Going Medieval
No, not the slang term for behaving violently. Well, ok, there was some of that going medieval, too. But that wasn't the point. The point was to get married. The bride wore a dress made from 270 feet of silk and arrived riding - side saddle, thank you - on a white horse. The groom clanked up wearing full plate armor.
The scene was the wedding of Sian Jenkins and Rupert Hammerton - Fraser, who are so fascinated by the Middle Ages that they recreated a medieval ceremony down to the minutest detail - the bride even promised to be Âbonny and buxom in bedÂ, a vow from a 14th century service.
The £30,000 event at Lulworth Castle in Dorset ended with a banquet where guests many in home-made costumes were served medieval delicacies. The following day there was jousting, sword-fighting and even a full-scale battle re-enactment.
Mr Hammerton-Fraser, 40, went out with his squire and ring bearer and fought challengers with swords, a practice common in the 14th century.
His 26-year-old wife said: "Our families were a bit surprised when we told them what we wanted but they got involved and even made their own costumes for the day."
Her husband, a lecturer in traditional print making, said the wedding took two years to plan and research and was around Â99 per cent historically accurate.
"My male friends and I drank beer and polished our armour before we went to the castle," he said. "I arrived with a guard of three armoured men and my best men, squire and chief usher.
"My bride then rode up on a white horse and was escorted by her oldest male friend, maid of honour, three armoured knights and three bridesmaids."
One wonders if the wedding night involved a can opener to retrieve the wedding knight. Inquiring minds want to know.
Weird Stuff, World news | Gaius Wednesday, 12 September , 2007
By Sylvia, Thursday, 13 September , 2007 @ 8:00 am
Very shiny armor! Looks like a lot of fun. Bet they used sewing machines, though…
By Rebecca H, Thursday, 13 September , 2007 @ 11:14 am
I bet they didn’t give up their Fruit-of-the-Looms either. I’ve heard that armor can chafe something fierce!
By Chris, Thursday, 13 September , 2007 @ 2:41 pm
I wonder if they followed the Medieval tradition of bedding, where the drunken guests escorted the bride and groom to the bed chamber, and then witnessed the consummation of the marriage.
By Gaius, Thursday, 13 September , 2007 @ 2:58 pm
Probably a little too much historical accuracy…..