The United Kingdom’s first Pagan same-sex wedding took place in Edinburgh, Scotland on Sunday as Tom Lanting, 34, and Iain Robertson, 34 tied the knot.
The couple, who have been together for 12 years, are both Hedge Witches and live in Edinbrugh. They were married in front of family and friends in the 16th century vaulted cellars of Marlin’s Wynd by Louise Park, Presiding Officer for the Pagan Federation (Scotland).
The ceremony encompassed ancient Pagan traditions including casting a circle, invoking the elements of earth, air, water, fire and spirit, exchanging rings, sharing a quaich of mead, binding the couple’s hands (known as Handfasting), and jumping the broom.
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Scotland is the only part of the UK that allows Pagan and other minority religious and belief bodies to solemnize legal marriages.
The Pagan Federation (Scotland) has been able to conduct hundreds of legal mixed-sex marriages since 2005. The body is the largest umbrella organization supporting the Pagan community in Scotland, and currently has 10 legal marriage celebrants located across the country.
Following the passage of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 the Pagan Federation (Scotland) were one of the religious and belief organizations that opted-in to conducting same-sex marriages.
