Tying the Knot beneath the Linden Tree at Ocean Edge

Spring Stirrings 

This Cape Cod Wedding Officiant is feeling the stirrings of spring. The dawn chorus has begun in the woods around our house. Tiny shoots are peaking up through the softening earth and white snow drops have blossomed.

During our last snow storm, I met with a couple who will say, 'I do' beneath the Linden Tree on the lawn at Ocean Edge. The bride and I  looked up the meaning of the Linden tree and here's a bit of what we found.

Linden is part of the birch family.......

Scandinavian couples would celebrate May Day by making love in a Birch forest. Birch forests were sacred to Frigga, Goddess of fertility and love. The legendary Celtic lovers Diarmid and Grainne slept in Birch branch huts as they fled their pursuers.

 So as the snow fell and the the fire crackled in the hearth,we imagined a summer wedding ceremony beneath the tree.

Linden is the spirit that can reveal the sweet honey....... In the spring, bees are drawn to the linden nectar, and the honey differs from the honey of other flowers. It is lighter. The linden tree spirit reiminds us of the dreams we have tucked away to the back of our hearts and it awakens the inner desire and strength to follow them.

                                                 Bruce and Tricia burst with sweet glee beneath the Linden tree.

Ceremonies past and future

A blissful couple on the lawn of Highfield Hall in Falmouth .

While cleaning and sorting e-mails I retrieved an e-amil from Liz who is getting married August 18th at Highfield Hall in Falmouth. She sent me this link to the article that appeared in Bride guide magazine.

http://www.bridalguide.com/real-weddings/beach-wedding-inspiration

Mike and Liz's wedding was uniquely wonderful in many ways. (See past blog) It was a fusion of his Jewish culture and her Anglican background . They were both Canadian so signing a marriage certificate was part of the wedding and she had a very definate and exquisite sense of style being in the world of fashion herself.

Now another Liz is getting married but this one to Darren and this will be the first wedding I have ever done at Highfield Hall   They will exchange vows outside by the newly created Zen Garden , a perfect setting for Wendell Berry's Country of Marriage themed wedding.

The Country of Marriage

….our life reminds me

Of a forest in which there is a graceful clearing

And in that opening a house

An orchard and garden

Comfortable shades and flowers

  Darren and Liz have turned me on to the wonderful song, The Luckiest,

 which really is so charming and so them!

Enough for now, The Celtics are ready to play. you have got to love Garnett and his knuckled push-ups!

Update on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 7:34PM by Soulful Wedding Ceremonies

A blissful couple in front of Highfield Hall