Fairytale Wedding- Literally

A wedding can say a lot about a couple, from the decor they choose, to the personal touches in their ceremony, and the people who show up to support them. So for anyone who knows me, it probably comes as no surprise that I got married at a Renaissance Festival.

My husband, my fiance at the time, took me to my first Renaissance Faire just a few months after we got engaged. It was magical: the music, the costumes, the giant turkey legs. At one point, I joked that we should get married there. We laughed and didn't think much of it.

But as we started researching the cost and logistics of a traditional wedding for 150+ guests, that idea came back to me. A Ren Faire would not only accommodate our guest list, but it would also provide built-in entertainment since guests could wander and explore after the ceremony. More than anything, it felt like us.

Even though the wedding ceremony and reception were relatively simple, I still spent the months leading up to the wedding choosing decor that complimented the medieval fantasy setting. We both knew that the most important part of the day was making our promises and starting our life together, but a close second was making sure everyone had fun.

The days leading up to the wedding were a blur. I was nervous about being the center of attention and worried that I would do the potty dance down the aisle or forget how to speak and mess up my vows entirely. On the morning of the ceremony, my family and friends buzzed around me in a flurry of activity, and I felt like I might jump out of my skin with anticipation.

But right before it was time to walk down the aisle, something shifted. As I linked my arm through my dad's, a calm came over me and the nerves disappeared. I walked toward Will, waiting for me at the dais, feeling steady and completely at peace.

Our officiant, a monk who moonlighted as an insult comic at the Faire, asked us to turn and look out at all the people who had come to celebrate this new chapter with us. We spoke our vows and became husband and wife, dressed as an elf prince and princess.

After the ceremony, the Queen of the festival honored us with a toast, kicking off the reception. We ate, drank, took photos, and spent time with the people we love. Then everyone was free to roam the Faire. We had so much fun! After all, how many people can say they fired a bow and arrow, or ate turkey legs and drank mead on their wedding day?

It was a magical day, and even now, my husband and I still wish we could relive it from beginning to end.