Of Ren faires and romance..

[Sitara]

When I first set eyes upon my love, it was at faire. I was a lass of 16 and saw this magnificent man standing on a hill with the sun shining through his flowing red locks. I did not speak to him until I was introduced to him a few years later. Both being in relationships, we became friends and enjoyed that for 5 years. My relationship soured and we split up in the parking lot of fest. As soon as I stepped from my ex's truck and announced that I was now single, George shouted "DIBS" and told me I was now his girlfriend. We have now been together for almost 8 years and his barbarian charm still enthralls me.

[GirlChris]

My boyfriend and I met as performers at the Royal Abbingdon Faire- a faire that only lasted for one season. He played the town thief, I was the farmer's daughter. He was funny, always eager to take part in any bit, and an amazing singer.  We worked REALLY well together in all the shows and street bits we did. I had a tiny little crush on him, but wasn't really in an emotional place where I could handle a relationship so I didn't pursue it.

The faire closed, I didn't see him again for a few years. I continued to perform in local faires, he put together a street act (Crye and Cudgel) with a friend of his and started performing in the states. Then his street act got hired at one of my local faires, where I played a cleaning obsessed Brownie.  I heard him shout my name, run up to me and do a face plant bow at my feet. In character, I shrieked and climbed on top of a picnic table to get out of the way. We then proceeded to have an argument in character- me scolding him for being dirty, him not finding anything wrong with his appearance or smell, much to the delight of the patrons around us.

Improv actor love

We played together all day and danced the night away at the ceilidh in the evening. There followed about six months of what could either be dating or "we're just hanging out, we're just friends" before he finally asked if we were "going out." I said "...yes? If you want to, that is" and was ready to backpedal at any moment if I saw the slightest sign of "just friends." However, he started doing a little victory dance instead, so he seemed fairly happy that I wanted to be going out. Three and a half years later we're still together, still making each other laugh and still having an amazing time.

[scarletnyx]

My husband and I met over the Internet lines, but like many here the Faire really sealed the deal-

I was 20, and had been through some tough times in my life. My father passed away when I was 17 and two weeks away from graduating high school, my mother was an alcoholic, and I really had no direction in my life. I happened upon a -very- nice job  ( Which I miss everyday I assure you! ) that let me support myself and have time off. My long distance relationship was picking up around this time, so with a cornucopia of emotions driving me, I decided to visit Alex, my interest.

We started putting together plans. I lived in NC, and had been as far south as South Carolina, so I knew nothing of Texas. He put together a wonderful little week long vacation package to entertain me - trips to Austin, to see his parents, and to see this weird thing called a " Ren Faire". I did some googling, and it seemed " interesting". Just something else to do on a vacation away from a place that held a good bit of sour memories. So, after my flight and a few days down here, we purchased our tickets at a local HEB and the next day, we were off!

Up to this point I had been pretty... Gloomy? for understandable reasons. All of these events in my life had happened pretty quick, but I rolled with it and tried my best. But I hadn't stopped for myself in quite a while, to do something I enjoyed was almost unheard of at this point, let alone something new. So walking the long walk from parking to the gate at TRF was... a eye opener.  Seeing people in outfits, acting out long forgotten roles from history... The smells of cooking food ( Oh gods the Greek eateries at TRF...), the clash of hammer on steel, and just the all over " Throw away your cares!" attitude hooked me at once. I remember being abit shocked for a few reasons - That I had never heard of this before ( Sheltered, I really need to stop blaming myself... ), that I had a man who would want to go to something like this, and that, well, I loved it here! That day, I threw myself into everything I saw, hungrily eating up all I could find.

On the ride back home, I was physically and emotionally drained. That night was the first night I slept peacefully in quite a while.

Now, my mom is a recovering sober person ( One year!), I am married to that beautiful man who helped heal me from the trauma listed, and so much more. Here's to more beautiful memories for everyone at their own Faires!

[Delireus]

Oh my god, scarletnyx, that was beautiful. TRF was my first faire and I know exactly what you're talking about, in relation to your feelings upon first entering it. Makes me miss it!

All of these stories in this thread are so great, you guys are some real romantics!

[maeven]

What a sweet story, scarletnyx!

[Seleyna Eirian]

I met my partner at the Ohio Renaissance Festival back in 2007. When we met, I had just left my husband at the time, and was just starting to get used to being on my own again. It was also my first time ever wearing garb to faire, even though I had been going for almost ten years at that point! There was this very handsome, and very debonair green pirate-- also known as the Maze Boy from ORen-- who was collecting wives that day. He said he was at 83, 11 of which were men, he wasn't being very picky. The first words that he actually spoke to me were, "M'lady, would you... bear my children?"


(Picture from the FIRST time we met)

Needless to say I laughed, and after hearing his need to get collect faire wives, I said, "Sure, why not? You could be my second husband!" My friend and I laughed and after a few more minutes of talking moved on. I would never forget that pirate's penetrating eyes though. He had been single that season, and I was still married, so nothing was pursued at all, just the chuckle that we got from being a faire wife. The next season I was divorced, following a harrowing year due to the ex. But this season, that pirate had met someone and they'd had a little one, even though it was plain to see he was not happy in his situation with the mother (not the child! He loves that little boy more than life itself, as do I!). So, again, nothing was pursued, but the final day of faire he was giving out favors to his "wives." 1-200. I received #200. He had been searching for me the past two weekends and had been saving it for me! When he found me he said, "I'm giving you 200 because out of my wives, you were the last and the most important, because I'll never marry another after you."

End of season came and went, and it was 2009 when I began working with Journeyman Leather for a season. And I became friends with LadyLissame as well, so I was over visiting her after work, and none other but that green pirate from the Maze strolled through that door after he got off work (he had left the mother a few months prior and was staying with them)! I was pretty shocked, even though I knew he lived there. Lissame and her then-fiancee found out that we were both interested in one another, but figured there was no chance in the world of it happening, and managed to tell the other. I worked Student Day, and got a ride to faire with them, and on the way back, we stopped at Subway where he asked me out to dinner, although he was willing to wait until I came home from Texas, where I was headed in two weeks for TRF.

I was twitterpated with this man, let me tell you. And he kept me sane in that state. When I came home, I made the drive in 17 hours just to be in his arms again.
It's been almost two years now. We're both deliriously happy, and we have our own place, with a dog, a cat, and some snakes. We get the little pirate on a regular basis and we frequent Kentucky's Faire as well as our own. Marriage is a constant talk, and so are babies... But, all I know of when he plans to propose is that there's going to be a stage involved with a lot of people. That's all he'll tell me lol. But yeah, that's my faire love story. And with luck, there's no ending in sight for quite some time.

[scarletnyx]

What a sweet story, scarletnyx!

Oh my god, scarletnyx, that was beautiful. TRF was my first faire and I know exactly what you're talking about, in relation to your feelings upon first entering it. Makes me miss it!

All of these stories in this thread are so great, you guys are some real romantics!

Ddaawww, thanks guys! We're really just a little humble, quiet couple most of the time. Almost no one we know has heard that story, so whenever I can I like to share it just to show how the little things can really make a difference in your life and relationship.

[Delireus]

I just remembered, when I was at the Wichita Spring faire, I'll kick myself forever for missing it, but we were watching a pirate group perform and I looked away to fix my skirt or buy a water or something stupid like that and I heard clapping and 'awws'. I turned around and one of the performers was hugging a woman and she was crying. I was told he had just proposed and I missed it! But I'm sure it was very sweet. There was also an SCA wedding that day at the faire, but it was a bit more private. Still, I was so sad I missed the proposal!

[Merlin the Elder]

Some wonderful stories here... ScarletLynx, I commend your mother for her decision, and I hope for the very best results. I have worked with alcoholics in the past, some have made it out of the pit...some haven't. It's a hard road for any addiction. I send positive energy to strengthen her resolve.

My romance didn't start at faire, but we plan to celebrate it at faire next year. In 2012, it will be 45 years since Nimue and I began our relationship, and it will be 40 years of marriage. We will be celebrating this milestone at Scarby in April.

[scarletnyx]

Some wonderful stories here... ScarletLynx, I commend your mother for her decision, and I hope for the very best results. I have worked with alcoholics in the past, some have made it out of the pit...some haven't. It's a hard road for any addiction. I send positive energy to strengthen her resolve.

My romance didn't start at faire, but we plan to celebrate it at faire next year. In 2012, it will be 45 years since Nimue and I began our relationship, and it will be 40 years of marriage. We will be celebrating this milestone at Scarby in April.

Awww, that's so awesome Merlin! Thank you for the positive energy.. So far, she's done awesome and has really thrown herself into the healing of herself.

I hope you see you and your wife at Scarby this year - Hopefully we will be able to go! Faires, with all of their bustlin' and hustlin', are ( to me ) perfect ways to celebrate such an awesome milestone that very few people get to celebrate in their lifetime. Here's to 45 more!

[Rapier Half-Wit]

Some wonderful stories here... ScarletLynx, I commend your mother for her decision, and I hope for the very best results. I have worked with alcoholics in the past, some have made it out of the pit...some haven't. It's a hard road for any addiction. I send positive energy to strengthen her resolve.

My romance didn't start at faire, but we plan to celebrate it at faire next year. In 2012, it will be 45 years since Nimue and I began our relationship, and it will be 40 years of marriage. We will be celebrating this milestone at Scarby in April.

Congrats sir! That is very admirable to make it so far.

[Merlin the Elder]

Congrats sir! That is very admirable to make it so far.

...never said it was easy...

Thanks, Rapier. Oddly enough, it does seem to get easier with time. I wouldn't even change the bad times, because that might affect the good times...you know what I mean?

[eloquentXI]

Some wonderful stories here... ScarletLynx, I commend your mother for her decision, and I hope for the very best results. I have worked with alcoholics in the past, some have made it out of the pit...some haven't. It's a hard road for any addiction. I send positive energy to strengthen her resolve.

My romance didn't start at faire, but we plan to celebrate it at faire next year. In 2012, it will be 45 years since Nimue and I began our relationship, and it will be 40 years of marriage. We will be celebrating this milestone at Scarby in April.

I've seen you two together, and besides the fact that you are adorable, there is still a magic to it. It's beautiful and very assuring for those of us that have had our moments of doubt when it comes to love and relationships (and I can already hear it now - 'You're young, yadda yadda yadda'. I know, I know, but still). It makes me happy to know that after almost 50 years, people CAN and will continue to make it work.

[Rapier Half-Wit]

Congrats sir! That is very admirable to make it so far.

...never said it was easy...

Thanks, Rapier. Oddly enough, it does seem to get easier with time. I wouldn't even change the bad times, because that might affect the good times...you know what I mean?

I absolutly do know what you mean.

[Merlin the Elder]

Gawd! I've never been described as "adorable" before... is that good?