic National Park, in Forks Washington.
Our gorgeous couple, you have been together for eleven years. It is finally time to tie the knot. You are soulful and deeply intentional about your wedding and you live in sunny San Diego. So, you have an elopement at the Hoh Rainforest in the Olympic National Park at the end of October. Even with RAIN in the actual name of your wedding destination, you dared the weather gods to show up for your celebration. It might have been easy to say to you, “you are not from around here are you?” However, you boldly declared your grand invocation to LIFE to bless your wedding and your marriage going forward. And Holy Matrimony did blessings abound.
It poured rain the day before our wedding date. Our little posse; our couple, their photographer, my navigator friend and I did the many hour pilgrimage drive to near by towns and ended our day with deep prayers to the rain gods. “Please may we at least have a few minutes of dry for the I Do’s.”
Hiking books and raincoats at the ready and then I awoke early to see a sky full of stars. We have been blessed indeed. There are also sparkling frost tipped trees way up on the mountain tops and shining rain drops adorning all the branches like jewels on a bridal veil. We drove to the enchanted forest leaving the world behind and entering into one of the most lush, green, silent places on the entire planet. There are sun beams and calm skies everywhere. We gathered and then hiked to our ceremony spot. The light and our seasoned photographer, Sergio knew exactly where we needed to be. And thus the magic began.
We found a small tiny place in the fern grove with the rainforest giants providing the sanctuary pillars. We offered our Land Acknowledgement, our deep bow of gratitude to no less than six tribes who have called this magnificent area their home for thousands of years. As we stood in the profound richness of this area, it was so clear that this kind of abundance and saturated bounty had not survived without stewards who knew how to care for these gifts from nature.
We continued with a moment of presence and were engulfed in a blanket of silence, for me the most holy of holy benedictions. It was time for vows and with trees, moss, raindrop diamonds and sunshine and a few gentle respectful hikers wandering by, our beautiful couple expressed their hearts and their dedication to each other. Every once in a while vows take my breath away. Such were Harle and John’s vows… so wise, so sincere and so real…invoking the highest of the high and grounded completely in eleven years of already being together. We continued to ring exchange declarations and wow what incredible rings, custom designed and perfectly reflected in the sunlight.
Then came the hand fasting ritual… with glorious cords designed, braided and embossed with charms, colors and elements from Scotland and perfect for our green glorious sanctuary. We honored all the thousands, perhaps millions of couples from cultures around the world who have bound their hearts and their hands in this eternal tying the knot ritual and asked them to bless our new couple ready to join this long lineage.
Now it was time for the ritual called the Blessing of the Elements of Nature. Perhaps the most natural and authentic ceremony for our PNW locale.
A ceremonial bowl with air, fire, water and earth each offered up to the four directions of east, south, west and north….again honoring ancient traditions. Recognizing that all of life offers up its blessing when we chose to live in harmony with the elements and directions. These gifts of nature were then offered to our bride and groom and then they offered them to each other to affirm that all the powers of the elements are readily available to nourish them and keep their love alive and well through the long journey of marriage.
And finally, finally dear Harle and John were pronounced as wife and husband, formally married and consecrated by the Spirit of Love and the Bounty of Mother Nature.
There was a gourmet, custom made, flower adorned cake and champagne that had been carried all the way to our ceremony site to help toast our happy newly weds. The license was signed and now our charming couple were ready to continue their beautiful journey of loving themselves and each other for all the days of their lives.
Blessings Dear Harle and John. We had a day and a celebration for the ages. It seemed that the entire cosmos was showering its blessings on your both. The light and peace and utter stillness that showed up for you was like a holy dispensation and proof that choosing love as your path in life brings forth magic and miracles beyond what we could ever imagine.
Thank you Catherine Smegal for capturing the love and joy by iphone. Stay tuned for the professional photos from Sergio at www.henry-tieu.com