From 25 May to 2 July, 2002, Yvonne, Lari and the two of us, Danny and Yvette, spent 35 days travelling through Europe in a most amazing summer vacation (check out the Links section to see the Europe Vacation website). While visiting the highlands of Scotland, on a lonely wooded rock ledge, with the vast sky, the ancient trees, and two of our closest and dearest friends and family, we had our handfasting ceremony.

A tradition dating back to early Middle Ages (and possibly further back), in this ceremony the two lovers have their hands tied together with a ribbon, signifying their union before their peers and God. Back then this was enough to consider two people married in the eyes of everyone, though after a year and a day, either part of the couple was free to stay or walk away. We did our handfasting as a private declaration of our love and commitment to each other, a commitment we will cement on our wedding day.

Sunday, 3 June, 2001
Culrain, Scotland

	Lari, Danny & Yvette: All of us smiling before we performed the ceremony. It was late afternoon in the mountains, and the breeze was cold, so we're not only laughing, we're shivering!
Lari, Danny & Yvette, as Lari ties our hands together with the ribbon, offering a few words.
	Danny & Yvette, as we take a moment to think about what we're doing, and what it means to us.
Our hands, tied together, a symbol of the deeper union to which we now commit ourselves.
	We embrace, after reading our vows to each other.
I believe we are saying to each other, "You can't escape from me now!"
	Danny & Yvette, The happy couple!