With Lisa Hunter, Colorado Wedding Officiant - at Wild Basin Lodge in Allenspark

The Soul Of Robin & Chris’ Wedding Ceremony:

The Power Of Dynamic Opposites

Chris and Robin once took a personality test that categorized them, respectively, as The Pirate… and The Schoolteacher. It also described them as a “rare romantic pair”.

Theirs is a synergy of opposites, but when opposites tend to attract and then explode or eventually repel, Robin and Chris deepen instead. Turns out that their very different and strong personalities also happen to share strengths that each values and respects. Even more beautifully, they put these strengths to good use, together creating a richly meaningful and fulfilling life.

During their wedding passage journey, these two focused on creating a ceremony steeped in meaning and that truly felt like a passage. We used ritual to symbolize, on the physical level, the significance of their marriage commitment.

We also told the story of their Pirate-Schoolteacher differences (those aren’t their real jobs by the way lol ;) and fashioned the rituals to express the strengths that activate their synergy to create whatever they put their minds and hearts to.

Come along on our photo story to see the ceremony elements that we chose…

Meet The Couple

These two incorporated so many items of significance on their day, including rings designed with very specific intentions, a hand fasting cloth handmade by Robin’s mom, tea ceremony items with herbs chosen for particular strengths and bourbon cordials that they made themselves!

Ceremony Preparation

Robin & Chris’ ceremony process had so much meaningful intention, like this flower circle.

In the art of ceremony, a circle can represent sacred space when it is created with that in mind and heart. Create the circle and when you step over its threshold, you are held by the energy of its intention. In this case - marriage, union, love.

As they arrived, guests were invited to place greens and flowers to make the circle. Created by Robin and Chris’ community, the circle had even more meaning - being held by dear loved ones.

The Thoughtful Setting

Wild Basin is on North St. Vrain Creek - a wild mountain river that is everything Colorado rockies. The lodge is the quintessential cozy log cabin with a modern feel and a fire glowing in the fireplace on cold days.

Robin and Chris chose this spot because of their love for the mountains and the considerable time that they spend in nature.

It was also no accident that they chose the Summer Solstice as their date - the longest day of the year and a time to spiritually recognize all that has been accomplished in the recent months of growing light.

A moose even visited on Robin & Chris’ day! You could say the moose was part of the pre-processional ;)

Let’s Get It Started

For the processional itself, Robin walked the aisle with her mom, preceded by the wedding party. Chris and I walked in from the side to get things going.

Ceremony Highlights

Robin and Chris chose readings that fit who they are as a couple and the values that they prioritize in relationship. The first was an excerpt of writing from astrophysicist Carl Sagan and was read by a friend of the family.

It was the perfect combo of science and the intangible something that connects us together. This spoke to Chris’ scientific mind and to Robin’s spiritual perspective on life.

I got to share about Robin and Chris’ Pirate-Schoolteacher dynamic in a story that started with their first meeting. The story recognized their differences while also revealing where those differences actually become synergistic similarities when the combo is right.

In this case, the combo was very right. Sparks were flying on that first date!

The next sequence was super cool - the tea ceremony.

Robin and Chris brought herbs with specific qualities, like lavender for devotion, ginger for passion, sage for wisdom, chamomile for comfort and patience. They poured the water into the pot and added the herbs, then lit the candle to brew the tea and to also acknowledge the warmth and love that their collective ancestors and family history bring to their relationship.

As the tea steeped, a friend of Robin’s gave a live acoustic performance of “Asleep At Last” by the Wailin’ Jenny’s. Beautiful.

While she sang, I fasted Robin and Chris’ hands together with the cloth that Robin’s mom made. It was a powerful moment to see these two connected not only in mind and heart, but symbolically and physically.

After the song and with the comfort of their hands fasted together, Robin and Chris made vows to one another by repeating after me.

Then - time to drink the tea. But not without a shot of bourbon added too! Not only that, it was a bourbon cordial made by Robin and Chris. Each guest had a cordial of their own placed on their seat. We toasted Robin and Chris’ vows with bourbon while they drank their tea…

A unique and striking poem about the practicality of relationship maintenance (it even mentions WD-40) was read by Robin’s uncle as a blessing on their ring exchange.

A blessing, the pronouncement, the kiss, then these two stepped across the circle threshold…

Married!

Congratulations, Robin & Chris!

May the two of you continue to make two full lives even fuller with your dynamic connection. May you build a home and family full of love. May you remain devoted to each other in your day to day activities, continuing to serve one another through the events and challenges of life. May you respect, trust, mold and shape one another into the best versions of yourselves as you grow and thrive in the years to come. So much love, Lisa