Kimirian Wedding Traditions
On Kimiri there is no greater honor or blessing than to be married with the moon full in the sky and Lyvona watching down from the heavens. One of the most commonly told legends on the island is that of a triad who together journeyed an entire month from the tiny village Taewe to the Temple for their wedding. Children are often told this tale to show them that true love is not just about being together and getting married, it is willing to journey with someone or two people by your side regardless of how difficult or long the road or life may be in front of them.
History
The tradition has been one the Kimirian people have done as far back as written and oral history can remember. The only alteration that's happened in recent history is that some couples, depending on the weather or simply because its what they want to do, will choose to walk through the tunnels to the temple. Some who do this, do it because they want privacy from prying foreign eyes during one of the most special days in their lives.
Execution
Courtship begins when two people, regardless of sex or gender, begin exclusively spending time together after getting to know each other for a period of time. Many start engaging in a sexual relationship at this point though some hold off until they are at least talking of marriage or are engaged. Sex before marriage is not frowned upon nor is an exclusive relationship between three people like it might be in more conservative regions.
Though some couples or trios never get married at all, most duos or triads, begin speaking seriously about marriage after they have been together exclusively for at least a year. Though this discussion can happen earlier, it is generally believed that if they plan to have the wedding before they have been together for at least a year that the lovers are not following either their head or their hearts in the matter and most parents will actually object to the marriage altogether.
For couples, this period of the relationship is relatively easy with both parties either saying they want to get married, both parties saying they do not want to get married, or one party says they do while the other says they do not and they either continue on with the relationship or end it.
For triads, this is vastly more complicated as in some all three want to get married. Or only two will want to get married while the third is fine just being their lover without needing a ring or ceremony. Or two want to get married, but the third does not and they are not okay just remaining the married duos lover. Or one wants to get married while the other two do not, or all three do not want to get married at all. Regardless, if three people are in a relationship, its expected that there will be a great deal of communication before the engagement to make sure everyone is comfortable in the relationship and marriage if that is the path the three wish to go down.
Engagement involves each person in the relationship getting their lover or lovers parents blessing to marry their child. When all of the lovers have obtained this blessing, one or two will plan a private dinner between them during which they will formally ask for their lover's hand or lovers hands in marriage. When the ones being asked accepts, they are presented with a ring made from obsidian and pink sandstone. With the engagement formalized, the lovers will travel to the temple to reserve a date for their wedding, during one of the days there is a full moon. Once they have a wedding date, the lovers will then hand deliver invitations to their ceremony to everyone in their village including family members, friends, and people they do not know very well.
In the months, weeks, and days leading up to the wedding, the families of the betrothed, specifically the parents, will begin making their preparations for the feast that comes after the wedding, start with pinning down exactly how many people will be attending the ceremony. Their siblings and friends will help pick out and make their wedding attire often providing either sewing or tailoring skills or acquiring fabrics desired for said outfits.
The wedding ceremony begins in the couples', or triads', village just after sunset on one of the four days of the full moon with them emerging from their respective parent's houses. From there, the lovers will lead a procession along a path to the temple that is lit by candles and decorated by flowers, with some entering the tunnels at the base of the caldera and others walking up a path carved into the side of the caldera, either way, their paths are guided by candlelight. Directly behind them in the procession, are the lovers' family members and closest friends who carry candles and flowers and behind them are other people from that village who carry torches. This last group is typically made up of people who want to witness the ceremony but are not friends with any of the people getting married.
When the procession reaches the temple, the sun will have set, and the moon will be in the sky shining brightly the couple or trio being married will be led to the main hall where the headmaster/headmistress of the temple will be waiting at the base of Lyvona's statue bathed in moon and candlelight. The couple or trio will exchange vows promising to be faithful and love each other even when embraced by Lyvona in death and exchange rings made from motril and petrified wood to signify their relationship will be as sturdy and live as long as the metal and wood. A kiss as newly dubbed husband and wife, husband and husband, wife and wife, or whatever combination the trio is in, brings the ceremony to an end and marks the beginning of the feast.
The guests and newly married couple or trio will exit the temple to the central lawn where tables and chairs, as well as a space for musicians, have been provided for everyone under a large tent made out of draped white fabric. From the temple's kitchen, the temple initiates will bring roast beef, pork, chicken, or fish out to the guests with an assortment of vegetables as the musicians play their instruments and people dance. From the temple's cellars, the guests will be provided with a variety of ales, wins, and beers. For dessert, the initiates will bring a giant cake out that everyone will get a slice of. When not eating, drinking, or dancing, the guests will approach the married couple or trio with words of congratulations. The feast can go on for hours, with many ending as the sun rises.
In the days following the wedding, the newly married couple or trio may get portraits done of them wearing their wedding clothes.
Components and tools
Motril rings, candles, flowers but especially the Chroil Lily, The Tome of the Divine , foodstuff, and drink.
Either sex can wear long ankle length skirts or dresses with a midriff bearing blouse that either covers part or all of the wearer's arms, or they can wear a loose collarless shirt that falls either just above or below the knees and loose fitting trousers with a thigh or knee length long coat on top, or the wearer can mix between the two groups of clothing. These are all made out of either silk or cotton and can be various colors, though most typically the couple will wear white with a little bit of colorful embellishment. Both will also wear flat-bottomed shoes made from leather with bells, tiny mirrors, and beads decorating the shoes. Some ambitious women and men have worn high heel shoes throughout the wedding ceremony.
Participants
Everyone in the city or village the couple is from may attend though they merely stand in attendance. The initiate sisters and brothers from the Temple of the Moon play somewhat of a significant role as they are the ones who place and light the candles leading to the temple as well as decorate the temple and cook the food and cake. They also run along the path while the wedding ceremony is taking place and put out all of the candles. The ceremony is performed by either a family member or the headmaster/headmistress of the temple. The families of the couple help them get ready for the big day and also reimburse the temple for providing food and drink for everyone attending the wedding.
Observance
The wedding ceremony and feast will take place at night during the four days of the month there is a full moon so Lyvona can look down upon them and witness their union.
Nice article! I already gave you a few ideas on discord :3 The design and formatting is really neat, but here I'm mostly impressed by the idea of a procession, which gave me plenty of ideas, including the legend of the trio we talked about... Hopefully it'll get you somewhere! All in all, I enjoyed reading you ^w^