Tying the knot pagan style — at Stonehenge

By [lchurchill]

A NORTHAM couple have tied the knot in front of 36,500 people at the Summer Solstice celebrations in Stonehenge.

Carl, 47 and Gigha Klinkenborg, 46, decided to have a Pagan wedding at the solstice celebrations, which mark the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere.

Record crowds joined in the celebrations this weekend, and also got to see the Northam couple's ancient handfasting ceremony.

The couple had decided they would have a Pagan marriage before leaving for Stonehenge and were delighted when chief Druid, Frank Somers, agreed to carry out the traditional ceremony that gives rise to the phrase tying the knot.

Carl said: "To my amazement and excitement, he agreed readily and performed the ceremony on the spot.

"Photographers and the public quickly gathered round while this moving ceremony played out."

When the couple arrived home they went on the internet to find out how many people had been at the Stonehenge for the solstice — and were amazed to find many photographs of their wedding.

Carl said: "We never expected a quiet wedding with 36,500 guests.

"However the online response has simply blown us away and the fact that others watched at the time and have seen the pictures online is just wonderful.

"It feels great that our love and excitement has spread across the globe."

The couple got engaged just a month after meeting each other just under a year ago.

Carl, who runs Beetlebank, a company that restores classic VW Beetles and Camper Vans and Gigha, an administrator for the Northern Devon Coast and Countryside Service, met via an internet dating site.

Carl said they immediately discovered how much they had in common.

He added: "We realised our paths had almost crossed many times as we had visited many of the same music venues."