The ritual used for the wedding was mostly written by Robb, and Patty's parts were written by her.  Many thanks to Patty for writing the vows and the editing and suggestions.  

Purification – Olivia/Alex

Before the start of the ceremony, purification of the space/folk by walking the outside of the space and sprinkle water followed by spraying vanilla.

Opening Meditation - Gretchen

As we gather together, let us ground ourselves in the earth, and seek our centers.

Close your eyes and open your spirits.

Draw your focus inward. Breathe slowly and deeply. Turn aside all distractions.

Be aware of your body, of your breath, of your heart beating in your chest.

With each breath, relax your body. Make yourself comfortable. Move and adjust your body as needed to feel balanced and at ease. Release the tension in your head, your neck. Relax your shoulders, your arms. Let your stomach soften and relax. Adjust your position until your spine feels comfortably aligned. Release the tension in your hips, relax your legs, your feet. Feel any aches and pains fade away. Be at ease.

Be aware of your spirit, your inner self.

Observe your thoughts, your feelings. Let them wash over you, through you. Let them settle as you continue to breathe slowly and deeply. With each breath, set aside the many worries and cares that fill your mind. Focus on the calm and peace of this moment. Feel safe and protected.

Be aware of the earth beneath you.

Feel yourself anchored firmly to the earth, to the planet that supports you, in body and spirit. Focus on your connection to the earth. Feel the tug of gravity, drawing you close, binding you to the earth. Be aware of the substance of the planet – the soil and water and air that comprise our world. Be aware of these elements within yourself: the earth that makes up your flesh, the water that flows in your blood, the breath that fills your lungs. Feel the magic of that connection – the power that links you to the larger whole.

Be aware of the spirits around you. Feel your connection to the other beings that support you, in body and spirit.

Be aware of the web of life that surrounds you: the beings that inhabit this world with you. Feel your connection to the plants and animals and others that you depend on for life – for food, for shelter, for the very air you breathe. They are a part of you. You are a part of them. Feel the magic of that connection – the power that intertwines your life with the greater web of all life.

Be aware of your ancestors, of their role in shaping who you are. Feel their presence in your life – their history and teachings living on in your memory, their legacy moving forward through your words and deeds. They are a part of you. You are a part of them. Feel the magic of that connection – the power that connects you to the past, to your own history and the history of all humanity.

Be aware of the deities, of their role in the shaping of the world and civilization. Feel their presence in your life – their guidance and support and power. They call to you and invite you to learn from them. They gain power from your love, and in turn, they grant you the power to shape the world through your words and deeds. They are a part of you, and you are a part of them. Feel the magic of that connection – the power to create something new and wonderful.

Be aware of the others gathered here in spirit if not in flesh. Feel their presence in this sacred space. They are here in common purpose with you, to celebrate and strengthen the union of this couple.

As we gather in common purpose, let us do so with full awareness of the connections we share and the power it grants us.

As you breathe, deeply and slowly, focus once again on this place, this moment, where we come together in celebration, and when you are ready, open your eyes.

Patty:

Now that we are physically prepared, it is our tradition to make a series of offerings to call on the beings that we hold dear. First, we call upon the Earth Mother.

Honoring the Earth Mother - Tamara

As we gather here in this place, we honor the Earth we stand upon. We call to the Earth Mother who surrounds and supports us. We call to the Earth Mother who feeds and nourishes us. We call to the Earth Mother who shelters us and gives us a home to live in.

We honor you. We love you. We respect you.

We all work to make you healthy.

We now give to you these offerings in a token of our appreciation and call to you and ask you to be here with us, and support and uphold this union of this couple.

Earth Mother, accept our offerings!

Statement of Purpose – Patty

Here, in the presence of all the beings that have gathered to witness us, we come together to join Robb and Michael in the state of matrimony. Let us honor their love for one another, their commitment to one another, and their bringing together themselves and their families. Marriages are based on love, but also on mutual respect, humor, work, and wisdom. May they know one another well, and may that knowledge continue to deepen as they move forward with their lives together.

Recreate the Sacred Center – Jim

Now we recreate and affirm our sacred center, and connect our hallows to the greater world.

We first have the well, our connection to the underworlds and the ancestors. We offer this silver to the well to connect it to all the other wells in the world. As we offer this silver, our well becomes the well.

We then have the fire in the form of our candle. The fire transforms our offerings, sending them to the upperworlds and the deities. We offer this essential oil to the fire to connect it to all the other fires in the world. As we offer this oil, our fire becomes the fire.

Finally we have the tree. This is our way between all the worlds. We connect this tree to the well with the waters of the well. We connect this tree to the fire with the smoke of the fire. As we make these offerings, our tree becomes our path.

We now call to the beings that we worship throughout the year.

Call to the Ancestors - Amanda/Kristen

Ancestors! We call on all those who have come before us. We call to our relatives, those that have passed throughout the years. We call to our chosen family, the mentors and heroes who walked the path before us. We call to all those whose bones rest within the earth beneath us, those who dwelled upon this land long before us. We call to all of you and ask that you join us by our fire. 

Ancestors, accept our offerings!

Call to the Land Spirits - Melissa

Land Spirits! We call to all the spirits of the land around us. We call to all the animals that surround us each and every day. We call to all the plants that grow around us each and every day. We call to all the unseen spirits that live among us each and every day. We call to all of you and ask that you join us by our fire. 

Land Spirits, accept our offerings.

Call to the Deities - Otter

Deities! We call to all the gods and goddesses who watch over us and guide us in our daily lives. We call to our matrons and patrons, the deities we work with on a personal level. We call to the deities of this place, you who we work with while in this place. We call to the unknown deities that watch over us who we seek to discover. We call to all of you and ask that you join us by our fire. 

Deities, accept our offerings!

Patty:

At this point, we invite Michael and Robb to call upon any beings they want to witness this union.

Robb:

Calls Loki and Odin

Michael:

No beings called

Patty – Call to Ancestors:

In the heathen world, our ancestors are as important to us as our living relatives. When we honor the beneficial ancestors, we speak of their memories, and that is what keeps them alive in our hearts. At a wedding, it is important to speak directly to the ancestors of the couple’s families, for it is at an event such as this that the two family lines intermingle and become one. May the beloved ancestors of Robb and Michael, those who are so distant they are echoes, and those who are so near that we once knew them, share their wisdom with Robb and Michael as they move forward in their lives together.

Discussion of Oaths – Patty

In the older times as now, oaths were made for a variety of reasons. Some were contracts, some were treaties, and some were to complete various tasks. An oath goes beyond what is said between two people - it binds them together so that their wyrds are interwoven. An oath of marriage connects the couple, and also forges relationships within their families, friends, and chosen kin. An oath witnessed in a public way is witnessed not just by those of us gathered here today, but is also witnessed by the spirits of place, the ancestors, and the deities themselves. An oath is more than a promise, it is a sacred coming together that forms a weave much like a tapestry in life, and as a tapestry it forms a pattern that can be seen by all who care to look for it.

May I have the rings? (Otter and Melissa give Patty the rings)

Traditionally, oaths were sworn on a ring that the chieftain would wear upon his arm as a visible reminder of what had been said. In the modern era, for marriages we wear rings on our fingers as an echo of that practice - a visible, physical reminder of the oath, once made. May these rings carry the joy and the weight of the oaths said today. 

Exchanging of the rings

Robb, please place this ring on Michael’s finger and repeat after me:

Michael, it is with joy that I take you as my husband. I promise to love you, and to honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will respect you, even when we disagree. I will hold you in the depths of night, and I will celebrate you in the day. With this ring, I thee wed.

Michael, please place this ring on Robb’s finger and repeat after me:

Robb, it is with joy that I take you as my husband. I promise to love you, and to honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will respect you, even when we disagree. I will hold you in the depths of night, and I will celebrate you in the day. With this ring, I thee wed.

Patty will then bind us with the cord.

Patty: 

May this cord bind you to your oaths today.

By the powers vested in me as a Feyjasgythja and The Troth, I now pronounce you married. Please seal your union with a kiss.

Blessing of the Waters - Patty

We have made our offerings to all of the spirits. The couple has called to those who they honor. We now call on all who we have honored to bless the waters. Fill them with the powers of their blessings in return for our offerings. 

Beings all, give us the waters!

Behold the blessed waters!

These waters will be offered to Michael and Robb to partake in now. For those that wish to partake of them, the waters will be at their table and you may do so there.

Now with the work of the ritual over, we must thank all that we have called in.

Robb thanks his beings.

Thanking the Deities - Otter

Deities! We have made offerings to you and you have returned the favor. We ask that you watch over and support this couple on the next step of their journey.

For all you have done for us, Deities, we thank you.

Thanking the Land Spirits - Melissa

Land Spirits! We have made offerings to you and you have returned the favor. We ask that you watch over and support this couple on the next step of their journey.

For all you have done for us, Land Spirits, we thank you.

Thanking the Ancestors - Amanda/Kristen

Ancestors! We have made offerings to you and you have returned the favor. We ask that you watch over and support this couple on the next step of their journey.

For all you have done for us, Ancestors, we thank you.

Thanking the Earth Mother -Tamara

Earth Mother! We have given to you, and we have honored you. You are the reason we are able to live in this world. 

For all that you have done for us both today and throughout our days, Earth Mother, we thank you.

Closing Meditation: - Gretchen

As we conclude our ritual, let us once again seek our centers and ground ourselves.

With spirits open, close your eyes.

Breathe slowly and deeply. Draw your focus inward.

Feel the threads that connect you to the others gathered here today – threads of common purpose and celebration, of fellowship and mutual caring.

Feel the threads that connect you to the deities – threads of power and faith, of wisdom and trust.

Feel the threads that connect you to the ancestors – threads of lineage and history, of lore and memory.

Feel the threads that connect you to the spirits of the land – threads of life and sustenance, of beauty and wonder.

Feel the threads that connect you to the earth – threads of life and sustenance, lineage and history, power and faith, love and existence itself.

As you feel these connections, know them to be ever present. But for now, relax your focus on these bindings. Let your awareness of them soften, but never fade as you go about your daily lives. 

As you breathe, deeply and slowly, focus once again on this place, this moment, as we prepare to go forth into the world, and when you are ready, open your eyes.

Patty:

And so, this rite is finished, and I am pleased to pronounce Michael and Robb as a married couple.