We are now officially married as “Mrs & Mrs Haig”...handfast as one! Here is our Pagan Wedding Handfasting - video homemade by ourselves showing some special moments from our ritual ceremony and wedding day including our mead toast with a drinking horn. The ceremony was based on our Ancient Baltic, Celtic and Norse beliefs…calling upon the Old Gods whilst we tied our souls as one. We got married at the largest stone circle in Scotland, the sacred Ring of Brodgar in the Orkney Islands. Surrounded by the sea, where we really belong and sharing similarities to the Curonian Spit which separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea hence truly feeling like one's homeland Lithuania. Orkney is a beautiful Scottish Island which was formerly Norwegian with so much viking heritage. We combined our beautiful cultures that are Lithuanian and Scottish, whilst embracing viking roots! The libation before our wedding day opened up and cleared the skies for us…an offering to the Old Gods, embracing Baltic Sea amber and some ale, mead & whisky!
The attire was everything we could have imagined. The dressmaker beautifully handmade our matching raw linen dress and shirt (made in Lithuania). Traditional Baltic and Viking dress with an ancient archeological green & brown hand-woven band (known as “juosta”) alongside a charming linen shirt to compliment the traditional Scottish Kilt (Highland Granite Tartan).
Handfasting cords were finely and delicately crafted by the wonderful Pagan celebrants. Incorporating symbols that are full of metaphor from Ancient Baltic, Celtic and Norse beliefs. Blessed Baltic amber from Germanic sea shores hangs from each end of our cords. The charms are beautifully incorporated depicting the Celtic double infinity symbol alongside the Norse tree of life (Yggdrasil), the green man representing Cernunnos (God of the Green Woods), a crescent moon to represent the Goddess of the Full Moon (Cerridwen) and a pair of double spirals occurring in prehistory across Europe. Our hammered wedding bands have been forged in an ancient method remaining rustic and hold a deep symbolism - relating to Perkūnas and Thor, Gods of Thunder and the blacksmith’s forge. Our wedding band box was intricately handcrafted from natural wood, lined with high quality Norwegian moss and detailed engravings of our clan name, wedding date and a pair of antlers, symbolizing our connection with nature.
Our wedding cake was woodland based depicting a mossy tree trunk with a deer skull…perfectly made by a local Orkney cake-maker exactly to our vision! We were fortunate to have another cake for our wedding occasion kindly gifted to us by our family, showing great pride in the Lithuanian flag!
The feast with drinking and dancing came afterwards! Scotch Whisky and Lithuanian Mead, Beer and plenty more! Homemade and foraged decorations at the dinner, horn cups and rustic Lithuanian and Scottish food. Delicious fish and meat selections, followed by warm scran for some hearty warmth including Highland Chicken! Traditional Lithuanian mišrainės (cold salads / mixtures), mesos (meats) and saldumynai (sweet food).
Clan Haig - “Tyde What May”.
Eternally… Urtė Aleksandra Haig and Chloe Kathryn Haig
Celebrants (Pagan Legal Wedding) - Scottish Pagan Federation - Spiritual Orkney - Celebrancy Services (Helen & Mark Woodsford-Dean)
Dressmaker - Beautifully Handmade Baltic Raw Linen Viking Dress by LinoMuza (Made In Lithuania)
Ancient Traditional Lithuanian Hand-Woven Band (Juosta)
Matching Handmade Baltic Raw Linen Shirt by LinoMuza (Made In Lithuania)
Kiltmaker - Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers (Highland Granite Tartan)
Handfasting Cords - Helen Woodsford-Dean (Spiritual Orkney)
[Incorporating symbols that are full of metaphor from Ancient Baltic, Celtic and Norse beliefs. Baltic amber from Germanic sea shores hangs from each end of our cords. The charms are beautifully incorporated depicting the Celtic double infinity symbol alongside the Norse tree of life (Yggdrasil), the green man representing Cernunnos (God of the Green Woods), a crescent moon to represent the Goddess of the Full Moon (Cerridwen) and a pair of double spirals occurring in prehistory across Europe]
Professional Photography - Mark Woodsford-Dean (Spiritual Orkney)
www.spiritualorkney.co.uk/photography
Venue - Standing Stones Hotel (Orkney)
Cake Maker - Nesting Box Bakes (Orkney)
DISCLAIMER: All music belongs to the rightful owners.
The credit is theirs alone. We do not own any of the music. Absolutely no copyright infringement intended.
“Sail to Victory” (Feat. @Aria-Siren ) Viking Sea Shanty
Music composed by Paul Daniel (Pawl.D Beats)
“Dolijuta” by Gyvata (Album: Broliai Karelin Jojo Ad Gloriam)
"Rumblin'" Trey VanZandt ( www.youtube.com/c/treyvanzandt) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
“Varangian” by Ivan Duch
“Magic Tavern” by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords)
“The Highland Warriors” by Paul Daniel (Pawl.D Beats)