Calendar - Hobbies - Wishlist - Contact - Privacy - Alien Apartments - Comics - Speeches - Jewelry


Erika Hammerschmidt


Animals - Art - Poetry - Essays - Travel - Home - About - Books - Blog - Search



Section Break



Marriage



Section Break



picture of engagement ring


My love life is much more complicated now. But there was a time, long ago, when I thought I was starting a plain old monogamous heterosexual marriage.


Silly me. Should've known my spouse was actually a pansexual trans lady and we'd end up in a wondrous, ever-changing polycule.


But even back then, we already knew we were both weirdos.


The wedding took place at 6 pm on September 3rd, 2005, on the 27th floor balcony of the Marriot hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, during a huge science-fiction/fantasy/anime convention called DragonCon. The vows were completely ad-libbed. There was no officiator; the bride claimed she had the authority to perform a marriage since she was the captain of a kayak.


The guests included fans dressed as Kirk and Spock from "Star Trek," Jasmine from Disney's "Aladdin," and a self-described "Jedi pimp." One partner was dressed as a samurai; the other wore a costume that resembled a Star Wars Twi'lek with snake-patterned skin. (She had been talked out of wearing it to the prom, and ever since then she had been determined to get married in it.)


picture


picture



Section Break



Okay, that was actually the second ceremony, a little something we did on our honeymoon. If you ask my family, the real wedding was on August 20th, at my grandma's cabin on Lake Minnetonka. Here are some pics of that, too.


picture


My partner's father, a Lutheran pastor, officiated.


We had felt "married" ever since our engagement-- it felt as if the wedding was just a silly formality, so instead of taking traditional marriage vows, we just renewed the vows we had taken when we had gotten engaged. This was highly amusing, because when she had proposed, she had planned a long speech and then forgot it, and I had replied very enthusiastically. So our vows went like this:



"You have caused me to see beauty in every aspect of my life... Um, I forgot the rest... will you marry me?"


"Darn right I will!"


picture


Two friends and my partner's sister formed her side of the wedding party.


picture


The bridesmaids were two more friends and a cousin of mine. The flower girls were two younger cousins.


picture


The cake was a traditional Norwegian "Kransekake"-- very delicious.


picture


The catering was Thai.


picture


The ringbearer was a picture of our parrot Rain Man; he wouldn't have appreciated being there in person.


picture


I wore a green dress from Brides of France, and pearl jewelry.


picture


My uncle parked his car on the lawn, and another uncle played a prank with a bow made of paper towels and a sticky note reading "Congratulations! Have Fun and Happy Travels!" We actually thought for a moment that someone was giving us a car.



Section Break



Erika Hammerschmidt



Section Break



Home


About


Books


Blog


Search This Site



Section Break



Alien Apartments


Comics


Speeches


Jewelry



Section Break



Animals


Art


Essays


Poetry


Travel



Section Break



Calendar


Hobbies


Wish List


Contact


Privacy



Section Break