Firen Weddings
Similar to Firen dances, their weddings have an odd veil of secrecy over them. Rumours spread constantly about what "really" happens at Firen weddings that the Fires are so determined to not have the other Elementals know, but most of these are based off stereotypes rather than any evidence. When it all comes down to it, Firen weddings are private affairs and not because of any horrendous acts being committed during them.
Weddings for Fires completely lack any involvement with the law. The difference between those that are wed and those that are not is just what you call the person you are married too. In this manner, these weddings are more of a celebratory party, meant to gather with family and friends to celebrate love. There is no contract, nor any tax benefits. If those that are wedded decide to "divorce" it is in their own hands to decide on what belongs to each other just as any other relationship would have it. The only exception to this rule is for children, which is handled by Firen courts regardless of marriage "status". Also, unlike other Elementals, the Fires give no priority to the distribution of fertility treatments based on whether someone is married.
Despite lacking the benefits that other Elementals gain when they are married in their own nations, the majority of Fires do celebrate a wedding in their life at some point. Whether that be because they fall in love and want to celebrate with their family, or because they thought it would be hilarious to actually marry their best friend, brings little judgment in Firen society. Perhaps it is the freedom itself that draws so many to actually plan out a wedding. Fires do not limit the number of spouses one can be married to at a wedding, and there's no limit on how many weddings one is allowed to have in their life.
Weddings mostly do not involve a large amount of people that those getting married do not know. Unless one is a Royal, most of the people at a party will be people related or friends to the people getting married. There is no obligation to invite anyone who the people being married do not wish to have. As such, many Firen weddings can take place in the backyard of a house if they are small enough, but more often require renting out a restaurant for the wedding night. The wedding set up itself is not that complicated. Generally, a red carpet is run partway along the room, with a circular carpet placed in the middle. Lit candles are place along the edges of the carpet. If the wedding occurs with benches, the candles are placed beside each bench. If it occurs where there are tables, then they are place in the middle of each one. Firen weddings are filled with candles, and open flames.
During the actual wedding part, the nearlyweds proceed down either side of the long carpet. Given that the minimum amount of participants in the wedding is two, at least two of the participants will walk down the carpet to meet in the middle. Each participant picks a person of honour, who walks with them side by side as they go to the middle. This is commonly the person's best friend, but occasionally people choose their parents or siblings to be the person of honour. Once all the nearlyweds are in the middle together, each gives a small word about their love for the others. After this is finished, the ones being wedded kiss. And they stay kissing until after the people of honour finish their speeches. The content of these speeches varies wildly by the person saying it. Some may speak of their happiness at seeing their friend married, whereas others may write up a speech that takes a whole five minutes to read that it filled with euphemisms. Others still prefer to have a moment to roast their best friend when they can do nothing but kiss their lovers. For most, this is one of the most amusing parts of the ceremony. It is a common sentiment to select your person of honour carefully.
After this cheeky tradition is complete, the newlyweds un sheath their daggers, and place them over their hearts and say a final loving word to each other, before holding them out in front of them so that the points meet, saying that they will always fight on the same side in battle, and putting the dagger back in its sheath on their arms. This concludes the end of the ceremony part of the wedding.
From here, the wedding party goes a sits down at their table. If the group of newlyweds contains at least two Fires, then they will stay up in the circle and preform a dance together, celebrating their love. If there isn't two Fires, then either the wedding party will dance instead, or the Firen parents will. After this, everyone sits to eat a meal together. This almost always falls into chaos as people talk, laugh, and end up fighting and knocking things over.
Finally, the newlyweds will all be given a fruit from the Silva Cactus to eat. As the vast majority of Fires will have had, or at least encountered, the juice of the Silva fruit before, newlyweds are often prepared for what this fruit symbolizes. However, as most have not had the fruit itself before, they aren't usually prepared for the significantly more potent aphrodisiac properties that the whole fruit has. A final send off for the newlyweds, before they are all left alone together as the party ends. Complete with plenty of winks from their elders as they leave them to 'celebrate'.
Weddings for Fires completely lack any involvement with the law. The difference between those that are wed and those that are not is just what you call the person you are married too. In this manner, these weddings are more of a celebratory party, meant to gather with family and friends to celebrate love. There is no contract, nor any tax benefits. If those that are wedded decide to "divorce" it is in their own hands to decide on what belongs to each other just as any other relationship would have it. The only exception to this rule is for children, which is handled by Firen courts regardless of marriage "status". Also, unlike other Elementals, the Fires give no priority to the distribution of fertility treatments based on whether someone is married.
Despite lacking the benefits that other Elementals gain when they are married in their own nations, the majority of Fires do celebrate a wedding in their life at some point. Whether that be because they fall in love and want to celebrate with their family, or because they thought it would be hilarious to actually marry their best friend, brings little judgment in Firen society. Perhaps it is the freedom itself that draws so many to actually plan out a wedding. Fires do not limit the number of spouses one can be married to at a wedding, and there's no limit on how many weddings one is allowed to have in their life.
Ceremony
Due to their weddings being so secretive, there are many variations on the "traditional" wedding that a Fire may choose to add. Firen weddings generally involve the colour red, with all their guests dressed in both red shirts and pants, usually with a Gold trim. If black is worn at all, it is to be kept to shoes. The nearlyweds wear a dress shirt, pants, a cape, and a circlet, typically done in Gold and adorned with a ruby. Some people decide to wear their family collar during their wedding, but this is more common in the "noble" families. During Firen weddings, everyone that is part of the wedding party wears a golden dagger on their left upper arm. The fanciest daggers are for those getting wed, and the level of decoration of the daggers for the other guests designates their relationship with those to be wed.Weddings mostly do not involve a large amount of people that those getting married do not know. Unless one is a Royal, most of the people at a party will be people related or friends to the people getting married. There is no obligation to invite anyone who the people being married do not wish to have. As such, many Firen weddings can take place in the backyard of a house if they are small enough, but more often require renting out a restaurant for the wedding night. The wedding set up itself is not that complicated. Generally, a red carpet is run partway along the room, with a circular carpet placed in the middle. Lit candles are place along the edges of the carpet. If the wedding occurs with benches, the candles are placed beside each bench. If it occurs where there are tables, then they are place in the middle of each one. Firen weddings are filled with candles, and open flames.
During the actual wedding part, the nearlyweds proceed down either side of the long carpet. Given that the minimum amount of participants in the wedding is two, at least two of the participants will walk down the carpet to meet in the middle. Each participant picks a person of honour, who walks with them side by side as they go to the middle. This is commonly the person's best friend, but occasionally people choose their parents or siblings to be the person of honour. Once all the nearlyweds are in the middle together, each gives a small word about their love for the others. After this is finished, the ones being wedded kiss. And they stay kissing until after the people of honour finish their speeches. The content of these speeches varies wildly by the person saying it. Some may speak of their happiness at seeing their friend married, whereas others may write up a speech that takes a whole five minutes to read that it filled with euphemisms. Others still prefer to have a moment to roast their best friend when they can do nothing but kiss their lovers. For most, this is one of the most amusing parts of the ceremony. It is a common sentiment to select your person of honour carefully.
After this cheeky tradition is complete, the newlyweds un sheath their daggers, and place them over their hearts and say a final loving word to each other, before holding them out in front of them so that the points meet, saying that they will always fight on the same side in battle, and putting the dagger back in its sheath on their arms. This concludes the end of the ceremony part of the wedding.
From here, the wedding party goes a sits down at their table. If the group of newlyweds contains at least two Fires, then they will stay up in the circle and preform a dance together, celebrating their love. If there isn't two Fires, then either the wedding party will dance instead, or the Firen parents will. After this, everyone sits to eat a meal together. This almost always falls into chaos as people talk, laugh, and end up fighting and knocking things over.
Finally, the newlyweds will all be given a fruit from the Silva Cactus to eat. As the vast majority of Fires will have had, or at least encountered, the juice of the Silva fruit before, newlyweds are often prepared for what this fruit symbolizes. However, as most have not had the fruit itself before, they aren't usually prepared for the significantly more potent aphrodisiac properties that the whole fruit has. A final send off for the newlyweds, before they are all left alone together as the party ends. Complete with plenty of winks from their elders as they leave them to 'celebrate'.
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