Ahoy my friends;
In just a little over a month my wife and I will be celebrating are 20th year wedding anniversary. Though we didn't meet at a ren faire it just got me wondering has anyone ever met their spouse at a ren faire? I just thought that this would be a nice light hearted topic. Enjoy. :D
I met my first wife at TRF in 1980. We had 3 beautiful kids while we were together. Though the marriage didn't last, I do have some very great memories of those early years of being together at faire.
We did!!! That being Capt. Bacardi and myself!! :-*
We met at MNRF about 4-5 years ago.. When we met both of us were involved with other people and it was just a friendly introduction.. Not to mention that he was still living in another state at the time.. :P
A year or two later, we met again while he was hanging at my pub, staying out of the downpour of rain.. This time both of us were unattached (or soon to be in my case... *the big D*), and he was living in MN, but again, it was just a friendly meeting.. This was in 2007. About 6 months after the run of faire was over he invited me out to happy hour to cheer me up, and get me out of the house, ha! and well, the rest is history! ;)
In April of 2009 my wonderful Capt. set up a beautiful candlelight dinner for me while we were vacationing in Jamaica *my most favoritist place in the world* and proposed! We were married in Jamaica the following April! ;D :-* Making me the luckiest girl in the world!!
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg209/Muffinhny/Kiss1.jpg)
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg209/Muffinhny/l_debc988daa27042f600605c85b5ce0d8.jpg)
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg209/Muffinhny/IMG_2842.jpg)
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg209/Muffinhny/Wedding1.jpg)
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg209/Muffinhny/sunset.jpg)
*Wedding photos taken by our very own DeadBishop!* :-*
Ya, I think that does it! Topic closed, no one can compete.... ;D
muffin i adore the sunset photo it's beautiful
Thank you!! :-*
It does all sound rather like a fairytale, and well... It really is!!! We just celebrated our 1st anniversary in Jamaica this past April! Time just seems to be flying by!!
We just bought our first house in May, and we are both just so deliriously happy it makes us a little hard to stand.. ha! ;)
My sweet David and I first met briefly at DMRF in 2006, but since he was escorting another lady I did not pursue anything beyond an introduction. He was with a Living History encampment, and it turns out the lady in question was one of his co-players and he was not involved with her.
About 2 months later, we met again at a little tent fair (now defunct) in Iowa, where he was once again with his Celtic history encampment and I was playing pirate. We found we had both been divorced for 4-5 years after long marriages and we both have grown kids. We exchanged emails, then phone#s, then started a long distance courtship (thank gawd for Verizon in-network calling, we used 7-9K minutes every month on the cells).
After 6 months of commuting nearly every weekend to spend time together, David proposed under the Clock tower at UNO with a gold and diamond Claddagh ring. We were married 8 months later in 2007 in a Renaissance wedding, complete with Haggis and a whole suckling pig. Our 4th anniversary is this August.
Thought my husband and I did not meet at faire, faire is something that is very near and dear for us.
Before I met my husband, I had never been to TRF. I had always wanted to go. Even when I was dating other guys, they never wanted to go to TRF and since it was about an hour and a half away from where I lived, I knew I would probably never go.
Before my husband met me, he had been attending TRF since he was about 6 or 7 years old. He loved going each year (and continues to do so!)
About 6 months into our relationship, during a casual conversation, I mentioned I had never been to TRF or any other faire for that matter. Not only was he shocked, but he was looking forward to taking me for the first time in October!
That was back in 2004 and we have been going to faires together ever since. It was so good to finally meet someone who loved faires as much and I did-even though I had never been before I met my husband, I knew it was something I was definitely going to enjoy and want to experience more! Since we have been married in 2009, we have gone to so many other faires in Texas and enjoyed each one of them!
I couldn't have picked a better person to enjoy faires with! :)
Two of the most significant relationships of my life have had roots in Faire.
In the first, it culminated the first legal handfasting in the US in 1977.
In the second, we spent much of our lives somehow having our paths not quite
meet, even though we know now they crossed many times and then we met
through this site, which holds a special place in my heart because of that.
Always with heart and sole.
I didn't meet my wife at faire, but I did propose to her there:)
(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/221642_1024968379582_1086445855_30083010_1911_n.jpg)
I even wrote her a sweet little poem that I read to her on the Kissing Bridge.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8214924302687713504 (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8214924302687713504)
Our third anniversary is coming up in November :)
You know, my husband wrote me a poem to propose! He wrote it in a card, all but the last line, "Will you marry me", which he said just as I finished reading the card (he said I had to read it out loud). ;D
I love all these stories, and hope to read more!!!
I was out at TRF with a new group of friends (I had the pleasure of meeting the awesome members of the Green Flame earlier in the season.) While we were walking around, one (Scout) received a phone call from a friend he had not seen in years. Turns out his friend was out at faire, and knew Scout would be as well. I remember Scout asking what he was wearing (so he could recognize him) and made a comment about he sounded like Peter Pan... We met up with Colts friend, who I thought was nice, but for reasons we wont get into (youll have to ask the Loki Dragons) I couldnt stand him after that evening. He ended up joining us the next weekend for Thanksgiving. Scout *warned* me early in the day that his friend had the intentions of asking me out. Well, I didnt really like the idea of that, due to the events of the previous weekend, but as the day went on, I found myself feeling a bit dissapointed that he hadnt asked. Thankfully he and I were the sober ones that evening and had a great conversation, in which he finally asked. We went on our first date the following weekend. A year later, he proposed to me in the enchanted gardens, and we had our Celtic based wedding two years ago this past Monday. :)
(and yes, we were really *Tink* and *Pan* before we were *Tink & Pan* LOL)
Aw, Tink! That's so sweet! Yay love! ;D
Aww these renn romance stories are so sweet, and those are nice wedding pictures, Muffin. :)
We did not meet at faire either but it's very important to us. I had attended faire for several years before meeting my hubby. After we were engaged and began discussing wedding plans, I told him I'd love a faire wedding and he agreed, even though he had never been!! His first time at faire was our wedding day. We love TRF and it will always be very special to us. We've done our best to attend every year for going on 17 years now! (with the exception of a few years in Hawaii, that's just too long of a commute! ;) ;D)
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.
(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/14341_102355429787937_100000404403619_57080_6129500_n.jpg)
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.
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!
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!
What a sweet story, scarletnyx!
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?"
(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/215446_5874947369_554032369_182276_3729_n.jpg)
(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.
(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/283480_10150267320252370_554032369_7411499_2033632_n.jpg)
Quote from: maeven on August 05, 2011, 09:17:15 AM
What a sweet story, scarletnyx!
Quote from: Delireus on August 05, 2011, 03:29:01 AM
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.
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!
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.
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on August 05, 2011, 04:39:42 PM
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!
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on August 05, 2011, 04:39:42 PM
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.
Quote from: Rapier Half-Wit on August 05, 2011, 04:48:06 PM
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?
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on August 05, 2011, 04:39:42 PM
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.
Quote from: Merlin the Elder on August 05, 2011, 04:57:47 PM
Quote from: Rapier Half-Wit on August 05, 2011, 04:48:06 PM
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.
Gawd! I've never been described as "adorable" before... is that good? ;)
Well, as it's coming from Elo, yeah, I'd have to say that it is a good thing. If it came from Nasty, no, that wouldn't be such a good thing. ;D :D
I'll keep that in mind, Rapier... Nasty, don't let the earring fool ya. ;)
I had a former friend that found his main squeeze at faire.
Of course, he dumped his wife in the process.
And he wonders why someone kicked dirt at him at faire. No, it wasn't me....
I can honestly say I did NOT meet my wife at Faire, however I have completely indoctrinated her in it. She looks forward to the food, the shows, the humor, and all of it each and every fall. And it is VERY romantic to us both!
I must say I envy those of you who have significant others who have embraced fair. Even more so for those of you who have found someone AT fair. I also wish you well, and many more years together all of you. Maybe some day I can join that "club".
My husband and I met online, but Faire was involved! I put together a profile, including pictures of me in garb (since faire is so important to me, I wanted my future man to know what he was getting in to...), and he thought it looked creative and intriguing...
I started making him garb, dragged him off to faires, and he stuck around...
He proposed at Casa Loma Renaissance Festival,
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/ShariO/Engagment%20At%20Casa%20Loma%202008/th_sayyes011.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/ShariO/Engagment%20At%20Casa%20Loma%202008/?action=view¤t=sayyes011.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/ShariO/Engagment%20At%20Casa%20Loma%202008/th_sayyes009.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/ShariO/Engagment%20At%20Casa%20Loma%202008/?action=view¤t=sayyes009.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v18/ShariO/Engagment%20At%20Casa%20Loma%202008/th_sayyes014.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v18/ShariO/Engagment%20At%20Casa%20Loma%202008/?action=view¤t=sayyes014.jpg)
With a friend doing crowd control so we could have privacy, a friend taking pictures, and a friend playing on a hostorical guitar. It was very romantic.
We honeymooned at St. Louis Faire, and had a wonderful reception - the queen herself wished us joy, and we were invited to the royal pavilion of the jousting! We continue to participate in as many faires as we can, acting as a couple at our local faires!
Orphena, that is so sweet! You guys look great!